Image of construction workers levelling concrete

Digitalisation in the construction sector

How The Server Labs helped a construction sector statutory body in Spain to develop a cloud-native app to track key labour management data.

When a construction statutory body in Spain needed a system for recording key labour data, they required expert help. The Server Labs developed a cross-industry digital system that can be used by anyone, anywhere, and which has reduced tasks that previously took hours to a single click.

Value at a glance

  • Single system for all companies in the sector
  • Accessible and intuitive - even for users without technical knowledge
  • Cloud-native development
  • Scalable, sustainable, adaptable, secure application
  • Multidevice application for web and mobile infrastructure
Image of a civil engineer on a construction site using a tablet

The construction sector in Spain

The labour data solution

In recent years, Spain has been strongly pushing for digitalisation as a way of driving efficiency and transformation within the economy - particularly in sectors that are predominantly analog, and rely heavily on manual processes.

One of these is the construction sector, which employs 1.3 million workers, in over 328,000 companies, mainly micro businesses and SMEs. The sector was looking for ways to harness the power of digital technology.

The law requires companies in the construction sector to keep a record of key data - including employee hours, location, permits, overtime, project information, cost codes, expenses, access control system, training certifications and project-specific permissions. The construction statutory body in Spain wanted to give companies an app to register this data, and selected The Server Labs – cloud-native experts – to develop it.

The Server Labs was selected for the project because of its outstanding capabilities in cloud architecture and cloud-native development. Working with key members of the statutory body, The Server Labs developed an application for a digital labour data system.

The application can be used by all companies in the sector, streamlining compliance with the new laws. The app is robust and capable of handling the large transaction volumes that this sector generates. It is user-friendly and intuitive, providing substantial and detailed data to support construction companies with comprehensive information.
Essentially, given the nature of construction work, the app incorporates multidevice functionality for web and mobile to ensure access even in the most remote construction sites.

Challenges in development

To succeed in meeting the specific needs of the construction environment, the tool had to meet four critical requirements.

  • Simplicity: The majority of workers have limited technology knowledge and are not accustomed to using technological applications.
  • Minimal infrastructure and offline registration capability: Construction sites are often located in remote areas with no data connection, so the application needs to save information until the connection is restored.
  • Mobility: Temporary workplaces pose a greater challenge for implementing a computerised registration system.
  • Interoperability: The system should be able to connect with personnel management and payroll software used by companies.
Image of futuristic modern building in Spain

Key features for companies, supervisors, and workers

Key technologies for a comprehensive solution

The tool addresses the diverse needs of companies, supervisors at the worksites, and workers by digitising key administrative and management processes for each user group. In a highly analog sector managed through manual processes, the application provides relevant information and functionalities to companies, supervisors, and workers with ease. Tasks that used to take hours can now be accomplished with a single click, without the need for computer skills.

The law requires companies in the construction sector to keep a record of key data - including employee hours, location, permits, overtime, project information, cost codes, expenses, access control system, training certifications and project-specific permissions. The construction statutory body in Spain wanted to give companies an app to register this data, and selected The Server Labs – cloud-native experts – to develop it.

The system includes a multidevice application (Android, iOS,and Web) supported by a secure and robust cloud infrastructure, adapted to the sector’s needs. For its development, The Server Labs has used cloud-native technologies that provide a superior level of robustness, adaptability, sustainability, and future viability.

Setting trends for the future

The application lays a foundation for adding new functionalities to advance the digitalisation of the sector. The infrastructure and technological components can be reused for future applications, ensuring an agile, secure, and cost-effective implementation.

The system represents a milestone for the construction sector, meeting its detailed requirements while providing simple and intuitive usability. It will ensure that the industry is prepared for the implementation of its exciting future of digital transformation.

Get in touch
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It was a fascinating project to work on - developing an application that provided a clear solution to a problem in the construction sector. Prior to this, there were no apps of this kinds in the sector except for a few legacy private systems. Now tasks that used to take hours can be accomplished in a single click, without needing technical knowledge.

Paul Parsons

Chief Technology Officer at The Server Labs

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