Presented at: Vancouver Regional Construction Association Construction Learning Forum by Lauren Hasegawa, Co-Founder of Bridgit Construction Technology Applications: What fits your biz? 1. Mobile SaaS vs. stand-alone apps 2. Selecting the right software solution 3. Ready to roll out? Bridgit is a cloud-based mobile and web construction software that lets general contractors, engineering consultants, architects, owners, and subcontractors collaborate to manage all project deficiencies in real-time.

1. TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS:
Presented at: Vancouver Regional Construction Association
Construction Learning Forum
May 23rd, 2014
What fits your biz?

2. Presented by:
LAUREN HASEGAWA
Co-Founder, Bridgit
Lauren is a Civil Structural Engineer
with a background in concrete
restoration. As a young engineer,
Lauren has always had an interest in
how new technologies can improve
efficiency and productivity on
construction projects. With this
passion, she founded Bridgit, a mobile
and web communication platform for
the construction industry in 2012.
Bridgit focuses on developing mobile-
first solutions that can help relieve on-
site pain points, such as deficiency
management. Lauren is an active
m e n t o r t o y o u n g w o m e n i n
engineering and a frequent speaker at
local and national industry events
focused on construction innovation.

4. OVERVIEW
1. Mobile SaaS vs. stand-alone apps
2. Selecting the right software solution
3. Ready to roll out?

5. MOBILE SAAS
VS. STAND-ALONE APPS
What’s the difference?

6. FIRST OFF… WHAT IS SAAS?
• Software as a Service (or SaaS) is a way of delivering
applications over the Internet — as a service.
• Examples of SaaS companies you may be familiar with
are LinkedIn, Dropbox and now, Bridgit
• Instead of installing and maintaining software, you simply
access it via the Internet, freeing yourself from complex
software and hardware management.
Definition from salesforce.com

7. REMEMBER THIS?

8. Software as a Service (SaaS)
=
No desktop downloads
No manual updates
No more wasted time

9. WHY IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM
TYPICAL SOFTWARE?
• No upfront costs: Because SaaS products don’t require any
installation or customization before they can be activated,
there are typically no upfront costs associated with them
• Access from anywhere: SaaS products work from the cloud,
meaning over the internet instead of from a file saved to your
personal computer
• No manual updates: With SaaS, there is never the need to
download a pesky software update and communicate it with
the entire remote team
• True collaboration: Working from the cloud means that true
team collaboration is finally possible

10. Mobile SaaS
• No desktop downloads required,
accessible from your computer via
secure login
• Mobile version can be downloaded
directly from the app store
• Typically a recurring monthly fee
based on users, storage or feature
package
• Allows all team members to
communicate in real-time
• All updates and information are
saved to the cloud and are
accessible from anywhere
Stand-alone Apps
• Can be downloaded directly from the
app store
• Typically a low one-time fee ($1.99 -
$19.99)
• Download costs are per person
• Does not allow for back and forth
communication between team
members
• Nothing is saved to the cloud. All
information is stored locally on your
mobile device
• Export via email, dropbox or .pdf is
required in order to share information
MOBILE SAAS VS. STAND-ALONE APPS

11. Ex: Mobile SaaS Ex: Stand-alone App
MOBILE SAAS VS. STAND-ALONE APPS

12. Ex: Mobile SaaS Ex: Stand-alone App
MOBILE SAAS VS. STAND-ALONE APPS

13. SELECTING THE RIGHT
MOBILE SOFTWARE
FOR THE JOB
The 5 big questions you
should be asking

14. How long will the
software take to learn?
1.

15. HOW LONG WILL THE SOFTWARE
TAKE TO LEARN?
• The time it takes to onboard your team onto a software
solution is a critical aspect to consider
• Many existing software solutions are quite
comprehensive
• Lots of features = lots of training. Think efficiency vs. fluff
• Lots of training = low adoption

