Insite
Innovation overview and development
An overview of the digital innovation
Insite represents a cutting-edge web and mobile software solution designed to revolutionise the construction industry’s project management landscape. Tailored for housebuilders, sub-contractors, and independent advisors alike, Insite’s robust platform enables seamless management and closure of audits and inspections, thereby enhancing workflow efficiency and ensuring rigorous quality control. Its intuitive interface supports any team size, offering a scalable solution to track project progress, mitigate costly delays, save valuable time, and substantiate financial claims.
How the digital innovation was developed, including effective collaboration, knowledge transfer and partnership along the project team
The development of Insite was underpinned by a strong commitment to collaborative innovation and knowledge sharing. The team leveraged agile methodologies to ensure a responsive and iterative design process, encouraging feedback and ongoing improvement from our customers.
This started with an initial beta programme that was launched to a few select companies, most of whom are still working with us today. Knowledge transfer was a cornerstone of this journey, facilitated by regular workshops, comprehensive reviews, and hands-on training. Strategic partnerships augmented the development process, pooling expertise and resources to refine the tool’s capabilities and user experience.
Give details on the measurable commercial results
Since its inception, Insite has continued to provide a positive ROI, demonstrated by our continued growth in user adoption and positive feedback. Clients have reported significant time and cost savings per month, thanks to the reduction of defects and rework. Moreover, Insite can serve as an “insurance”. Not only does it reduce labour costs, but when it comes to dispute resolution, our customers have the necessary ammunition that ensures fair payment for any work or rework that they have undertaken.
These benefits are underscored by high user satisfaction ratings and a strong likelihood to recommend, indicating both immediate impact and long-term value proposition.
How does this innovation improve processes
Insite revolutionises construction project processes by introducing streamlined workflows for audits, inspections, and defect tracking. Some of the main use cases include:
– Snagging
– QA
– Progress records
– Make-ready-needs reports
– H&S inspections
– Permits
– Plant inspections/registers
– Site diaries
Below we have provided some more detail on the specific features that are redefining our customers’ processes.
1. Templates for regular inspections:
The platform’s template and checklist features ensure consistency and repeatability, while its real-time notification system and cloud-based project tracking foster proactive management and rapid issue resolution. These features collectively contribute to a measurable improvement in efficiency, as corroborated by our customers’ testimonies of enhanced quality checks and defect rectification procedures (see Lindum Group case study at https://insite.co.uk/case-study/lindum-group/).
2. Sign-off procedures to obtain client sign-off:
Insite enables digital sign-offs, making it easier and faster to obtain client approvals. Clients can review and approve tasks remotely, eliminating the need for physical presence or paper-based processes. This digital approach not only saves time but also creates an auditable trail of approvals, adding transparency and accountability to the project management process.
Additionally, the flexibility to create custom workflows within Insite means that sign-off procedures can be tailored to match the specific needs of each project or client. This customisation ensures that the sign-off process aligns with existing operational standards and client expectations, leading to smoother project execution and enhanced client satisfaction.
By implementing these advanced sign-off procedures, Insite not only improves the efficiency and transparency of closing out tasks but also significantly enhances client engagement and satisfaction. These process improvements are vital in maintaining high standards of quality and ensuring the timely completion of projects, ultimately contributing to the reputation and success of the businesses using Insite.
(See Arcura case study at https://insite.co.uk/case-study/arcura/).
3. Real-Time Task Tracking and Closure:
The platform allows for real-time tracking of tasks, from initiation to completion and final sign-off. This visibility ensures that all stakeholders are aware of the task status and can prepare for or expedite sign-off procedures as needed. The ability to remotely approve or reject progress updates enhances the decision-making process, ensuring timely project progression.
The notification system plays a pivotal role in streamlining this process. Automated reminders can be configured for pending approvals, ensuring that tasks are reviewed and signed off promptly. This feature reduces delays often encountered in manual follow-up processes and ensures that no task is overlooked.
4. Marking up Drawings and Images to Highlight and Communicate Issues:
Insite’s image and drawing markup features are fundamental to highlighting and communicating issues effectively. The ability to pin issues directly on drawings allows teams to visually identify and document problems accurately. This method of issue depiction removes ambiguity, ensuring that all stakeholders have a clear understanding of the exact nature and location of the issue.
Markups on images enable users to provide detailed annotations and descriptions. This precision is crucial in construction where the exact dimensions, positions, and nature of issues can have significant implications on remedial actions.
Additionally, communicating issues through marked-up images is highly effective, especially when dealing with non-technical stakeholders or when language barriers exist. Visual representation transcends these barriers, making it easier for everyone to grasp the problem without extensive technical descriptions. Moreover, the markups facilitate collaboration among team members, as they can add comments, suggest solutions, or provide approvals directly on the image. This collaborative approach ensures that diverse expertise is leveraged in resolving issues.
