From September, the business is implementing changes to both the hardware and software components of its I.T infrastructure, enabling improved access and faster updating of key project information.
The upgrades will have a significant effect on both productivity and timeliness says Focus Construction Director Nick Whittaker. "This upgrade is all about working smarter and providing staff with the right tools. If our team has instant access to project information and can update details on the job - rather than having to come back to the office - then they'll be faster in their overall delivery."
A key part of the upgrade is the introduction of Microsoft OneDrive - a secure cloud based drive directory which any member of the Focus team can access from anywhere. Operating in a similar way to Dropbox, the shared drive system allows Project Managers to create new folders for their jobs, which can then be universally accessed across the group on-site, in the office or even overseas.
All Focus employee's mobile phones will now run on the faster 4G network (upgraded from 3G) and will include 4GB of data. Rather than using a seperate data stick for internet access, staff will hotspot directly from their phones using the tethering feature. Given the increased availablity of documents and plans through the shared OneDrive, data use is anticipated to go up.
Each site supervisor will be issued with a 32GB iPad mini with Retina Display, housed in a water-resistant and drop-proof protective casing. As well as providing remote email access, the iPads will run a number of specific programmes and apps designed to assist supervisors with their work.
The improvements are essential to keep up with the pace the firm works at says says Whittaker. "We have to be incredibly sharp with our internal systems and processes. As we've grown, it's become even more important to look at how efficiently we're delivering our service whilst maintaining our high quality standard. Whilst it's no holy grail, the I.T upgrades are a key part of our continuous improvement in this area."