Singletouch Unveils Labor Monitor Tool That Shows Productivity by Cost Code

Singletouch Corporation (http://www.singletouch.com), a developer and marketer of a real-time data-capture platform for contractors, today announced a new feature called the Labor Monitor tool, reporting functionality that shows productivity and percentage complete by cost code, which enables contractors to estimate jobs more accurately, execute on budget, manage cost overruns and be more accountable to their customers.

Electrical, mechanical and other contractors working in environments where they need to capture and report on materials and labor can use Singletouch to instantly send details collected in the field to head office, where that data is seamlessly integrated into backend systems, expediting payroll, accounting and project-reporting processes, and eliminating the paperwork headaches that beleaguer the contractor industry. Once data has been entered, project managers and office administrators can use it for invoicing and reporting, even before the team has returned from the site.

Accurate details are entered only once, at the time and point where the transaction occurs, and delivered instantaneously to all stakeholders, eliminating the logjams and errors traditionally associated with the filing of paperwork and subsequent re-entering of details to create invoices and reports.

A new feature of the platform is the Labor Monitor report, a custom report generated by the Project Control module. By combining budget data, actual data such as time tickets, and the field survey, the Labor Monitor report assists a project manager in managing workforce efficiency and productivity in the field.

The field survey, typically conducted either daily or weekly, allows the project manager to capture exactly which items have been installed onsite and, through a simple calculation, determine the percentage complete for that item. Project managers can then course correct if necessary to increase productivity or stick to estimates.

Within the Labor Monitor report, cost codes for the project, each of which will have a materials, services, labor, subsistence and direct job expenses (DJE) budget amount associated with it, are documented and useful statistics determined against each code. These statistics enable the project manager to understand the percentage complete by cost code, forecast labor hours to complete the cost code, and understand the productivity for each cost code.

With accountability becoming a major focus in an industry where tenders used to be decided on price, resumes and safety record alone, customers now expect more visibility into cost overruns and productivity. With the Labor Monitor tool, contractors can provide specific information about issues that may have impacted productivity; in some job environments, weather may play a role, cost of materials may change suddenly, labor rates may change, or there may be other dynamic market factors. This instantaneous reporting functionality is revolutionary for the contracting industry.

"I have literally had prospects gasp when they saw the intelligence displayed by the Labor Monitor tool," said Marty Hilsenteger, Singletouch CEO. "I like to refer to this function as the 'holy grail' for contractors because this industry has always sought a user-friendly, real-time reporting tool that enables contractors to create accurate estimates and execute jobs on time and on budget while controlling costs.

"Often, customers offer bonuses to companies that can deliver 1.0 productivity, where the job matches the estimate exactly. Until now, it has been very hard to gain real-time visibility into percentage complete on jobs due to the lag between information gathered in the field and when the data is input into back-office systems. With the Labor Monitor report, all the information is available quickly and easily, facilitating decision-making for the contractor and providing peace of mind to the customer."

Source: http://www.singletouch.com/