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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.

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The problem? 

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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. 

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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  • Delayed decision-making: Outdated info affected project timelines and budgets.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):

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  • 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.

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Assessment and Requirements:

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

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

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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.

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Solution: Blueprint to Reality

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Power BI şi managementul datelor pentru o companie de construcţii din SUA

Cum am ajutat o companie de construcţii americană să administreze cu uşurinţă sute de şantiere
cu Power BI – Dincolo de raportarea regulată în Power BI.

analiza datelor
Power BI

Analiză şi cerinţe:

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După o analiză atentă, am realizat că avem nevoie de trei tehnologii:

  • Coda.io: O platformă uşor de utilizat, fără scriere de cod, în vederea creării şi
    managementului de date.‍
  • Power BI: Un instrument puternic de vizualizare a datelor în vederea creării tablourilor de bord şi a rapoartelor interactive.
  • Google Sheets App Script: Reprezentând elementul de legătură, acest script facilitează integrarea dintre Coda.io şi Power BI, asigurând un flux armonios al datelor.

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O cerinţă suplimentară:

  • Pentru a întruni nevoia clientului nostru de monitorizare a sarcinilor în timp real şi compararea progresului şi a planului, a trebuit să creăm un sistem în Coda ce înregistra toate modificările efectuate în cadrul aplicaţiei.

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Provocarea tehnică: Conectarea punctelor

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Din perspectiva cerinţelor clientului nostru, Power BI a fost perfectă pentru vizualizarea datelor, în timp ce Coda a fost perfectă pentru construcţia aplicaţiilor.
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Cu toate acestea, ne lipsea un element deosebit de important – o manieră uşoară de a transfera datele de la Coda la Power BI.

Aceasta a condus la Marea întrebare: Cum stabilim o conexiune între Coda şi Power BI?

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Soluţia simplificată:

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Pe scurt, rezolvarea noastră a fost printr-un „Mecanism de transfer de date”, utilizând API Coda şi Google Sheets AppScript.
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Rezultatul? Colectarea orară a datelor în Google Sheets, construind o legătură invizibilă dintre Coda şi Power BI.

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Soluţia finală cu aplicaţia Power BI.

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Şi încă nu am terminat – utilizând aplicaţia Power BI, am reuşit să prezentăm aspecte vizuale ce înlesnesc urmărirea uşoară a progresului vertical (în funcţie de unitate) şi orizontal (în funcţie de sarcini).

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Întreaga interfaţă este proiectată pentru a fi interactivă, transparentă şi uşor de utilizat.

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O altă realizare care se evidenţiază reprezintă crearea unei hărţi interactive a şantierului.

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Utilizând schiţa şantierului, am construit o hartă pentru monitorizarea fiecărui cm de progres realizat de noi. Aceasta a oferit constructorului o imagine limpede asupra direcţiei proiectului, îmbunătăţind luarea deciziilor şi managementul proiectului.