Exto is proud to announce that it has earned ISO 9001:2015 certification, an accreditation that demonstrates, through a quality management system, Exto work management, integration products, and solutions meet customers’ needs.

“Earning ISO 9011:2015 certification reflects Exto’s commitment to delivering high-quality solutions to our clients and partners and demonstrates that we operate with high-quality standards,” said Jason Mennig, Exto CEO. “Thank you to the entire team for working together to earn this ISO certification and for continuing to support our mission to connect people, processes, and data.”

ISO 9001:2015 is part of the ISO 9000 series of standards developed and published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to guide companies of all sizes to build an effective, high-quality management system. This standard is based on several quality management principles, including a strong customer focus, leadership motivation and implication, optimal processes, and continuous improvement.

Exto’s ISO 9001:2015 certification was issued by the accreditation body TÜV SÜD, an international trade and development company for safety, security, and sustainability solutions.

Learn more about ISO 9001:2015 at https://asq.org/quality-resources/iso-9000#Versus

Throughout the last decade, innovations in digital transformation have rapidly captivated industries across the globe. Digital transformation technology and services global spending is expected to reach $3.4 trillion by 2026, up from $1 trillion in 2018 (Sava, Statista 2022).

As technological innovations reshape industries, construction has embarked on a transformative journey of its own. While the construction industry is reimagining traditional best practices and leveraging new technologies to manage processes, one of the most prominent changes is the adoption of cloud technology. With the power of the cloud, companies are digitizing multiple construction functions including process management, complex work management with multiple agents and stakeholders.

Work management platforms are an essential piece in cloud-led digital transformation. They function as a centralized hub where all project stakeholders — like owners, general contractors, and subcontractors — can coordinate and manage work details, for instance, submittal approval, construction schedule updates, and commissioning issues. By exploring how cloud-based work management software delivers improved communication, efficiency, security, and adaptability, we can understand how digital transformation reshapes work management.

Facilitate cross-team real-time communication

The cloud facilitates seamless collaboration and communication among project teams, even when personnel are split between on-site and off-site functions. The cloud provides a centralized location for tracking project-related information like documents, drawings, and checklists across teams so that project owners, general contractors, and subcontractors working in tandem can instantly access and update project data from different locations. With real-time data synchronization, stakeholders can make informed decisions from anywhere and minimize delays throughout the project lifecycle.

Suppose a team member flags an issue during regular quality control checks. On a cloud-based work management platform, project contributors can follow designated step-by-step processes for corrective action without using email or uncontrolled documents in Excel to track progress and open items. A cloud-based work management platform can save valuable time and effort by facilitating collaborative issue tracking and reducing information silos, as each stakeholder can view current status each time they view an issue.

Reduce manual data-entry errors

We all occasionally make mistakes. Cloud-based work management solutions cannot eliminate manual errors, but they represent an opportunity to reduce manual data entry — and, therefore, errors — by integrating solutions to transfer and synchronize data across platforms. Users only need a software-enabled device to input project data and check project status.

Field reports, for example, provide a comprehensive snapshot of project progress and resources to serve as a reference for future analysis. Field personnel may need to record data like workforce attendance, work performed, and safety incidents, every day. On a cloud-based work management platform, field personnel input this information directly into the platform from a software-enabled mobile device or tablet, eliminating the need for manual data transfer from paper documents or handwritten notes and reducing the potential for any data entry errors. Through the platform, this information is shared with managers for future analysis.

Most cloud-based work management solutions can integrate with other software applications integral to project management like design tools, building information modeling (BIM) software, scheduling tools, and progress billing software. However, it is essential to understand the level of integration offered by each work management platform and confirm that data can flow properly between solutions as not all software offers the same integration capabilities. 

Enhance security

Some users can be skeptical of security offered by cloud solutions, but the reality is that local on-premise solutions cannot compete with data center security in the event of breaches or loss.

The cloud creates an opportunity to bolster data integrity and security, as information is backed up regularly and stored across multiple servers to ensure redundancy and data availability. The redundancy of digital assets helps protect project data against loss in the event of accidental deletion, system failures, or damage to physical documents, which can be detrimental to project timelines.

Along with utilizing features like data encryption and user authentication to protect project data from unwanted access, Exto is a cloud provider that complies with VAPT security standards and regulations and has advanced security monitoring systems to detect and respond to potential external security threats.

