The Issue
Grade A Construction, a leading construction firm specializing in prompt, effective solutions like asphalt paving and utility services, faced significant operational challenges during its early years, especially around its equipment. The field didn’t know which piece of equipment was down, what was available for use, and had no data insights or reporting for preventative maintenance. The company relied heavily on paper-based processes that led to inefficiencies and a lack of real-time data. The absence of integrated software solutions hindered their ability to manage equipment, track time, and handle project documentation effectively.
The Solution
When Grade A first discovered Equipment360 and HCSS Telematics, they recognized the significance of streamlined equipment management, which set the stage for its digital transformation. They adopted Equipment360 and HCSS Telematics first, which empowered the field and office to be in control, aware of each piece of equipment’s location, status, health, and utilization. Soon after, the company adopted the Unlimited User Plan (UUP), which offered the flexibility to scale and adapt the full HCSS platform to meet Grade A’s growing needs.
The Outcome
- Enhanced equipment management with real-time tracking and maintenance scheduling improved equipment utilization and reduced downtime.
- Digital time tracking and data collection minimized errors and streamlined reporting processes, which improved field data accuracy.
- Remote monitoring capabilities allowed project managers to stay informed about jobsite progress without being on-site, leading to more proactive decision-making and better project oversight.
- Integrated software solutions reduced the need for manual data entry and improved workflow coordination.
“We grappled with equipment location, maintenance scheduling, and even fueling. In a pivotal shift, we adopted Equipment360, ushering in a new era of strategic efficiency. This shift is profound; it has empowered us to be in control, aware of each piece’s status, health, and utilization.”
– Rachelle Reigard, President & Founder
From Paper-Based Processes to a Digital Transformation
Being a construction startup is far from easy. After setting up shop, many companies try to navigate the industry’s exorbitant amount of aspects and deny the use of technology. After several years of banging their heads against the wall, the companies with a strong desire to succeed will finally relent.
Today, Grade A Construction is a massively successful construction firm. It started as a grading contractor and has grown into a one-stop shop for sitework and general contractors in that arena. Founded in 2013 in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, just outside of Nashville, Grade A experienced some growing pains, especially those first few years.
“Technology, led by HCSS, is our guiding star. We’ve harnessed technology to propel us forward, putting Grade A in the driver’s seat. We don’t just access data; we access the future. The power of technology lies in its ability to furnish accurate, real-time insights, which in turn fuels confident decision-making. HCSS is not just a cog; it’s the backbone of our efficiency. It’s the tool that doesn’t just align with us but elevates our standards.”
– Rachelle Reigard, President & Founder
On that same note, John Alan, Senior VP of Business Development, has been with the company since the beginning, back when they consisted of only 4 employees – whereas today, Grade A has over 300 full-time workers.
“When we first started, it was like caveman times, honestly,” admits Alan. “Reality is, it was all paper-driven. Less processes, no collaboration from department to department, no ability to react in real-time.”
Their Technology Journey Started with Equipment Software
First recognizing the significance of streamlined equipment management, Grade A turned to the dynamic duo of Equipment360 and Telematics, setting the stage for a complete transformation.
“When we implemented Equipment360, right off the bat, it took away one of our big issues,” says Jessica Cox, VP of Corporate Services. “We were able to figure out what was happening to every single piece of equipment and what the status was. We were able to see, in real-time, where all our pieces of equipment were instead of wasting time calling the field. It made us more efficient and not having to bother people in the field to lose production.”
Prior to implementing equipment software, Grade A’s biggest issue with the equipment division was the people in the field not knowing what was going on with the equipment, including what was down, what was available, how long pieces would be down, and everything else of that nature. At the same time, the team didn’t know when it was time for preventive maintenance.
“We seemed out of the ordinary at first to want to prioritize technology and want to spend money on that, but it was just a few years into it when it seemed like the world started catching up with us,” recalls President and Founder Rachelle Reigard. “This is the way of the future, and it makes sense to do all this. We brought with us from other industries the need for technology and how important it was. Now we know that everyone in the field would not want to do without any piece of technology that we’ve introduced to them so far.”
