Assignar

How Force Civil Uses Assignar to Boost Margins

Force Civil Solutions, a rapidly growing civil construction company in Edmonton, overcame operational challenges like slow, error-prone paper processes and costly undocumented back charges by implementing Assignar's real-time tracking software, which enabled accurate job documentation, saved over $100,000 annually in disputed damage claims, and improved billing accuracy across approximately 1,500 yearly jobs with crews using iPads.

Force Civil Solutions has experienced rapid growth since its founding in 2017, serving the Edmonton area in Alberta, Canada, with services such as basement excavations, utility connections, and other civil aspects of residential home building.

Scott Hayes, partner and general manager at Force Civil, described how the business quickly scaled, reaching 60 people and 65 pieces of equipment within 40 days. This rapid expansion brought operational challenges, particularly:

  1. 1.Paper-driven data collection that was slow and prone to human error.
  2. 2.Increasing back charges that could not be contested due to lack of documentation.

Back Charges and No Documentation

Before using Assignar, Force Civil faced significant issues with back charges. When residents or contractors claimed damages, Force Civil had no way to prove their team was not responsible, resulting in over $100,000 a year in back charges. Operations were managed with paper and spreadsheets, requiring the administrative team to assemble job packets for each crew member, including permit numbers, locate tickets, and timesheets. Workers would return these documents to the office, where they were manually entered into spreadsheets—a time-consuming and error-prone process.

Software to Support Their Needs

To address these challenges, Force Civil sought a real-time tracking solution to protect against back charges and eliminate paper-based processes. After researching construction software, they chose Assignar for its ease of use and flexibility, which suited their operations involving around 1,500 jobs a year and crews often working solo or in pairs.

Implementation was swift: Assignar trained the leadership team in November, and by December, 40 contractors were trained and actively using the platform on iPads. Hayes noted that workers of all ages were able to adapt to the new system.

The Results

  • $100,000 saved by avoiding false damage claims
  • Over $100,000 saved through more accurate billing and reporting
  • Hundreds of hours saved by eliminating manual paperwork
  • 9,000 pieces of paper saved annually by going digital

Hayes stated, "Assignar was the easiest platform to use. Now there's nobody in town that can give the data that we have."

Diving Deeper: Turning Data into an Asset

With Assignar, Force Civil now collects and organizes data directly in the platform, eliminating the need for manual entry and double-checking. This data is used to defend against back charges, as workers take pre-work site photos that are logged and easily referenced.

Key benefits include:

  • Eliminating paper job packets: All job information is accessible in the app, saving time and reducing errors.
  • Maximizing equipment usage: Maintenance is tracked, with notifications set for 100 days before due dates, allowing repairs during scheduled downtime.
  • Saving time on the job: Supervisors spend more time in the field rather than on administrative tasks.
  • Providing accurate data for decision-making: Automated data collection improves accuracy and allows management to focus on analysis.
  • Perfect record-keeping: Assignar tracks invoices, preventing double-charging or overpayment. Hayes estimates this recovers $100,000 in lost revenue annually.
  • Improving estimations and margins: Accurate data enables better project bids and instant identification of overages.
  • Winning more bids: Professional record-keeping builds trust and adds value for clients.

Force Civil now competes on value rather than price, leveraging Assignar to deliver professionalism and reliability.

Keeping Up with Compliance

Managing locate tickets was previously a challenge, as Alberta requires updated tickets every 14 days for dig projects. Assignar streamlines this process by storing tickets digitally, ensuring workers always have access and remain compliant.

Switching to iPads Saved Thousands

The adoption of Assignar led Force Civil to invest in iPads for their crew, replacing two-way radios with radio apps. This reduced communication costs from $60,000 to $20,000 annually.

Forging a Future with Assignar

Hayes believes Force Civil has only begun to realize Assignar's potential. The platform has enabled streamlined operations, organized data, and high employee retention, even in a tough market. Embracing technology has been key to their continued success.

Hayes concluded, "If you’re not evolving, you’re gonna get run over. [With Assignar,] I can be confident that all the right data is in there, and then I can analyze why we lost the money or not."

Want savings like these? Assignar can help.

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