PlanRadar

Innovation overview and development

An overview of the digital innovation
PlanRadar is an award-winning digital SaaS field management platform specifically designed for the intricate needs of construction and real estate projects, including task management and communication for robust project oversight. Operating through a cloud platform, it allows users to easily document and record vital project data, creating an all-important golden thread of information.

Fundamentally, it’s an essential tool for anyone looking to improve the safety, quality and efficiency of builds, whether new builds or renovation and retrofit projects.

The software goes far beyond data entry and recording, serving as an all-encompassing solution adapted to the fast-paced nature of the fit-out sector, adept at navigating the complexities of existing building surveys or condition surveys, snagging at the beginning and end of projects to reduce the likelihood of reworks, managing subcontractors and enabling the easy reporting of vital project information for a comprehensive audit trail.

One of PlanRadar’s most popular features for fit-out clients is the ability to create reports onsite quickly and easily from condition surveys, with the ability to add photos, voice notes etc. directly to the relevant part of the plan in the platform. Simple to use and intuitively designed, users can efficiently manage surveys and snag reports, ensuring full safety and compliance, making rigorous audits a breeze. It also improves condition reporting, a vital and time-consuming element in fit-out and renovation, through evidence collection and secure storage. Importantly, users can capture critical visual data in the form of voice notes, photos and videos whilst live on-site, leaving no stone unturned, with the ability to geotag each image for pinpoint plan accuracy. Moving forward, there are plans to integrate a common data environment (CDE) into the platform for additional project management capabilities.

This vast array of features has garnered attention on a global scale, with PlanRadar available in 20 languages to a user base exceeding 120,000 from 75 countries.

Industry background
The construction industry has longstanding project management and quality assurance challenges. Inconsistency remains an issue, and due to a lack of standardisation, building standards can vary wildly between structures.
For building occupants, this has raised questions around safety, particularly when prioritising fire safety, which has seen widespread failings.

As these issues persist, contractors and asset owners have found themselves in an increasingly complex legislative landscape, facing government pressure to build safer, more efficiently and digitally.

However, in a notoriously under-digitised industry, navigating this new wave of building regulations has proven difficult, with many lacking the digital know-how to improve building processes and enact meaningful change. This has created undue risk and an industry in need of solutions. PlanRadar is an innovation platform assisting clients in the navigation of this new environment.
Provide details on how the digital innovation was developed, including effective collaboration, knowledge transfer and partnership along the project team
Originally developed as a defect management tool, PlanRadar has evolved into a holistic construction management platform and valuable fire safety compliance support tool.

A recent partnership with Oktra, one of the UK’s leading design and fit-out companies, saw PlanRadar initially adopted as a tool for fit-out snagging identification. Oktra trialled several platforms but found PlanRadar to be particularly intuitive and easy for the team to understand. PlanRadar’s ability to track progress defect identification and resolution provided a full, tamper-proof audit trail of all recorded information.

Oktra’s integration of PlanRadar commenced with the platform used by one team, later expanding to two, with the plan to gradually implement it across the entire organisation.

Since adoption, the relationship has evolved, with PlanRadar providing additional services including digitising key processes and creating a way to collaborate with subcontractors. Now, the team also uses PlanRadar for conducting existing building surveys and schedules of condition. The digital record of the survey is compiled in real time and can be easily tweaked before being sent out, which has been a great time-saving solution for the team.

PlanRadar was chosen because of its usability and compatibility with on-site teams. The team praised the platform’s simplicity, functionality, and potential for future development. They had no trouble incorporating it into their daily workflows, even when working with multiple subcontractors. PlanRadar supported the adoption, providing training throughout the integration process to ensure everyone was comfortable using the platform. Standout feedback from Oktra also included the software feeling like it had been developed by construction professionals who have been on-site. The team were also pleased by the fact that PlanRadar is a tried and tested, award-winning platform.

Interoperability presented another benefit for Oktra, as the software can be used in conjunction with other digital products, like BIM 360 Docs and SharePoint. It enables faster turnaround on reports and information sharing, crucial in an era of tighter regulation and more rigorous inspection. Using PlanRadar enables quicker communication and response times between the project team, improving efficiency and providing a centralised overview of projects.

To date, the software has been implemented on 20 Oktra projects and has proven to be beneficial in saving time during surveys and snagging processes while providing comprehensive digital records that can be shared easily between teams and shareholders.

For another PlanRadar client, Global HSE Solutions, a leading fire safety company, the ability to record video and integrate BIM were key to their requirements around the Building Safety Act and increased expectations for data collection in line with the Golden Thread of Information. Additionally, the ability to save time using the platform was also important for Global HSE Solutions.

“I wanted to improve the working life of my staff. Reporting, writing, and collating information around a survey has always been a laborious task. If we can speed that up in any way, that allows us to focus our energy on delivering our expertise.”
Ross O’Loughlin, Head of Global Technical Services

PlanRadar’s ability to incorporate QR code and NFC tag functionality, also made it easier for the Global HSE team to communicate building model information to anyone with a smart device. Tags or codes can be placed on various objects around sites, such as fire safety elements like fire extinguishers, dampers or fire doors so that subcontractors can see the latest floor plans or find details about when a snag was repaired, who installed it, and where the product was made etc. The technology allows all information and relevant documentation for each fire safety element to be retrieved with the click of a button. These innovations facilitate seamless information exchange on sites and in complete buildings, ultimately saving time and minimising miscommunication.

