The Cost Issue: Traditional Defects Management as an Efficiency Brake
The annual costs due to construction defects in Germany amount to approximately 16.5 billion euros. A significant portion of this sum arises not from the defect itself, but from inefficient processes in its detection and remediation.
Manual lists and uncoordinated emails lead to an information loss of up to 30% on the journey from the office to the construction site. The result is delays, redundant work, and high rectification costs.
Furthermore, an unstructured approach complicates compliance with warranty periods, which, according to VOB/B, generally last for four years. Without proper photodocumentation from the construction site there is a lack of necessary evidential value in case of disputes.
These outdated methods pose a direct threat to the economic efficiency and legal certainty of your project, highlighting the need for a modern solution.
Ensure Legal Certainty: Requirements of VOB/B for Defect Notification
A formally correct defect notification is crucial to successfully enforce warranty claims under VOB/B. Courts regularly reject claims if the notification is not formulated precisely enough.
For a legally secure defect complaint, the following points are mandatory according to § 13 VOB/B:
- Written form: The notification must be in writing to be verifiable.
- Accurate description: The defect and its location must be described so accurately that the contractor can locate it without further investigation.
- Symptoms of the defect: The specific effects, such as moisture stains, must be clearly stated.
- Reasonable deadline: The cause must be given a realistic deadline for rectification.
Many companies lose their claims because they do not set a correct deadline for remedying the defect. A digital defect tracking app for construction ensures that all these formal requirements are automatically met.
Compliance with these requirements forms the basis for a professional and defect management according to VOB/B.
Increase Efficiency: The 5-Step Process of Mobile Defect Management
Digital defect management transforms the traditional, error-prone process into a streamlined and transparent workflow. Studies show that real-time communication can increase efficiency at construction sites by up to 25%.
The whole process can be divided into five logical steps:
- 1. Digital Recording: Defects are recorded directly on-site using a smartphone or tablet, including photos, notes, and exact location on the digital construction plan.
- 2. Automatic Documentation: The app automatically creates a timestamp and stores all information centrally and immutably.
- 3. Direct Assignment: The recorded defect is assigned to the responsible subcontractor with just one click, including a deadline for rectification.
- 4. Transparent Tracking: All parties can view the current status of defect processing in real-time, simplifying the task tracking on the construction site. 5. Legally Secure Notification:
- 5. Rechtssichere Freimeldung: The rectification is documented by the cause and checked and approved by the site manager, creating a seamless history.
This structured approach reduces administrative effort by up to 7 hours per week and minimizes misunderstandings. It lays the foundation for smooth collaboration between all trades.
Ensure Acceptance: Why Simplicity is the Key to Success
The best software is useless if it is not accepted by the employees on the construction site. Complex applications with high training effort fail in 70% of cases due to a lack of acceptance by end users.
That’s why Valoon focuses on a solution that does not require a new app. All communication and documentation for the on-site staff is done through WhatsApp – a tool that already 95% of professionals use daily.
Employees receive tasks and defect reports directly via WhatsApp message and can easily send back photos, videos, or voice notes to document their work. This simplicity eliminates any entry barriers.
While the construction site communicates as usual, Valoon structures and secures all data legally for the office in the background. This seamless integration is the decisive factor for a successful digital defect recording in construction..
Your Advantage with Valoon: Defect Management Without Detours
Valoon combines the simplicity of WhatsApp with the requirements of a professional, digital defect management.You benefit from a solution that is ready to use immediately without training effort.
Your employees on the construction site do not need a new app or training. They continue to use WhatsApp, while your project managers in the office manage all processes in a structured web interface and create legally secure reports with one click.
For employees on the construction site, usage is completely free of charge. This pricing model lowers the barriers and promotes immediate company-wide usage.
Reduce your administrative effort, speed up the defect remediation, and ensure seamless, VOB-compliant documentation. Valoon is the straightforward bridge between the construction site and the office.
Book your free demo now and see for yourself how simple and efficient mobile defect management can be.
More Links
Statista provides a statistic on construction defects in single-family and two-family homes in Germany.
A document from Fraunhofer IRB deals with the topic of construction damage and construction defects.
Das Fraunhofer IESE offers a blog post about a study on digitalization in the construction industry.
McKinsey published a press release about a study on stagnating productivity in the construction industry in Germany.
Das DIN informs in a press release how construction standards can avoid error costs.
Das BBSR (Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development) provides information on digital planning and construction.
PwC issued a press release about the construction industry that shows progress in ESG but stagnation in digitalization.
Der ZDB (Central Association of the German Construction Industry) presents its positions on digitalization.
FAQ
Is Valoon suitable for small and large construction companies?
Yes, Valoon is designed for companies of all sizes. The solution is scalable and suitable for both small craft businesses that want to professionalize their documentation and large construction firms that need an efficient communication solution for complex projects with many subcontractors.
Do my employees on the construction site need a special app?
No, and that is the key advantage. Your employees and subcontractors on the construction site do not need a new app. All communication is done through WhatsApp, which is already installed on almost every smartphone. This eliminates any training effort.
Are the data sent via WhatsApp securely documented?
Yes. All data sent to Valoon via WhatsApp – such as photos, videos, texts, and voice messages – are automatically processed by our platform, time-stamped, and stored immutably in your project. This creates a seamless and legally secure documentation for the construction diary and defect management.
How quickly can I get started with Valoon?
You can get started within minutes. After a brief setup of your project in our web interface, you can immediately begin sending tasks and defects to your teams via WhatsApp. No lengthy implementation or training is required.
What does it cost for my employees to use Valoon?
For the employees on the construction site who interact with the system via WhatsApp, using Valoon is completely free. Costs are only incurred for users in the office who manage the projects in the web interface (e.g., project or construction managers).
Does Valoon support compliance with VOB/B?
Yes, Valoon is designed to create VOB-compliant documentation. By seamlessly and time-stamping the recording of all defects, communication steps, and notifications, you can easily create legally secure reports that meet the requirements of VOB/B.