16. How quickly does the
software adapt to
changes in
technology?
2.

17. HOW QUICKLY DOES THE SOFTWARE
ADAPT TO CHANGES IN TECHNOLOGY?
• Software needs to change FAST! What was cutting edge
a few years ago now seems outdated
• To avoid landing in the limbo of “buy now or buy later”,
look for a software solution that has proven its ability to
adapt quickly to changes in technology
• Features such as cloud-based access and mobile
accessibility are non-negotiable and should be treated as
must-haves instead of value-adds

18. HOW QUICKLY DOES THE SOFTWARE
ADAPT TO CHANGES IN TECHNOLOGY?
GOOD QUESTIONS TO ASK
“How many updates have you pushed in the last year?”
“Which features are you currently working on?”
“If I have a feature suggestion, who should I tell?”
“How do you collect user feedback?”

19. Will the software
deliver the data you
need?
3.

20. WILL THE SOFTWARE DELIVER THE DATA
YOU NEED?
• Look at the options available to extract your project data
and use it to discover trends project to project, and year
over year
• The ability to adapt construction processes based on
lessons learned is becoming critical to maintaining profit
margins
• Access to performance data represents a huge value-add
in the eyes of owners looking to approve bids on their
next projects

21. Will your team like
using the software?
4.

22. WILL YOUR TEAM LIKE USING THE
SOFTWARE?
• Full-team buy in is 100% necessary when adopting a
software solution
• The simplest of solutions can have a huge impact
because they are easy to learn and easy to use
• If your team likes using the software solution, then they
will use it, period

23. WILL YOUR TEAM LIKE USING THE
SOFTWARE?
Characteristics of a lovable software
• Accessible from current devices (smartphone, laptop,
etc.)
• Takes less than 30 minutes to learn and no scheduled
training required
• Saves time
• Reduces rework and manual data entry
• Relieves existing pain points experienced by the user

24. How will the software
help deliver a
competitive
advantage?
5.

25. HOW WILL THE SOFTWARE HELP
DELIVER A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE?
Competitive advantages can include the ability to:
• Make data-driven decisions throughout the project as
well as when assembling the project team
• Show a history of timely project delivery
• Demonstrate superior subcontractor management
• Deliver increased efficiency on-site

26. SELECTING THE RIGHT CONSTRUCTION SOFTWARE:
The 5 BIG QUESTIONS you should be asking
DOWNLOAD THE FREE EBOOK

27. READY TO ROLL OUT?
Best practices for rolling
out a new software at
your company

28. Solicit feedback and
pay attention to it
1.

29. SOLICIT FEEDBACK AND PAY
ATTENTION TO IT
• Only the person using the software can truly assess its
value
• Making the full-team feel like they are a part of the
software selecting process increases adoption
• Negative feedback could indicate a lack of
understanding. Great opportunity to catch knowledge
gaps!

30. Give sufficient notice
and an opportunity to
ask questions before
roll-out
2.

31. GIVE SUFFICIENT NOTICE AND AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS
• Even a simple software can catch users off guard if they
are not prepared
• Allowing time for questions prior to roll-out lets the full
team feel comfortable with the solution
• Give yourself time to get the answers to the team’s
questions prior to official roll-out
• Great opportunity to identify adoption leaders within the
team

32. Encourage peer-peer
support
3.

33. ENCOURAGE PEER TO PEER SUPPORT
• Learning from peers and likeminded teammates is the
best way to learn
• Identify leaders within the team who understand the
software well and empower them to help others
• Great opportunity for younger team members to take a
leadership role
• Encourage an environment of open communication and
support

34. LEARN HOW YOU CAN START
MANAGING DEFICIENCIES
FASTER TODAY
Using Bridgit’s mobile SaaS solution
REQUEST A BRIDGIT DEMO

35. Lauren Hasegawa
Co-Founder, Bridgit
lauren@gobridgit.com
www.gobridgit.com