How Digital Tools can help Construction Teams work Smarter

Ty Campbell, Director, Online Services, United Rentals [NYSE: URI]

In today’s world, harnessing the power of digital technology to manage construction equipment just makes sense.

You’ve probably heard the advice to work smarter, not harder. In construction, one way to do it is to lean on digital tools that streamline processes, save time and give greater control.

Whether a contractor needs to rent or return equipment, locate equipment or monitor utilization, digital tools put action and information at their fingertips. But as withhaving too many TV remotes or complicated remotes that defy understanding, having too many tools that don’t work together or are difficult to use can subtract rather than add to efficiency.

Find, rent and return equipment

In the digital age, you no longer need to make a phone call to order takeout — orreserve equipment from a rental equipment provider. You can do it yourself 24/7 at your convenience via a desktop or mobile appwith the same seamless experience. With a few clicks,construction teams can find the equipment that’s needed, order and off-rent equipment. They can also request a pickup, track equipment deliveries, adjust rental dates,access leniency windows to reduce rental costs and see the location of all telematics-enabled equipment and assets.

If a maintenance issue arises, contractors can request service directly from a mobile app and even upload photos to help diagnose the issue.Look for digital tools to keep evolving such as adding capabilities to save your favorites and get equipment recommendations.

“Digital tools, including mobile apps and cloud-based equipment management systems, allow construction teams to find what they need, and do what they need, no matter where they are or what device or tool is being used”

These toolsalso open the door to alerts that can help manage equipment rentals more easily and effectively. For example, contractors can receive alerts via email, SMS or mobile when equipment is due back and potentially save thousands of dollars in late returns.

Manage rented and owned fleet

The longer an asset or piece of equipment sits idle, the more it costs a construction company, whether it’s owned or rented. Many companies don’t regularly track utilization and aren’t aware how much under utilization is costing them. But utilization is easy to track in a fleet management tool through desktop or mobile access.

Running utilization reports and leveraging real-time low-utilization alerts are smart ways for companies to meet their utilization goals and beat industry benchmarks. Some contractors have seen their annual rental costs cut by a third.

Another potential money saver: an equipment management system can facilitate equipment sharing by letting users share equipment costs across multiple purchase orders.

With the right digital tools in your toolbox, it’s possible to work smarter and accomplish more in less time with fewer resources. Best-in-class rental platforms accessible by desktop and mobile are making it faster and easier to find, choose, rent and off-rent equipment. Rental providers that offer a digital fleet management solution give contractors even more power, providing visibility into both rented and owned equipment. That visibility can help you save money by helping boost utilization, eliminate hoarding and reduce duplication.