Adapt to project requirements

Having software that can adapt to project demands on the fly is vital to the project landscape, especially since disruptions can cause costly construction delays and project overruns. Since infrastructure projects are nearly always one-of-a-kind undertakings with unique requirements, processes, and timelines, it can take time for firms to find a one-size-fits-all digital transformation solution. A cloud-based work management platform tackles this challenge, helping companies quickly create workflows and align resources with the requirements of different projects.

For instance, a company may use its cloud-based work management solution for a large project that necessitates information about project planning, like drawings, documents, and inspection and testing data to monitor quality control measures. For smaller projects, stakeholders may only want to use the platform for collaboration on daily reports, approvals, and sharing site photos. In these examples, a cloud-based work management platform can be configured to fit different project needs with the ability to utilize specific capabilities and leave out others. Companies don’t need to use different platforms for different project requirements.

Begin your digital transformation journey

Digital transformation continues to reshape the construction landscape and bring new opportunities to modernize traditional processes.

To learn more about how cloud-based work management software can become part of your digital transformation, connect with us today.

Data security remains critical as more companies use web solutions to integrate construction data and connect teams. We are pleased to announce that Exto has achieved vulnerability assessment and penetration testing (VAPT), a comprehensive security test that confirms Exto software is designed and operates securely.

“The VAPT certification reflects Exto’s commitment to maintaining the security of our work management solutions,” said Jason Mennig, Exto CEO. “VAPT is a rigorous process that proves the software is resilient against potential breaches. It tests the vulnerability within an IT environment, the penetration of potential breaches, a series of simulated attacks, and proactive vigilance as new cyber threats arise.”

Mennig continued, “we see security not as a destination but rather a journey. VAPT certification is part of our ongoing efforts to ensure the highest security standards for our customers and partners. We are now taking an active approach to achieving SOC 2 Type 2 certification.”

Service organization control (SOC) 2 is an attestation report developed by the American Institute of CAPs based on five trust principles: security, privacy, confidentiality, availability, and processing integrity. Exto’s IT team partnered with California-based company Drata, an advanced security and compliance platform for SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and GDPR, to ensure all processes and requirements are followed.

If you have questions about Exto’s security certifications or practices, please email us at compliance@exto360.com.

For more information on SOC 2, visit https://www.aicpa-cima.com/cpe-learning/course/soc-2r-report-walkthrough

Continuous commissioning is a complex procedure with multiple stakeholders testing concurrent systems. It involves long processes and checklists that can lead to problems like project delays, cancellations, cost overruns, or the endangerment of people and the environment. In the energy industry, machinery failure or human error can be fatal on an oil platform. Equipment failure at a power plant can mean economic losses into millions of dollars.

Proper commissioning is crucial for all energy projects to prevent minor hitches or faulty components from causing large-scale damage like the BP incident. A thorough, continuous commissioning process to ensure all equipment and systems continue functioning properly during operations could have saved the environment from that disaster and helped BP avoid immense losses.

At Exto, we know commissioning can be time-consuming and expensive if not managed efficiently. This is why, in today’s competitive business landscape, energy companies must find ways to automate and streamline ongoing commissioning operations and have a clear end-to-end view of the process. Two high-level items may negatively affect a streamlined commissioning process: paper-based processes and remote projects.

Paper-Based Commissioning Processes
Many workflows in the energy sector are still conducted on paper or other uncontrolled methods like spreadsheets are stored on siloed employee computers, creating inefficiencies and increased risks of errors. Without a single source of truth, it is easy for teams to misplace a document or miss a deadline. For companies experiencing growth, paper-based processes limit scalability. As new projects come in, more pieces of equipment need to be managed and commissioned, increasing the amount of paperwork.

Remote Projects
Remote work can invite challenges, specifically when collaborating with multiple workers in different locations. The sensitive nature of this sector demands an increased level of coordination, making commissioning processes time-consuming and increasing their complexity.

Instead of sending employees into the field, forward-thinking energy companies are starting to use drones to take photos and videos for site inspections. While drone use saves engineers and operators from spending time on trips to and from the field, it doesn’t fully solve collaboration challenges. If teams don’t have a commissioning platform to store and share photos with stakeholders, multiple back-and-forth emails will continue.

You may have heard the expression “work smarter, not harder.” At Exto, that expression is our philosophy.

The Exto work management platform helps plan, execute, and track work efficiently and effectively. With its intuitive interface and multiple tools, you can complete projects faster and make informed decisions about resource allocation than with spreadsheets or manual tasks.

