Embracing Sustainability

StratusVue’s Clean Technology for the Built Environment

As the world continues to grapple with the urgent need to address climate change, the construction industry, which accounts for a significant portion of global greenhouse gas emissions, is under increasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices. In this pursuit, StratusVue, a leading technology company, is making waves with its innovative clean technology solutions for the built environment.

StratusVue is an established clean technology company that is revolutionizing the way construction projects are managed and executed. Their cutting-edge platform leverages cloud-based technology, data analytics, and artificial intelligence to streamline construction processes, reduce waste, and minimize environmental impact.

One of the keyways in which StratusVue is driving sustainability in the built environment is through its digital document management system. Traditionally, construction projects generate massive amounts of paper documents, including blueprints, contracts, permits, and more. These paper-based processes are not only time-consuming and costly but also contribute to deforestation and waste.

StratusVue’s digital document management system replaces paper-based workflows with electronic documents that can be stored, accessed, and shared securely on the cloud. This eliminates the need for physical copies, reduces paper waste, and minimizes the carbon footprint associated with printing, shipping, and storing paper documents. Furthermore, the platform offers advanced search and analytics capabilities, allowing construction teams to quickly find and retrieve important documents, improving productivity and reducing the risk of errors.

Another notable feature of StratusVue’s clean technology is its robust data analytics capabilities. The platform collects and analyzes data from various sources, to provide real-time insights and predictive analytics. This data-driven approach enables construction teams to optimize resource allocation, schedule tasks more efficiently, and minimize waste.

StratusVue’s clean technology also incorporates artificial intelligence (AI). StratusLink reads the contents of your construction documents and automatically reads, references and links the content within your cloud-based documents. No longer are the days of manually setting regions, defining patterns or needing a full-time Document Control employee to manually hyperlink the documents.  It doesn’t end with just hyperlinking, StratusLink relates the drawings to other StratusVue products, like the Project Management section of Plans and Specs and StratusDrive.

In addition to its environmental benefits, StratusVue’s clean technology also offers economic advantages to construction companies. By optimizing construction processes, reducing waste, and improving productivity, the platform helps companies’ lower costs and increase profitability. Furthermore, by embracing sustainability and demonstrating environmentally responsible practices, construction companies can enhance their reputation, attract environmentally conscious clients, and gain a competitive edge in the market.

StratusVue’s clean technology is transforming the construction industry by promoting sustainability in the built environment. Its digital document management system, data analytics capabilities, and AI are empowering construction companies to streamline processes, reduce waste, and minimize environmental impact. By adopting StratusVue’s innovative technology, construction companies can not only achieve their sustainability goals but also reap economic benefits and gain a competitive advantage. It’s time for the construction industry to embrace clean technology and pave the way towards a more sustainable future.

Learn More about StratusVue’s approach to exceptional project management.

The Importance of Usability in Project Management Software

Boosting Productivity, Collaboration, and Success

As businesses strive to achieve their goals and deliver projects on time and within budget, the right project management software can make all the difference. However, it’s not just about having powerful features and robust functionality; usability plays a crucial role in determining the success of project management software. In this blog, we will explore why exceptional usability matters in project management software and how it can benefit businesses.

Enhanced User Experience
A positive user experience is critical for any software, including project management tools. When project management software is easy to use, team members can quickly adapt to it, reducing the learning curve and minimizing errors. Intuitive interfaces, clear navigation, and straightforward features make it easy for users to create, assign, and track tasks, set deadlines, manage resources, and monitor progress. A smooth and enjoyable user experience boosts user satisfaction, productivity, and adoption rates, as team members are more likely to actively engage with the software and leverage its capabilities to manage their projects effectively.

Increased Productivity
Productivity is a key factor in project success, and exceptional usability in project management software can significantly impact productivity. When software is intuitive and easy to use, team members can focus on their core responsibilities rather than getting bogged down with complicated software interfaces or processes. They can quickly input and access project information, collaborate with team members, and make informed decisions. This streamlined workflow helps teams work more efficiently, leading to improved productivity, reduced errors, and timely project completion.

Better Collaboration
Effective collaboration is essential for successful project management, and usability plays a critical role in facilitating collaboration among team members. Project management software with exceptional usability provides collaborative tools such as comments, notifications, document sharing, and real-time updates, making it easy for team members to communicate, share information, and work together seamlessly. When team members find the software easy to use, they are more likely to actively participate in the project management process, providing updates, sharing feedback, and collaborating effectively. This results in improved teamwork, better communication, and ultimately, better project outcomes.

Cost and Time Savings
Usability issues in project management software can lead to wasted time, effort, and costly errors. Team members may struggle with complex interfaces, leading to delays and mistakes. Exceptional usability reduces the risk of errors, minimizes the need for extensive training and support, and ensures that team members can quickly and easily access the information they need to perform their tasks. This saves time and costs, as team members can focus on their work rather than struggling with the software, and projects can progress smoothly without unnecessary delays or rework.

Increased Adoption
User adoption is crucial for the success of any software implementation. If project management software lacks usability, team members may resist using it, resulting in low adoption rates and underutilization of the software’s capabilities. On the other hand, exceptional usability encourages team members to embrace the software as a valuable tool for managing their projects. When team members find the software easy to use and beneficial in their day-to-day work, they are more likely to adopt it willingly. This results in higher user engagement, better data input, and improved project visibility, leading to more successful project outcomes.

Exceptional usability in project management software is essential for businesses aiming to improve their project management practices and achieve successful project outcomes. Usability enhances user experience, increases productivity, promotes collaboration, saves time and costs, and boosts user adoption. Businesses should prioritize usability when evaluating project management software to ensure that their teams can work efficiently, collaborate effectively, and achieve project success. Invest in project management software with exceptional usability to empower your teams and elevate your project management practices to new heights.

