Case Study: Custom Software Development for a Construction Company

Background

A construction company approached our team to develop a custom software solution to address their unique needs. They were using a generic industry software that lacked customization and integration capabilities, particularly in scheduling and inventory management.

Challenges

1. Scheduling Issues: The existing software was not customizable and required extensive manual effort (30 hours per week) to maintain schedules.
2. Inventory Management: The current system was primarily for purchasing and lacked inventory tracking capabilities.
3. Customer Communication: The company needed better visibility and communication with customers regarding project timelines, especially in the context of weather delays and material shortages.

Objectives

• Develop a smart scheduling system to reduce manual effort.
• Create an inventory management module to track materials and equipment.
• Enhance customer service through improved visibility and communication.
• Implement a multilingual interface to accommodate Spanish-speaking users.

Approach

1. Requirement Gathering: We started by understanding the company’s needs and ideas, categorizing them into must-haves and nice-to-haves.
2. Inventory Management: Developed a simple yet effective inventory management plan, including tracking items in work trucks and assigning trucks to employees.
3. Scheduling System: Created a scheduling module that allowed easy adjustments for weather delays and material shortages.
4. Customer Portal: Developed a portal for customers to log in and view communications and project timelines.
5. Multilingual Support: Ensured the application could be translated into Spanish using Google Translate.

Development Process

• Documentation: Created a detailed BRD (Business Requirements Document) outlining project scope, requirements, hardware specifications, and design mockups.
• Agile Methodology: Used an agile approach with incremental budgets and biweekly development cycles, allowing for continuous feedback and adjustments.
• Interactive storyboard: Created a interactive storyboard so the client can see and understand the software.
• User Testing: Conducted real-world scenario testing with the company’s employees to ensure usability and functionality.

Results

• Reduced Scheduling Time: The new system reduced scheduling time from 30 hours to 10 hours per week.
• Improved Inventory Tracking: Enhanced visibility into inventory and equipment locations.
• Better Customer Communication: Increased customer satisfaction through timely and accurate project updates.
• Cost Savings: The company avoided hiring additional staff for day-to-day operations.

Conclusion

The custom software solution successfully addressed the construction company’s challenges, improving efficiency, communication, and overall operations. The project was a valuable learning experience for our team, particularly in handling multilingual applications and adapting to a new industry.