Grade A is like most construction companies in that its equipment, a significant investment, is at the heart of its operations. With Equipment360 and Telematics, the team orchestrated a dramatic turnaround in the entire equipment division.
“That’s probably the best decision we’ve made. We felt welcomed and learned a lot about other products – FuelerPlus, HeavyBid, HeavyJob – and decided to jump all in. That week we implemented 4 different systems with HCSS. Today, it has helped our organization grow tremendously. We went from everything being on pen and paper to now everything is digital – in no time.”
- Jessica Cox, VP of Corporate Services
Here’s What the Unlimited User Plan Can Do
After opting for an in-house implementation at the HCSS office to get rolling with Equipment360 as quickly as possible, they soon learned the benefits of the unlimited user plan – more commonly referred to as UUP – which allows maximum access across every program on the HCSS platform.
“That’s probably the best decision we’ve made,” Cox says. “We felt welcomed and learned a lot about other products – FuelerPlus, HeavyBid, HeavyJob – and decided to jump all in. That week we implemented 4 different systems with HCSS. Today, it has helped our organization grow tremendously. We went from everything being on pen and paper to now everything is digital – in no time.”
Fellow VP Neely remembers the shift fondly, as if it was yesterday. “We fell in love with your products. They’re not out there just to have. They’re out there to solve a problem to where you can actually grow in the future,” he says.
Grade A has witnessed their processes go from paper to real-time data, where at the click of a few buttons, they are able to pull up information that directly came from the field just minutes ago. This varies greatly from back when they started, where they were lucky if paper made it back to the office.
“They could bring a folder in, it might have stuff, it might have a McDonald’s wrapper stuck in there too,” John Alan laughs. “That’s just the way it works in construction, we all know it. As we’ve changed over the years, we’ve systemized that to where every single person can have an iPad or phone in their hands, or a PC if you’re a project manager. Put that information in there, we have it within seconds. We’ve seen it’s out of the dark ages to the new frontier.”
Project Managers Never Have to Leave the Office
Connecting the field to the office is a challenge every construction firm wrestles with, and prior to HCSS, the project managers at Grade A didn’t always know what was going on at their jobsites. “Are we on schedule? Off schedule?” These are the questions that persisted.
“There was no way to know, without actually taking a PM out of the office and out of the day-to-day activities,” comments Kris Neely, VP of Construction.
Grade A implemented both HeavyJob and HCSS Plans to help eliminate unplanned costs and rework. Through the use of HCSS Plans, their operational side set up processes to use the Sheets Overlay feature to track progress and identify all plan changes. Establishing best practices in the software enables the company to stop rework and capture all costs in change orders before they occur, among numerous other benefits, such as client communication.
“This allows for project scheduling and quality information to be sent to our clients weekly,” Neely also says. “In this day and age in our industry, your company has to be different to become more attractive to large clients. We use HCSS and all of its services to do just that in all aspects of job performance.”
Similarly, the use of HeavyJob helps them stand out as an industry leader, especially when connecting HeavyJob and HCSS Plans. “The Daily Digest allows our project managers to keep key stakeholders informed in real time with accurate information,” Neely adds.
According to Rachelle Reigard, the company is still seeing the positive effects trickle in as the software helps them manage all of the data in the most effective way possible.
“The day-to-day impact has been huge as we’ve expanded. I can sit in my office and feel like I know what’s going on with the company, but when I have 20 different jobs going on, guys all over the surrounding counties in all different areas, trucks everywhere, equipment everywhere, I really don’t know what’s going on. To have some technology I can depend on to tell me what I need to know is priceless. It’s what the office needs to have in order to have that comfort level that we’re doing the right thing and our company is on the right track.”
– Rachelle Reigard, President & Founder
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