This is the second in our series of Digital Toolbox blogs lifting the lid on some helpful tips towards using digital tools and upskilling you and others in your business. This week we speak to Nik Nelberg, Managing Director of FMB members Earl & Calam Design & Build Ltd.
What single thing would recommend an SME builder starting their digital journey to do?
Simple one - go on the Solving Tech for Small Builders course.
For many years we had been looking at problems within the business and getting some software to solve it. Our first one was tracking profit, we got construction accounting software but never got it working properly and stopped using it.
The course helped massively this and has taken us through a process to work out how we do things, what we want tech to do, then appraising, evaluating, trialing and making improvements.
Which work app do you use the most?
We now use JobTread for all our client communication, sending proposals for approval, sending valuations and payment requests. Also changing orders so any additional work gets signed off before we do it, stopping loss of profit. We are adding using scheduling, to dos and project management items.
Is there any new onsite tech you are using?
HazardCo – an onsite health and safety app. Simple way to look after team on site.
What part of going digital have you found the most beneficial?
It’s like a snowball effect, when you start using the right tech it starts showing in the business efficiency fairly soon, then as everyone gets used to it you learn more ways for it to help the business it just keeps getting better.
What’s been your biggest challenge so far?
Getting everyone onboard, showing that the tech isn’t to track them, but to make things more efficient so the process is simpler and help us all work better.
What’s on your podcast list/Spotify playlist?
I’ve been listening to a lot of audiobooks:
- Partnership is the new leadership by Ken Blanchard
- Profitable sales, A contractor’s guide by Michael C. Stone
- There is no planet B by Mike Berners-Lee
- How big things get done by Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardn
- Kaizen – The Japanese secrete to lasting change by Sarah Harvey
- The art of creative thinking by Rod Judkins
- The Myth of Normal by Dr. Gabor Maté
Free course: Solving Tech for Small Builders
You can register for the Solving Tech for Small Builders course here at no cost. Signing up will give you access to bite-sized videos, practical workbooks and a WhatsApp group where you can connect with like-minded people who run small building businesses - with fortnightly zoom meetings with construciton coach Maria Coulter.
Who is it for?
- Sole traders
- Small builders (up to 50 employees)
- Senior team members who are looking for tech solutions
Authors
Tom Peardon
Tom represents the London membership of the FMB championing their interests to key industry stakeholders in London and providing a support to the membership.
Tom has eighteen years of experience working commercially in construction media including fifteen years on the CIOB publications Construction Management and BIMplus. Tom has also worked on the Architects’ Journal, the Architectural Review and the Association for Project Safety publication the Project Safety Journal.
Tom holds a degree in English and Philosophy from the University of Roehampton.