“PlanRadar is a really intuitive piece of software. It’s easy to use, you can expedite survey work and be able to provide real-time progress with our client base.”
Ross O’Loughlin, Head of Global Technical Services

Details on the measurable commercial results
Oktra halved the time required to conduct condition surveys from two days to one, empowering project teams to rapidly identify defects and draw up a schedule of repairs and detailed work specifications. Since it carries out 120 projects a year, this results in approximately 120 days a year – a massive win productivity-wise.

Global HSE Solutions also found they saved 50% of previous time spent on collating and preparing reports and fire safety assessments.

Looking further afield, across PlanRadar’s full user base, subcontractors also find PlanRadar easy to use, facilitating better digital integration. For example, 88% of subcontractors who use PlanRadar say it was easy to get started with the platform, and over 90% report the platform as being simple to use. Meanwhile, three-quarters of customers choose PlanRadar for its intuitive design.

User surveys have shown respondents save an average of seven hours per week using the platform and 18% of their work time. Companies have also registered an ROI of more than 900%, not including savings due to fewer mistakes, less rework and subsequent issues.

How does this innovation improve processes
PlanRadar supports companies like Oktra to streamline project planning, offering detailed plans, including tasks, milestones, and the critical path, ensuring no stone is left unturned. Fit-out professionals can define timelines and allocate resources appropriately whilst staying fully informed. Furthermore, the platform boasts an efficient task management system, which Oktra harnessed to simplify task assignments and improve personal accountability, ensuring clear responsibility in relation to specific issues and and real-time progress updates.

For enhanced collaboration, Oktra turned to PlanRadar to monitor tasks, capture photographic evidence for on-site audits, and create secure audit trails of all information. Being a central hub, it facilitates seamless communication among stakeholders through its document-sharing features, direct messaging, and commenting. This kept everyone in the loop from design to occupation.

Documentation management is also improved, as the team can upload and centralise all files, from drawings to permits. Every update is tracked, offering a clear revision history. The platform’s mobile app is also a potent tool for on-site inspections and issue management during the fit-out process, allowing Oktra to photograph sites, annotate, and delegate issues while monitoring the status of queries in real-time. Instant notifications ensure rapid communication and timely decision-making.

Using PlanRadar enables fit-out companies to complete the necessary steps to create the building safety case on their projects. Using a digital solution to review what currently exists, what condition the asset is in and what existing documentation is available. The next steps in the action plan can be built into the project plans and clearly documented and showcased to the entire project team directly in the platform, supporting the production of a digital/golden thread of information for the building safety case.

Another plus is PlanRadar’s interoperability. The platform seamlessly integrates with various tools, from project management to accounting, addressing the construction industry’s growing need for digital interoperability and ensuring data integrity. Lastly, its robust analytics evaluate KPIs, track task completion and issue resolution for enhanced efficiency. Beyond the fit-out build phase, PlanRadar facilitates the creation of detailed handover documents, ensuring a smooth transition from fit-out companies to clients. PlanRadar enables the right person of the project team to have access to the right information at the right time.

How might this innovation influence the specification
Thanks to detailed timelines, proper resource allocation, and real-time notifications, PlanRadar empowers businesses to be dynamic and precise in their approach to project or specification changes. The platforms integration with Building Information Modelling (BIM) means cross-reference data gathered in the field against design models to ensure there are no discrepancies or design flaws.

This is made possible through the mobile app, which allows onsite teams to take photos, add notes and ensure they’re meeting the standards set. This reduces the chance of errors and ensures that projects stay on time and on budget. Direct messaging, commenting, and document sharing create an easy flow of communication, so all parties are aware of the latest changes and project direction. The result is fewer mistakes for a safer, and timely build overall.

Through robust data analytics, specifications can be brought to life and tied to real-world performance metrics, allowing teams to identify and address factors that may lead to errors or project delays. Meanwhile, the creation of detailed handover documents ensures end clients have all the information they need when checking requirements have been met against specifications. They won’t just understand the what (i.e., the materials, finishes, etc.) but also the why and the how, tracking project evolution and why certain decisions were made. This also ensures that any warranties or maintenance instructions tied to specific specifications are clearly communicated to the end client.

Creation of novel internal systems to produce eco-innovation
PlanRadar offers a digital solution that streamlines the fit-out process, providing both operational and environmental advantages. Using PlanRadar results in a significant reduction in paper documentation; everything from project plans to permits and from condition schedules to handover reports is centralised and digitised.

The platform’s efficient task management and mobile app capabilities reduce the likelihood of errors on the construction site. In fact, 74% of PlanRadar users reported fewer errors and subsequent reworks. The result is less waste and lower emissions.