Concrete is tricky. You know this all too well. If it’s not a labor shortage, it’s fluctuating material costs. Sometimes, you’re a few rainy days away from missing your deadlines.
It might seem like there’s nothing you can do to mitigate the many factors that can directly impact your business. Who can fight a labor shortage or Mother Nature? The good news is that, while you can’t directly affect factors out of your control, you can definitely make your concrete business thrive.
Let’s look at your major challenges and what you can do about them.
A persistent issue in the construction industry, including concrete work, is the shortage of skilled labor. Finding experienced and reliable workers can be difficult, affecting the ability to meet project timelines and maintain quality work.
Thankfully, you have options:
The cost of materials such as cement, aggregates, and reinforcing steel can fluctuate significantly, impacting project budgets. Additionally, availability issues can delay project timelines. Global supply chain issues have exacerbated these challenges in recent times.
You can’t control the costs, but you can budget accurately for the pricing landscape:
Efficiently managing multiple projects, scheduling work, and coordinating with other contractors and suppliers can be complex and time-consuming. Delays in one project can have a domino effect, impacting other projects.
There is a better way to manage projects:
As we as a whole start examining the impact of concrete construction and its effects on the environment and our health, a new wave of regulations are rolling out. It can be a challenge to keep up with them all, especially when you are trying to complete a project. Compliance with regulations regarding dust control, noise, and waste management requires careful planning and can increase project costs.
You can mitigate your regulatory risk in a couple of ways:
Ensuring consistent quality in concrete construction involves challenges like managing the concrete mix, curing conditions, and workmanship. Variability in these factors can lead to defects requiring costly repairs.
Your reputation is priceless, and it’s crucial that you preserve it at all costs. Turning out a shoddy job can seriously damage your credibility in your community, leading to fewer jobs and thus less money.
This is not outside of your control:
While technology can streamline many aspects of construction, integrating new tools and software into existing workflows can be tough if you are accustomed to traditional methods. You probably know this already - it’s hard to turn out a professional proposal and an accurate project estimate relying on pen and paper drawings, but you’re running at top speed and don’t have the bandwidth to learn something new.
Fortunately, there is construction industry software that is incredibly easy to use and roll out across your business - ArcSite. Our customers across every industry report that ArcSite is extremely easy to use, and that it takes just a few hours of use to learn everything you need to:
Managing client expectations, especially in terms of project timelines, budgets, and final outcomes, requires clear communication and can be stressful, particularly when unexpected issues arise. It’s also paramount that your customers fully understand the estimate and proposal you present to them to avoid any misunderstandings.
We mentioned previously that pen and paper estimates aren’t terribly reliable, and nowhere is that more true than when you’re turning that estimate into a proposal. Plus, it’s a labor intensive process where you need to put in the work after hours in the office or at home.
There are several things you can do to manage customer expectations:
While concrete may be challenging, at ArcSite we have your back. Check out these great resources: