Column: Automate payments to make job progress smoother | Column: How HVAC firms can succeed during economic downturns | Tools to aid with invoicing tasks
Construction firms should capitalize on new technologies and services to automate payments to simplify workflows and attract subcontractor bids, Nvoicepay's Brent Meyers writes. Companies need to strategically think about new payment options, as simply eliminating checks can add complexity to project workflows.
HVAC contractors can thrive during an economic downturn by instilling confidence in their employees, pricing jobs well and providing superior service, Mike Agugliaro writes. Companies also need to follow up with leads persistently, he adds.
It's important to stay on top of invoicing and accounting tasks as your business grows, and the right tools can help, writes Amanda Pressner Kreuser of Masthead Media. She discusses five tools, including Wave, FreshBooks and Hello Bonsai.
Tired of rework? Connect the Project Lifecycle Outdated methods in project management lead to poorly run or inefficient projects. To stay competitive, contractors must think differently about how they win, plan, execute and close projects. Connecting the project lifecycle can improve productivity and increase profits. Download eBook.
A construction dispute adjudication system in Ontario due to take effect Oct. 1 is still lacking an administrative organization. While there is still time to unveil the new Authorized Nominating Authority, it may be a challenge to conduct the necessary training courses and adjudicator certification by October, construction lawyer Bruce Reynolds says.
Construction management firm Gafcon's data analysis has revealed that integrating outdated processes into building information modeling creates more problems than it solves, with companies along the design and construction funnel often working in silos and suffering a data loss of as much as 40%. However, the DigitalTwin One Model approach, in which all companies involved work on their components on the same platform, yields more effective collaboration, Kathleen Brown writes.
New York City Council has set a new deadline of Dec. 1 for construction workers to undergo at least 30 hours of safety training. The deadline to complete the entire 40-hour training requirement remains Sept. 1, 2020.
High-school students in a Missouri district are preparing for potential careers in the construction industry through a pilot program. Students who complete the Kansas City Construction Career Academy program will earn a high-school diploma and an associate degree.
Total US construction spending has dropped by 3.2% from a year ago, totaling $1.282 trillion in March, according to the US Census Bureau. Residential put-in-place construction spending dropped 8.4% year over year in March, while nonresidential put-in-place construction spending increased by 4.8% year over year.
The latest tariffs applied to Chinese goods by the Trump administration will add to price pressures on steel and iron ore, while copper will be largely unaffected, according to experts from consulting firm Wood Mackenzie. Consumers of aluminum and products that contain aluminum can expect "more of the same, but at a higher pain threshold," says Wood Mackenzie's Uday Patel.
Follow AGC on Facebook and Twitter and be the first to know about important news related to construction and AGC. Follow us on both and add to the discussion by clicking on Facebook and Twitter. You can also connect with us on LinkedIn and see what we're up to on YouTube and Instagram.
