Cyber Scenario

Standing in front of his partially complete new home, Steve Rodriguez pictures the day it is finished and imagines the excitement of moving in. His dream house is halfway too becoming a reality—on time, and better yet, at a cost nearly 30 percent less then he originally estimated. What accounts for the extraordinary savings?

The remarkable cost savings inn constructing Steve’s new home are a direct result of using collaborative project management software access over the Internet. This web tool links the builder, the contractors, the materials manufacturers all, vendors, and the customer at a central information site where the progress and vision of the projects are apparent at all times.

Builders can achieve significant savings using collaborative project management software because they can order materials and have them delivered on the day they needs them, a concept called “just in time.” They also can assign contractor’s to jobs in the most time-effective manner, as related phases of the work are completed. For example the builder schedules the heating and air conditioning systems installer immediately after the carpenter finishes framing the house—not too soon, and not a day too late.

According to a report by Bank of America Securities, 33 percent of the money spent on residential construction are lost because of backlogs, delays, and scheduling errors. A contractor might show up to complete a plumbing or heating project, only to find that the cite is not ready. Time lost is money lost.

Another efficiency collaborative project management software affords is the capability to order construction materials online, directly form manufacturers, a factor further lowering expenses. Instant messaging among all project partners means partners can addresses all problems in real-time. Team members confers with each other using a variety of Web-enabled hardware, including desktop PCs, cell phones, and handheld Palm Pilots or Handspring Visors. The builder can even grant access to vendors not officially part of the project on an as-needed basis.