"I no longer have to collate paper records and transfer data to spreadsheets. All our cost information is visible to those who need it in real-time, enabling the team to query data to drive decision-making quicker than ever"
Adam Foster
Quantity Surveyor
Managing resource allocation in a complex construction project is a multifaceted challenge that can significantly impact project success. The Gatwick Airport Station redevelopment project, with its multitude of subcontractors, contingent labour, and varied work activities, epitomised this challenge.
The project team faced several hurdles in effectively allocating resources across the project, primarily due to the reliance on traditional paper-based reporting methods.
The project team's traditional approach to resource allocation involved supervisors capturing data on paper documents and manually collating this information into spreadsheets. This process was not only time-consuming and error-prone but also lacked real-time visibility into resource utilisation. The time spent on manual data entry and processing took away from supervisors' ability to focus on on-site operations and strategic decision-making.
The lack of real-time visibility into resource utilisation hindered the project team's ability to make informed decisions and proactively address potential issues. Without a clear understanding of how resources were being used across the project, it was difficult to identify inefficiencies, optimise resource allocation, and prevent cost overruns.
The project team also faced challenges in accurately estimating and controlling labour costs. The reliance on paper-based records made it difficult to track actual labour hours and associated costs, leading to potential discrepancies between budgeted and actual expenses. This lack of cost transparency made it challenging to manage the project's overall budget effectively.
“Raildiary is simple and easy to use. I no longer have to complete paper allocation records and I can easily distribute the team’s working hours to pre-planned work activities. For me, it saves a huge amount of time after every shift and is straightforward. Importantly, Raildiary makes it so easier to show where things change on-site and provides detailed records to benefit our commercial team. I’d love to have it on all my projects in the future!” Brian O'Connor (Supervisor)
To address the challenges posed by traditional paper-based reporting and the need for real-time visibility and cost control, the Gatwick Airport Station project team embarked on a digital transformation journey by implementing Raildiary, a cutting-edge platform specifically designed for resource allocation and reporting in construction projects.
Raildiary's intuitive interface and cloud-based accessibility provided supervisors with a streamlined approach to capturing and managing resource allocation data. Supervisors could effortlessly record labour hours and assign them to specific work activities directly on the platform, eliminating the need for paper forms and manual data entry, saving valuable time and reducing the risk of errors.
Raildiary was procured and deployed across the programme, onboarding over 75 Users and moving away from archaic reporting methods in less than 4 weeks.
The real-time nature of Raildiary revolutionised the project team's ability to track resource utilisation. As supervisors updated allocation data on the platform, the project team gained immediate visibility into how resources were being used across the project. This real-time visibility enabled proactive identification of potential inefficiencies and allowed for timely adjustments to resource allocation strategies, ensuring that resources were used effectively and efficiently.
Raildiary also provided the project team with comprehensive reporting capabilities. Customisable reports could be generated to analyse resource usage trends, identify areas for improvement, and track progress towards project goals. This data-driven approach empowered the team to make informed decisions based on accurate and up-to-date information, ensuring that the project remained on track and within budget.
“Raildiary has saved me a significant number of hours each week. I no longer have to collate paper records and transfer data to spreadsheets. All our cost information is visible to those who need it in real-time, enabling the team to query data to drive decision-making quicker than ever. Raildiary has significantly improved the way we manage our subcontractors at Gatwick Airport Station generating cost and time benefits for both ourselves and our client.” Adam Foster (QS)
The implementation of Raildiary on the Gatwick Airport Station project yielded significant and quantifiable results, demonstrating the platform's ability to streamline processes, enhance efficiency, and reduce costs.
By eliminating the need for paper forms, manual data entry, and time-consuming data collation, Raildiary freed up valuable time for supervisors and project managers. The project team estimated that Raildiary saved them over 25 hours per week in resource allocation and over 10 hours per week in commercial reporting time. This time saving allowed the team to focus on more strategic tasks, such as problem-solving, decision-making, and stakeholder engagement.
Raildiary's real-time visibility into labour costs enabled the project team to proactively identify and address potential cost overruns. By tracking actual labour hours against budgeted estimates, the team could identify discrepancies and take corrective actions before they became major issues. This proactive approach to cost management helped to keep the project within budget and avoid costly surprises.
Raildiary's comprehensive reporting capabilities provided the project team with valuable insights into resource utilisation trends and performance against project targets. By analysing this data, the team could identify areas where resources were being used inefficiently and make informed decisions to optimise allocation. This data-driven approach to resource management led to improvements in productivity, reduced waste, and ultimately, lower costs.
The combination of time savings, cost savings, and improved decision-making through Raildiary's implementation contributed to a significant overall efficiency gain on the Gatwick Airport Station project. The project team was able to complete the project on time, within budget, and with a high level of quality. Raildiary played a crucial role in achieving these project goals.
