ROLE

Founding designer (User research, UX/UI, Brand identity)

As the sole designer on this small team, I had the opportunity to work closely with domain experts in construction and software engineers to define the MVP features to build and drove user research and interaction design.

The Challenge

No matter how well-planned a construction project is, there are always unexpected circumstances that lead to extra labor and material costs outside of the original contract. This leads to massive amounts of paperwork – known in the construction industry as “Time & Material (T&M) tags” – to track the labor, materials, and equipment involved. Subcontractors are paid according to actual labor, material, and equipment costs incurred (plus overhead and profit margin) and must provide documentation to the general contractor for all work completed.

Currently, the majority of the construction industry still relies on carbon copy documents that are passed from hand to hand for approvals and record keeping. At the job site, subcontractor superintendents waste time chasing down their general contractor counterparts to sign off on tags so that workers can get paid. At the office, administrators often have to decipher handwriting on tags and reach back out to individuals to clarify items. Communication to project managers, executives, and the owner is delayed, making it difficult for them to get timely updates on construction budget and expenditure, resolve and prevent issues, and plan for the future.

APPROACH

From mapping out features and functionality for different user roles, I determined that the General Contractor Project Manager and Subcontractor Superintendent roles covered the majority of use cases and decided to focus on developing flows for these two roles for the MVP.

solution

The TagNexus mobile app eliminates unnecessary back-and-forth by digitizing T&M tag documentation and processing and allows real-time, remote access through the cloud.

It enables both subcontractors and general contractors to organize and send tags seamlessly and get instant updates on the status of different items.

Organize tags in one place

Color-coded status indicators make it easy to check on tag status at a glance. Tap on different labels to filter tags from each category and determine whether any further action needs to be taken. The most recent tags are listed at the top for easy access.

Record materials used in real-time

Easy-to-follow input boxes and a list of options to choose from make it easy to enter the right information and avoid instances of incomplete tags getting kicked back. Attached photos aid with verification.

Track billable hours for crew and equipment

Log work hours right at the construction site for accuracy and make sure that the appropriate rates are used for billing. Easily document equipment used by choosing from a pre-populated catalog.

Clear, formatted tags at your fingertips

Going digital means no more hard-to-read handwritten tags. Since subcontractors can only submit tags once they are completely filled, unnecessary back-and-forth is reduced. Keep track of tag status updates all in one place.

Sign off on tags from anywhere

Completed tags that have been checked and are good to go can be approved remotely with a signature.

See the big picture and plan ahead

A summary of total T&M costs along with graphical representations assists with project planning and budgeting.