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Power BI and Data Management for a US-based Construction Company

How We Helped a US Construction Company Manage Hundreds of Sites Effortlessly with Power BI - Beyond Regular Reporting in Power BI.

Overview

Our client, a leading construction firm in the state of Georgia, USA, needed a cost-effective solution for tracking the construction progress of >300 single-family units.

This case study shows how we used our Power BI expertise to visualize the construction progress of the units, but it also shows how Power BI alone wasn’t enough - and how we built an end-to-end system that achieved our client's goal, from data creation to data visualization.

data analysis
Power BI


Navigating Challenges

Our client was already using construction management software. They were too big not to use one.

The problem? 

The software wasn’t tailored to this use case, it didn’t have mobile support and no reporting capabilities. They also looked into alternatives but didn’t find anything ready-made that they could use. 

This resulted in:

  • Delayed decision-making: Outdated info affected project timelines and budgets.
  • Poor communication: Stakeholders couldn't track progress in real-time, causing inefficiencies.
  • Inefficient workflows: Manual data entry and paper reports wasted time and resources.

Objectives (Client Goals Simplified):

  • Help site managers easily track progress on over 300 construction sites from their tablet or mobile.
  • Provide clear, near real-time updates on on-site progress and project-related costs, refreshed every hour.
  • Save costs with an affordable app and quick progress tracking.
  • Create a user-friendly mobile app to display real-time updates.

Assessment and Requirements:

After careful assessment, we found out that It wasn't just about tracking the on-site progress and project-related costs. 

Our client needed a way to track progress over time and compare it with the schedules.

To solve this, we needed a detailed system to track every change users made in the application.

We figured out we needed two technologies for the job:

  • Coda.io: A user-friendly no-code platform for data creation and management.
  • Power BI: A powerful data visualization tool for creating interactive dashboards and reports.

Solution: Blueprint to Reality

After detailed discussions and considering our client's requirements, we decided to build an application that would have four tables.

  1. One for tracking the progress of each task, with the status easily updated via a button press.
  2. Another for recording the cost of all materials and the progress of their procurement.
  3. Another to track the progress of utilities and amenities constructed for common use, such as sidewalks, dog parks, playgrounds, and communal pools.
  4. Lastly, one that would track all the changes a user would make to a construction task - to help us track progress over time.

Key Points:

  • To meet our client's desire to keep an eye on progress over time and compare it with the schedule, we created a lightweight construction management system in coda.io that became both the management tool for the site managers and the source of all the data we would report on.
  • For data visualization, clarity, and control for upper management, we used Power BI.

Our Application Capabilities:


Complete Site Management in Coda: The system in Coda allows users not only to view the current status of tasks but also allows for easy management of all tasks, units, and costs, creating a digital copy of the construction site.

Scalable Operations: Our client can manage projects of any size with ease, as our application handles over 20,000 tasks across 350 construction lots, showcasing its scalability and adaptability.

Interactive Site Work Map: We also used the project's site work sketch to create a map that allows for tracking work progress, giving the constructor a clearer picture of the project's evolution.

Proactive Progress Tracking: Our application, powered by Power BI:

  • Tracks progress vertically (by unit) and horizontally (by task).
  • Monitors cost completion in real-time, comparing actuals to estimates.

Client Wins:

  • Improved decision-making: Site managers could track progress on 300+ construction sites from their mobile and tablets in real-time.
  • Cost-Effective Solution: Coda and Power BI licenses stay under $100/month, ensuring a budget-friendly solution.
  • Flexible and Scalable: Handles 20,000+ tasks across +300 lots and easily adapts to multiple projects with customizable features.
  • Increased Productivity: Streamlined workflows and reduced administrative tasks save valuable time and resources.
  • Management Control: Upper management had clarity and visibility across all the construction lots and could act knowing the full context all the time.

Client Testimonial

No fancy talk. Just real results:

A bunch of companies talk about data solutions, but Datanauts actually delivered.
Our construction projects were stuck in paperwork hell until they showed up. Their no-nonsense approach cut through the clutter, transforming our paperwork chaos into streamlined processes.

Power BI and Data Management for a US-based Construction Company

How We Helped a US Construction Company Manage Hundreds of Sites Effortlessly with Power BI - Beyond Regular Reporting in Power BI.

data analysis
Power BI

Assessment and Requirements:

After careful assessment, we figured out we needed three technologies for the job:

  • Coda.io: A user-friendly no-code platform for data creation and management.
  • Power BI: A powerful data visualization tool for creating interactive dashboards and reports.
  • Google Sheets App Script: Serving as the connective tissue, this script facilitates the integration between Coda.io and Power BI, ensuring a harmonious orchestration of data flow.

One Additional Requirement:

  • To meet our client's need for real-time task monitoring and progress comparison against the schedule, We needed to create a system in Coda that tracked all user-made changes within the application.

Technical Challenge: Connecting the Dots

Power BI for the data visualization and Coda to build the application was perfect for our client's requirements.

However, a crucial piece was missing – a seamless way to transfer data from Coda to Power BI.

This led us to the Big Question: How do we establish a connection between Coda and Power BI?

Simplified Solution:

In a nutshell, we solved it with a "Data-Transfer-Mechanism" using the Coda API and Google Sheets AppScript.

The result? Hourly data collection in Google Sheets, forging an invisible link between Coda and Power BI. Seamless, slick, and problem-solved

Final Solution with Power BI Application.

It doesn't stop there – Using the Power BI application, we were able to feature visuals that empower seamless tracking of progress both vertically (by unit) and horizontally (by task).

The entire interface is designed to be interactive, transparent, and user-friendly.

Another standout achievement is the creation of an interactive site work map. 

Using the project's site work sketch as a foundation, we crafted a map to monitor every inch of progress. This gave the constructor a crystal-clear view of the project's journey, enhancing decision-making and project management.