How Green Circle Demolition Improves Field Processes with Raken

The problem: Unreliable software

Initially, Green Circle Demolition was using older software to track progress and safety checklists on site, but they ran into difficult situations when important pieces of information went missing. “We had issues with previous software, where things disappeared,” says Manager Sam Bacon. “The guys in the field would upload stuff and if the upload was canceled or interrupted it was just gone.”

In a business where safety is always a priority, missing information becomes an even more serious matter than just lost time or resources.

The solution: More reliable documentation

Since adopting Raken, Green Circle has been operating for a running total of over 120,000 hours with zero incidents. That’s because immediately after implementation, the first thing Green Circle did was build their safety processes right into their reporting process in the form of Raken’s customizable survey. This was easy because of our easy-to-use digital daily reports.

After that, they made use of Raken’s intuitive and flexible time tracking to accurately record employee hours and get more reliable payroll data.

With a comprehensive digital project management software like Raken, Green Circle is able to operate with greater efficiency and safety.

Customizable demolition safety surveys

“The survey for demolition is very safety focused,” says Sam. “We customize the survey in Raken to include a pre-task plan, and now the survey functionality is part of the daily job set up. And we haven’t had any issues from Raken’s end with things disappearing.”

Not only has Green Circle been able to ensure that their safety checklist is completed every day, but their daily reports are less of a time commitment.

“The end product, generated with very little time in the field, is excellent. We’re making Raken the new standard for what we are doing.”

Sam B., Manager

Labor-tracking time cards

In addition to standardizing their safety surveys, Green Circle uses Raken for time tracking.

Efficient time management is especially valuable for them, because demolition is a particularly labor-intensive process. “Our biggest cost is labor,” Sam says. He and Gren Circle’s crews use Raken to ensure accuracy.

“Raken’s labor tracking is the best thing out there.”

Sam B., Manager

“It’s nice to have time cards in the same place as the work logs, so we can check those against when the trucks were turned off and compare it quickly and easily,” he continues, emphasizing that Raken’s construction time tracking app has allowed him to keep closer track of the budgets and make crucial decisions in the moment rather than waiting until the end of the week. “You have the information that day, and it helps you keep tabs on overtime on a midweek basis. “If I know some of these jobs are tight, I can make that call on Wednesday.”

Resolving disputes with daily reports

Sam explains that delays are critical in demolition, since they can hinder workers’ ability to do their jobs. They’re often dependent on other companies clearing the way or getting their work done first (like disconnecting utilities, for example). When disputes arise between Green Circle and their collaborators, Sam and his team are frequently called upon to prove their position. “In this business, he who has the best information always wins,” he observes. “And Raken provides me with the best information.”

Using Raken’s daily construction report app with photos built into the work logs, Green Circle has proof of the work they do. “If there’s a dispute all I have to do is forward them the report with the photo proving it. There are no ten phone calls going back and forth, it’s all right there in the report,” says Sam.

“It provides you with the ability to prove you’re in the right and come to the conversation with the back up you need.”

Sam B., Manager

Transparency for owners

Part of what Green Circle does is environmental remediation, which is usually done in containment, i.e. a closed site with no external visitors due to the sensitive nature of removing the contaminants involved. “Because we are in containment our customers rarely know what we’re doing,” says Sam. “There are times when our guys get there at 4:30 in the morning and work until 2:00. So, when the owner shows up after they leave, they can question the work.” Miscommunications like these were a pain point for Green Circle because they constantly had to explain the work they were doing behind closed doors.

Sam uses Raken’s automatic emailing feature to make sure that the owners always know what’s happening on site. “With Raken, they get that report emailed to them. It prevents questions, and it’s great to have everyone getting the same information,” he says. “It prevents the need for calls and emails.”