Top 4 forms construction firms should take digital in 2021
On time. On budget. These are two main aims of the game in the building industry – along with the construction of a structurally sound, safe and secure, fully functioning building, of course. Yet to finish a project on time and on budget requires the hard work of a lot of people … who all have to sign a lot of paperwork before they can get started.
On larger projects, commercial engagements can involve thousands of agreements and documents that construction firms and partners in the supply chain need to sign. When these agreements are on paper, the process can take months. It can be incredibly hard to gain visibility into where all the documentation is at.
Even smaller construction companies and home builders can get weighed down and held back by paperwork. And small delays caused by a subcontractor not signing their agreement can lead to costly blow-outs down the track.
Every operator in the construction industry can benefit from digitising agreements. Doing so helps projects stick to tight timeframes – thanks not just to the quicker turnaround of contracts and agreements, but also the fact that builders can sign contracts from the job site on their mobiles. Teams can stay out on site working on what matters, instead of heading back into the office. Making it all even easier is the fact that DocuSign integrates with hundreds of other platforms, including the leading project management platforms in the construction industry today.
So, the big question is, where do you start if you’re still managing contracts the traditional way? Here are our four recommendations for the types of forms every construction firm should be digitising in 2021.
1. Proposals
Sending your proposals out to customers through DocuSign enables them to view, approve and return important paperwork without having to find a printer. Customers appreciate the simplicity and convenience of being able to read and sign from their device, and it saves administrative time at your end, too.
2. Purchase orders
Managing your POs is a crucial step in keeping the build on budget, giving you visibility into the costs involved for all the materials you need for the construction. Digitising these important documents helps to speed up the process of locking down prices. Adding in the convenience and simplicity of eSignatures makes things even faster, plus you gain a secure audit trail so all parties are crystal clear on what was agreed.
3. Subcontractor agreements
Digitising your subcontractor agreements can slash the amount of time it takes to get all your subcontractors under contract – particularly for larger projects when you’ve got dozens of subbies to deal with. By getting your contracts out (and back) faster, you’re potentially securing the subcontractor you need for a project before your competition snaffles them for their own build.
4. Change orders
Changes to the original scope of work can often be a pain – arising due to obstacles with the build itself, incorrect estimates, and other issues. Anything that you can do to expedite the process of getting a change order completed is going to be welcome by all parties on the project. By digitising this agreement, everyone can sign their sections much faster (days, compared to weeks) and you can pick up your tools again.
Ready to go digital?
Around the world, thousands of construction companies already use DocuSign eSignature to get their building contracts signed faster and more securely. If you’re ready to take the next step with your own construction agreements, why don’t you start a free trial of DocuSign today – or get in touch for more information about how digitisation could help you nail every building project.