5. Tracking Variations and Securing Payment for Additional Works with Insite Reports:
Insite’s advanced reporting capabilities are essential for managing project variations and ensuring clients receive full compensation for additional work. The platform facilitates the generation of detailed PDF and Excel reports, which serve as crucial evidence in securing appropriate payment.
Key to Insite’s effectiveness is its capacity to maintain a thorough photographic record of all completed works. This feature allows for a clear distinction between the scope of the original contract and any additional tasks, thereby minimising disputes related to extra charges. Users benefit from the ability to record variations as they happen, with the option to add images and detailed descriptions. This approach ensures the creation of a clear, well-organised record that is vital for transparent client communication and accurate billing.
Insite’s reports are not only comprehensive in content but also visually detailed, enhancing the process of task sign-off. These customisable reports, aligning with a company’s branding, offer an extensive view of project milestones, including both completed and pending tasks, thereby facilitating both interim and final account settlements.
The inclusion of visual evidence in these reports makes them particularly valuable for project reviews, audits, and client meetings. They provide an easily understandable summary of project challenges and their resolutions, crucial for comprehensive project evaluation and client satisfaction.
(See Trevor Shaw case study at https://insite.co.uk/case-study/trevor-shaw-ltd/).
How might this innovation influence the specification
Insite stands at the forefront of innovation in construction project management software, particularly for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) which most subcontractor companies would likely be classed as in comparison to the main contractor or housebuilder. Our approach to automating and streamlining complex processes is not just a matter of operational efficiency; it’s about fundamentally changing the expectations and standards in the construction industry.
1. Redefining Efficiency and Quality Control Expectations:
By simplifying and automating processes such as snagging, safety checks, QA, and condition surveys, Insite is raising the bar for what SMEs should expect from their project management tools. This shift is likely to influence client specifications, as they begin to demand more integrated, intuitive, and efficient software solutions that can deliver high-quality control without the need for extensive manual intervention.
2. Accessibility for SMEs:
Insite’s design caters to the unique needs and resource limitations of SMEs. Unlike enterprise-level software that often comes with complex features and high costs, Insite provides a tailored solution that balances functionality with affordability and ease of use. This approach is likely to influence industry specifications by making advanced project management tools more accessible to a broader range of companies.
3. Templating and Real-Time Tracking:
Insite’s templating feature standardises quality checks and workflows, ensuring consistency across projects. This capability is crucial for ensuring that QA checks are standardised across projects and contractors. Meanwhile, real-time tracking ensures that all project stakeholders are continually updated, fostering a culture of transparency and collaboration. These features are likely to become benchmarks in project management specifications, as they address core needs of efficiency and communication within the industry.
4. Setting New Standards in Client-Vendor Relationships:
Insite’s approach to software development – focusing on usability, affordability, and specific client needs – may influence how SMEs perceive and interact with technology vendors. There’s potential for a shift towards more collaborative relationships, where client feedback and industry-specific requirements play a significant role in shaping software solutions.
Conclusion:
By carving out this niche for subcontractors and other SMEs, we are not just offering a product but we are actively participating in shaping the future landscape of construction project management software. We hope that we can positively impact specifications by giving access to technology to businesses of all sizes. This should help to set new expectations for efficiency, quality, and accessibility in the industry.
Creation of novel internal systems to produce eco-innovation
Insite’s digital-first approach plays a crucial role in driving eco-innovation within the construction industry. By transitioning traditional processes to digital platforms, Insite is not only enhancing efficiency but also actively contributing to environmental sustainability.
1. Reduction in Paper Use:
Insite’s digitisation of audits and inspections significantly reduces the reliance on paper-based systems. This shift has a direct environmental impact, cutting down on paper waste and the associated ecological footprint of paper production, including reductions in water usage, deforestation, and energy consumption involved in paper manufacturing and recycling.
2. Promoting Remote Collaboration:
By facilitating remote collaboration, Insite reduces the need for travel, especially to and from construction sites or between offices. This reduction in travel not only saves time and resources but also significantly cuts down on travel-related carbon emissions. The use of cloud-based tools and mobile access means that teams can communicate and manage projects effectively without the environmental cost of frequent travel.
3. Internal Policies for Digital Resource Use:
Internally, Insite can encourage practices that prioritise digital over physical resources. This might include policies that favour electronic communication, digital documentation, and virtual meetings. Such policies reduce the environmental impact of everyday business operations and set a precedent for sustainable practices within the industry.
Conclusion:
Insite’s commitment to eco-innovation reflects a forward-thinking approach that aligns business efficiency with environmental responsibility. Through its digital solutions and internal policies, Insite is not just transforming project management in construction but also contributing to a more sustainable future for the industry.