“Raildiary has been an absolute game-changer for our team at Gatwick Airport Station Project. My team has significantly reduced administrative time spent collating and translating shift allocation data from paper records. Our frontline Supervisors and Works Managers have direct access to the system which, after a brief training session, was quickly engaged with. All our cost information is integrated directly into the Raildiary platform meaning we can understand the true cost of works completed across the project areas in real time, plus we have greater visibility of works undertaken by our subcontractors beyond the agreed scope. We hope to utilise the system for further projects across the business to deliver similar value.” Colin Tweed (Commercial Manager)
Raildiary's enhanced visibility enabled the project team to divert time away from data collation and translation from site and instead focus on gaining a deeper understanding of subcontractor performance against the programme's baseline. This shift in focus facilitated more proactive issue identification and resolution, ensuring project adherence to both the programme and budget.
Moreover, the structured data generated by Raildiary facilitated performance evaluation across the supply chain, enabling continuous improvement and optimisation of subcontractor performance. This granular insight into subcontractor performance enhanced understanding of subcontractor costs, allowing for more accurate forecasting and budgeting.
Costain's in-house commercial reporting tool seamlessly integrated with Raildiary's data, providing a comprehensive overview of resource utilisation and supply chain performance. This integration empowered data-driven decision-making, optimising resource allocation, and enhancing supply chain efficiency throughout the project lifecycle.
“Using Raildiary has allowed us to ensure the work activities for our labour only Subcontractor is captured consistently. This structured data means we can stay on top of progress and make important decisions in a timely manner. I would recommend that this is extended to all Subcontractors on future projects” Marisa Rabbini (QS)
The successful implementation of Raildiary on the Gatwick Airport Station project stands as a testament to Costain's commitment to adopting innovative solutions to drive efficiency and excellence in its projects.
This transition not only modernised their operations but also positioned them as leaders in the industry's ongoing digital transformation.
Costain recognised the limitations of traditional paper-based reporting methods and proactively sought a digital solution to address these challenges. By embracing Raildiary, the company demonstrated its willingness to adopt innovative technologies to enhance efficiency, improve resource utilisation, and achieve project success.
The successful integration of Raildiary into Costain's operations has transformed their approach to labour allocation and reporting. The company has eliminated inefficient processes, focused on real-time performance monitoring, and achieved significant cost savings. This has positioned Costain as a leader in the construction industry's digital transformation journey.
The benefits of Raildiary's implementation on the Gatwick Airport Station project extend beyond the project itself. Costain has recognised the value of this digital solution and is now replicating its success across other high-profile projects such as the A12. By sharing best practices and lessons learned, Costain is driving the adoption of digital technologies throughout the construction industry.
Alongside the substantial time and cost savings achieved through Raildiary's implementation, the Gatwick Airport Station redevelopment project team embarked on an ambitious endeavour to integrate the platform with Building Information Modelling (BIM) models. This integration aimed to revolutionise labour cost management by providing a comprehensive and real-time view of labour allocation and expenditure across the project.
By seamlessly linking Raildiary with the BIM model, the project team unlocked the ability to automatically track labour hours and associated costs against the model, generating a real-time dashboard of project-wide labour expenses. This real-time visibility empowered the team to proactively identify and address potential labour cost overruns, ensuring that the project remained within budget and on schedule.
The integration also facilitated a granular analysis of labour allocation across the project.
By overlaying Raildiary data onto the BIM model, the team could visualise how labour resources were being utilised in different areas of the project and identify any inefficiencies or areas for improvement. This data-driven insight enabled strategic decision-making and optimised resource utilisation, leading to significant reductions in labour costs.
The integration of Raildiary and BIM model on the Gatwick Airport Station redevelopment project represents a ground-breaking advancement in construction project management, showcasing the transformative potential of digital technology to enhance collaboration, improve efficiency, and reduce labour costs. This project has set a new benchmark for the integration of BIM and labour allocation data, paving the way for future innovation in the construction industry.
As the construction industry continues its digital transformation journey, the integration of Raildiary and BIM models is poised to play an increasingly crucial role. By providing a holistic view of labour resources and costs, this integration will empower project teams to make informed decisions, optimise labour utilisation, and deliver projects on time and within budget.
The Gatwick Airport Station project serves as a compelling example of how digital transformation can revolutionise resource allocation and reporting in construction projects. By embracing Raildiary, Costain has demonstrated its commitment to innovation, efficiency, and excellence.
As the construction industry continues to embrace digital transformation, Costain is poised to remain at the forefront of this evolution, setting new benchmarks for project success and shaping the future of construction management.
