The first thing I do each day is to check all my active projects. One constant in construction is change – changing structures, changing workers, changing conditions – so we continuously monitor our projects from a technical and logistical standpoint from start to finish to ensure connectivity and visibility. This happens remotely as well as in person, and building and sustaining these positive relationships with our clients is of the utmost importance to me. I make it my priority to understand and address their needs, so they receive the greatest value from the Spot-r system. I really consider myself an extension of the project team.
For those that aren’t as familiar with our solution, I generally tell customers to think of Spot-r as a 3-part system. Our network (#1) is the backbone that makes everything work and it is what allows us to collect and transmit real-time data from our hardware (#2) – Spot-r Clips, Spot-r EquipTags – to our Cloud-based dashboard (#3). The 4th part I would add is service. Spot-r is a full-service solution and a dedicated project team is assigned to every jobsite from ground break to project close out.
Before Spot-r is deployed on site, our Field Operations team has a pre-deployment call to cover site logistics, any outstanding questions and action items. By the end of the call, we have generally locked in a deployment date. That morning, after completing the site safety orientation, our Deployment Team will begin deploying the network while the Client Engagement Specialist on-boards and trains the site team. This training always includes the main features of the Spot-r dashboard: assigning Clips, adding worker profiles, enabling site evacuation mode, and building custom reports. Each of these are important to making the most of Spot-r’s real-time site monitoring, data and notifications, and coincidentally, are also some of my favorite features of the dashboard. Worker profiles provide supervisors/admins with centralized, relevant information about their employees on site, including certifications, time and attendance, and any safety incidents that have occurred and can serve as the digital worker “file.” The ability to upgrade evacuation procedures is another key differentiator of our Spot-r system and something I’ve seen tested across my project sites with great success. What else gives you the ability to remotely alert workers to a site evacuation with audible alarms and flashing devices placed around the site – all in real-time?
Our dashboard also enables users to build reports from an array of out-of-the-box or custom safety and productivity metrics (e.g. subcontractor breakdown of hours worked, number of workers, and if they had any safety events on-site or the number and types of safety events) over a specified period of time (month, YTD, project-to-date). In addition to “Quick Reports” (e.g. Timesheets, Certifications), different users can create different reports based on the information that matters most to them. For example, one of our users receives a subcontractor manpower report each morning broken down by trade and hours worked the previous day.
Another key differentiator of our Spot-r system is real-time, automatic notifications. Users can determine exactly who receives notifications, when, and whether it’s via email, text message or both. The three most common notifications are when a worker falls on site, when the push-button on the bottom of the Clip is used to signal distress or a hazard, and when a site evacuation is initiated. Other notification includes when a worker’s certification is due to expire and when a worker comes on-site with an expired certification.
Beyond that, we have regular calls with clients, which helps us plan for site changes or any additional hardware needs. We have quick reference materials, including how-to guides, worker training materials, and tutorial videos that break down each section of the dashboard, giving our clients an opportunity to educate themselves and get new site personnel up to speed on the technology when the project ramps up.
We are always working to meet – and exceed – customer expectations, and the most rewarding part of this job is being able to work with some of the most incredible people I have ever had the pleasure of interacting with. Construction is responsible for the roads that connect us, buildings that house us and structures/skylines that define us, and I enjoy working alongside people from different backgrounds to drive the industry to a safer, smarter future.
BONUS: What are the two most frequently asked questions you get from clients and how do you answer them?
- “Is this system GPS?” Short answer: no. Spot-r does not work outside of the jobsite network, so there is no off-site monitoring. Our system works off a proprietary communication protocol that allows us to monitor worker, equipment, and tool location by zone and floor – displayed over client’s site/floorplans or 3D models.
- “How long is the battery life of the Clip?” Our rechargeable Clips get 4-6 months battery, and it only takes a few hours to fully charge a Clip. When Clips are drained, we recommend that users throw the Clips onto the charger when they leave for the day so they’re fresh the next morning.
