Construction teams are increasingly integrating digitals tools, but some general contractors and subcontractors still prefer manual processes on the jobsite as their primary method for completing many tasks. While a recent survey showed that more than 50% of respondents use laptops and tablets to view manuals and schematics, some builders are still hesitant about integrating construction technology (contech) into their workflows. It’s a simple reality of construction that the environment of a build site simply isn’t very tech-friendly for non-rugged technology, with dust, extreme temperatures, severe weather, direct sunlight, vibrations, and numerous other conditions all threatening to break or stall consumer-grade devices.
This hesitancy to introduce tech on the jobsite is changing, however, as builders and architects rely more on digital blueprints, building information management (BIM) systems, and other software solutions to improve productivity and accuracy on projects. To incorporate these jobsite technologies, construction professionals are increasingly turning to rugged laptops, 2-in-1s and mobile devices that can offer reliable computing power to run essential software, access plans and collaborate in real time from anywhere on site.
Here are six ways rugged laptops and tablets are transforming productivity and connectivity on today’s jobsites.
1. Rugged Laptops Cut the Cord on the Office Trailer
For years, the only computers on the job site were typically tucked safely out of the way in an office trailer, where exposure to the rigors of building operations could be minimized. As plans changed based on real-world conditions and project shifts, someone would need to run back to the job trailer and print out new blueprints.
With rugged laptops, 2-in-1s, and tablets that can be carried around the site, however, the days of running back to the job trailer for simple updates are fading fast. With rugged laptops and tablets, construction workers gain the ability to:
- Access and edit digital blueprints in real time.
- Reduce errors caused by outdated paper copies.
- Sync changes with cloud-based construction management platforms.
- Increase efficiency across trade teams by putting plans in their hands.
- Have powerful CPUs and GPUs to handle 3D rendering and modeling from BIM, computer-aided design (CAD), digital twins and other tools.
- Can run estimating, scheduling and planning tools directly from the field.
These capabilities enable significant workflow efficiencies and fewer miscommunications across the job.
2. Builders Can Run High-Performance Contech Software on Rugged Laptops and Tablets from Anywhere
Modern construction leverages a wide range of powerful software to streamline productivity and enhance builds. However, these software solutions are often very resource-intensive, which means contractors run them on stationary workstation PCs to ensure optimal performance. Now construction laptops and tablets are changing the way that construction managers and workers access these tools.
Rugged laptops and tablets are highly effective at improving mobility and efficiency on the job site, but buyers must be very selective. It’s essential to select models that are powerful enough to run high-performance contech applications on the go, which typically means using the latest models that can handle the demands of artificial intelligence and other complex computing. When shopping for a new rugged laptop,2-in-1, or tablet, builders should look for options that:
3. Construction Workers Can Collaborate Across the Jobsite
Real-time communication keeps projects moving, so good jobsite technologies must ensure that workers remain connected, whether they are on a beam several hundred feet up, working in the basement or on opposite ends of the work area. Some construction sites can span many acres, but rugged laptops and tablets help teams stay connected no matter how far they get from the mobile office.
A high-quality, rugged laptop provides a distributed team with secure wireless connectivity across large or remote sites, streamlining communication and facilitating faster decision-making. Additionally, a connected workforce benefits from uninterrupted access to the latest instructions and project updates, helping to minimize the risk of errors caused by poor communication.
4. Teams Can Optimize Construction Technology with Real-Time Data Collection
As architects and builders increasingly rely on advanced contech solutions to improve precision in building, they need better data to feed those solutions and facilitate better decisions. This data comes from a wide range of sources, including LiDAR scanners, drones, robotics, photos and videos, and more.
One of the biggest challenges in collecting this data is the ability to store and process it in a timely manner, which usually requires a stationary PC workstation. Powerful rugged laptops can support jobsite workflows where the work happens, making it easier to interface with reality capture and measurement tools to collect data, process large visual data sets at the moment of capture, and enable real-time reporting, documentation, and progress tracking.
5. Rugged Construction Technology Allows Field-Based Project and Asset Management
Managing a jobsite isn’t only about the build itself, but also about keeping track of people, equipment and materials. Rugged laptops and tablets let project managers leave the confines of the job trailer to capture field notes, log labor hours, monitor inventory, check on equipment and input data into project management software. When these tasks can be done from virtually anywhere on the jobsite, managers can improve visibility and accountability across crews and subcontractors, helping to improve productivity and minimize build errors.
6. Construction Technology Is Built for Harsh Jobsite Conditions
Consumer and business-grade devices aren’t meant for outdoor operation and simply don’t do well on construction sites. Deploying these types of devices to construction crews can drive up project costs unexpectedly as equipment breaks and needs replacement, which can delay the project.
Rugged construction laptops and tablets are purpose-built to withstand all the harsh conditions of a construction project, including impacts, drops, dust, vibration, moisture, extreme temperatures, severe weather and more. Long battery life and hot-swappable batteries ensure reliable operation through long shifts, while daylight-readable, glove-friendly touchscreens keep the job moving at all times of day.
The Best Laptop and Tablets for Construction Must Be Rugged
Contech is now effectively a cornerstone of construction, and contractors and subcontractors who can’t use it effectively will have trouble competing against those who can. TOUGHBOOK® laptops and 2-in-1s and rugged Android devices from Honeywell combine rugged durability with the processing power needed to handle modern construction workflows and support digital transformation efforts for construction companies.
See how Panasonic Connect can help you create a mobile office for your construction project.