Learn More about StratusVue’s approach to exceptional project management.

 

StratusVue looks internally for where the Construction Industry is going

StratusVue looks internally for where the Construction Industry is going.
Featuring: Parker Hann

StratusVue is a company dedicated to providing solutions for construction management. Founded in 2007 by the creative and driven John Goecke, the company has used their central product, StratusVue Plans and Specs, to revolutionize construction project management. Many more have come to work for the company over time, including Brian Anson in 2016. Through his focus on Cost Management solutions and accounting integration, Plans and Specs began to have a broader appeal among construction professionals, and this only furthered StratusVue’s growth.

Beginning in 2007, John Goecke began developing the idea of StratusVue Plans and Specs as a solution to streamline construction projects. In an industry where companies often had to use multiple tools to manage their projects, it was difficult for them to see a clear picture of what they were working towards.

John wanted to create a product that would bring all of these elements together in one place. He worked with his team to develop a product that would help companies streamline their processes and get more done. Starting with email communications through RFIs and Submittals, he moved on to add in other aspects of construction like blueprints, and then finally adding in the actual cost of the project. This was just the beginning, however, as John knew that there was so much more potential for the product.

He also realized that many of the people who would be using his product did not know how to read plans. While John had always been able to read plans, he knew that not everyone had the same level of experience. That’s when he came up with the idea of creating a digital version of a blueprint that could be used by anyone.

The next step was to create a product that could help users manage costs. To do this, John needed to develop a module that allowed users to see exactly where their money was going and how it was spread between many aspects of a project. He knew just the man for the job: Brian Anson. With a background in innovation and consulting for start-ups and small businesses, Brian stepped in to lead StratusVue’s strategic planning for product development and operations. Prior to joining StratusVue, Brian worked as a Director of Operations for a major construction company. He led the team in creating a new cloud-based system that helped clients manage their costs and track project progress.

Brian immediately saw the potential for StratusVue Plans and Specs to help the construction industry and began developing a solution that would help contractors and construction managers see where their money was going. He introduced a new feature to the product called Cost Management, which allowed users to input expenses into the system. Using this feature, contractors could see exactly how much they were spending on each aspect of the project and compare that to the estimated budget.

As the product grew in popularity, many users began asking for more features. That’s when John decided to begin looking for ways to integrate the product with other tools that were already being used. By adding integrations with other programs like QuickBooks, users could keep all of their data in one place: StratusVue Plans and Specs. This made it easier for them to access the information they needed to make decisions and improve their projects.

With their product in great shape, both John and Brian knew it was time to market their idea to more customers. They hired a sales professional, Laura Ducharme, and began working on getting the word out about the product. It wasn’t long before they got their first big break. The company won a contract to manage a large construction project in San Francisco. This had the potential to put the company on the map, big time.

However, there was a catch. The city had strict regulations on how contractors could use subcontractors. The project required that the company use local companies whenever possible. With only a few days to go before the start of the project, StratusVue needed to find a way to get around the law.

They called in their friend, Joe Lally, to help them. A former city attorney, he knew how to work within the law and quickly figured out a way to make sure that the company could meet the requirements. After some initial discussion, the company decided to take the risk and hire subcontractors from outside of the city.

This was a huge win for the company and a huge victory for Joe. However, the next step was even bigger. Plans and Specs languished under the increased workload, and the developers worked overtime for weeks to maintain the servers. In the end, StratusVue was able to complete the project on time and on budget. They had proved to their client that they were capable of handling big projects, and the company only grew from there.

In 2016, John and Brian began talking about the future of the company. With plans to expand into new markets, they realized that the company would need a new leader. As much as John loved the product he had created, he knew it was time to pass the baton to someone else. He chose to promote Brian to Chief Executive Officer.

As CEO, Brian looked at the company’s mission statement and knew that there was still so much potential for the product. He set out to focus on Cost Management and Accounting integration. His goal was to make the product even more useful and beneficial for construction professionals.

Over the years, many customers had asked for a way to integrate the product with their accounting software. They wanted to be able to track all of their costs and expenses in one place, which is exactly what Brian was working on when he got the call.

“Hello?”

“Hi, this is Joe Lally.”

“Joe!” I exclaimed. “What are you doing calling me at work? You know that’s against company policy.”

“I’m sorry, Brian,” he said. “I have to ask you something really important. Can we meet up later today?”

“Sure, where should we meet?”

“I can’t tell you over the phone. Where is your favorite spot in the woods?”

“Well, I like to go to the clearing near the lake.”

“Great. Meet me there at noon tomorrow, and I’ll explain everything then.”

“Okay,” I said. “See you then.”

***

As Brian was walking near the lake the following day, he heard a voice from behind him.

“You must be Brian Anson.”

He turned around to see a man dressed in a suit holding a briefcase.

“Yes, that’s me. What do you want?”

“I’m here to talk about the job you’re doing for StratusVue.”

“What job?”

“The one where you’re using our product to manage costs and expenses.”

“Oh, right. I guess you could say that I’m managing the costs and expenses of the company.”

“That’s great! I was hoping you’d say that.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I’ve been tasked with finding ways to help construction companies improve their project management processes. When I looked into your company, I found out that you were using our product to manage costs and expenses.”

“That’s good to hear,” Brian said. “Do you have any recommendations for how we can improve the product?”

“Actually, I do. Would you be willing to take a quick survey about your experience with StratusVue Plans and Specs?”

“Of course. I’d be happy to.”

“Great. The survey should only take five minutes or so.”

Brian began taking the survey.

“Are you planning on using the product again in the future?”

“Definitely. We’ve gotten some great results.”

This went on for some time. After finishing the survey, Brian thought at length about the new ideas the stranger had given him. He couldn’t wait to tell John about them.