According to the Pew Research Center, 58 percent of American adults owned a smartphone or tablet in 2014 and spent an average of two hours and 42 minutes on them every day. Sage Software also conducted a study recently showing that 48 percent of construction companies use mobile technology to access customer and job information. Additionally, 47 percent use it for drawings, schedules, photos, and documents; 38 percent for daily field reports; 36 percent for job cost and project reports; and 30 percent for time keeping.
More and more industry professionals are using mobile apps and software to streamline processes and make the job easier. Below are some of the best mobile tools for construction.
$9.99
This app includes more than 400 formulas for calculations in trades like electrical, carpentry, and plumbing.
Free
Users can edit and share drawings through this drafting app.
Free
This is another app that allows users to manage documents and drawings.
Free
This won product-of-the-year award in 2012. It’s free and provides 3D communication and presentation features for project designs.
Free
Great for design-build projects, this app has tools for markups and attachments in PDF form, RFI documents, and access to plans and drawings.
Free
Time and GPS tracking are features on this app.
Free
The app is best known for transferring information from the office to jobsites, such as daily reports, estimates, time cards, and maintenance logs.
Free
A sharing app for punch lists, administrative information, and daily job logs.
$4.99
A great safety app for people working in dangerous, high places. It can detect a fall with sudden movements and an alarm will sound before alerting your customized emergency contacts.
Free
Similar to Corecon, this planning app allows collaboration between all parties involved on a project, including project managers, foremen, and superintendents. Everybody can look at recent blueprints and share information such as photos.
Free
Architects and contractors can work together on project specifications and plans. Users can also share photos and upload PDF drawings.
Free
This covers 34 trade types and meets OSHA’s required meeting laws. Electronic storage of records is also available.
Free
Track your bids with this app. Users can also build pre-qualification forms for subcontractors.
Free
This app allows you to track time, tasks, and even mileage for employees.
Viewpoint Mobile Field Manager
Free
This popular construction software now has a mobile feature. It allows users to organize jobsite photos and track time with a spreadsheet-like entry form.