Exto is a centralized work management platform, project management platrofm, workflow manager, communication manager, and mobile app. With Exto, you can organize, track, and update tasks by department, location, or vendor.

Exto allows teams to develop an optimized operations workflow for increased efficiency. Exto automates critical tasks and processes so firms can focus on building teams that best suit their projects.

Construction projects involve thousands of tasks and subtasks. Generally speaking, these tasks are divided into three main phases: pre-construction, construction, and close out.

An integrated work management system can help construction companies streamline and manage all three phases of the construction project cycle regardless of industry and the complexity of the project. 

Let’s examine how work management software supports each construction phase.

During a commissioning project, steps and procedures are undertaken to ensure safety, quality, and industry compliance. Since an average construction project entails thousands of functions, each with subparts of its own, it is important to note that project commissioning is a complex, time-consuming piece of this multifaceted puzzle.

Commissioning includes verification, inspection, functional testing, and performance evaluation of all equipment and integrated systems to ensure that all components meet the safety requirements for operations and work together as intended.

Exto can help commissioning teams in different areas and digitize manual processes, like paper-based checklists, spreadsheets, and work reporting.

It’s no surprise to anyone involved in the construction space that the industry works in an extreme backlog due to lengthy payment cycles. According to a 2018 report from PwC, it takes longer to get paid in the construction space than in nearly any other industry.

These delayed payment cycles can create many inefficiencies, as businesses often have to wait until the work is completed before they can bill their customers, resulting in long payment cycle times. A survey from Levelset revealed that less than 50% of contractors received payment within 30 days of invoicing. Delayed payments result in contractors being forced to take out loans to cover their operating costs, which can pose significant project delays, and a poor contractor experience.

On top of that, construction usually involves multiple contractors and subcontractors, each dealing with complex equipment and different timelines for payment, making the payment cycle even more complex to manage. According to the Construction Cash Flow and Payment report conducted by Levelset in 2021, only 11% of construction businesses reported that they are always paid in full.

Digital services and technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), real-estate project management software, data analytics, blockchain-based smart contracts, and handheld devices are altering operating paradigms and driving digital transformation in the real estate and construction space.

These technologies are revamping the ‌way the real-estate industry functions. With more and more people being able to access information and transact business online, the industry is seeing an increase in demand for services and technology.

The remote work shift resulting from COVID, mobile apps, digital real estate services, and technologies like the internet of things (IoT) have changed how the real estate construction sector operates. At the same time, construction technologies like BIM and cloud computing are changing the way the industry builds and maintains its infrastructure.

Real-estate construction companies can now manage their workflows efficiently and with greater accuracy than just a few years ago. Technology use has allowed for transparency and collaboration among all the teams involved in a project.

For instance, BM is a process that uses 3D modeling to create a detailed representation of a building or structure. Firms can then use this information to manage the construction process, from design to completion. BIM is becoming increasingly popular in real estate construction as it provides an efficient way to manage construction projects.

Cloud computing is also changing the real estate construction space. Cloud applications allow companies to store and access data on remote servers rather than on their local servers. These applications can help improve collaboration across teams involved in a project and reduce the need for physical storage space of data. Cloud computing also offers new opportunities for data analysis and reporting, which can help improve the efficiency of construction projects.

The digitization of the real estate industry has revolutionized the entire construction landscape. By automating processes and improving communication and collaboration, digital tools have made it easy to construct, work on, and manage properties. Digitization has also allowed real estate work management to be completely paperless and standardized.

As the real estate construction sector moves away from traditional paper-based methods and towards digitization, work management platforms like Exto represent an opportunity  for companies to improve efficiency and productivity.

Data is the most powerful tech currency in the world. Tech giants like Google, Facebook, and Twitter all base their business plans around data. Harvesting, searching, analyzing, and implementing data-driven decisions is one of the most crucial aspects of any modern business.

Construction is an industry that is ripe for data analytics. It can provide insights that were not possible before data became easily harvestable and usable. For example, data analytics can ‌predict how long a project will take, how much material will be needed, and what the most efficient construction methods are.

But the construction industry is lagging with digitization and advanced data analyses. As the industry recovers post-COVID, it is facing tighter margins, stringent regulations, and lagging productivity growth. Using the power of data analytics, it’s possible to improve efficiency in the construction space.