Australia has some of the most complex and stringent building standards and legislation. Private building certifiers know this all too well, as they have to navigate a labyrinth of building and construction codes on behalf of their clients.
Predictably, the rigorous processes of approving building plans and issuing final certificates involve loads of paperwork. But that should not always be the case. Visual Approvals, a comprehensive, fully integrated certification software, replaces the tedious paperwork with electronic processes throughout the entire certification exercise. Here are three of the main business advantages of going paperless.
Visual Approvals is an extensive software suite with a wide range of essential digital capabilities, such as:
All these features combined, streamline the inspection and certification processes by boosting the efficiency, speed and accuracy of various operations. The software also allows the surveyor to keep track of every project through real-time data updates and detailed record keeping. Ultimately, all this leads to improved service delivery, better customer experience, higher levels of satisfaction and increased productivity.
Going paperless eliminates the costs associated with manual transactions, such as postage, stationery supplies, printing, follow-ups and communications. On top of that, manual processes require more time and labour to complete, which slows down productivity. Switching to a paperless business model reduces operational overheads, improving the bottom line significantly. It also fosters a strategic competitive advantage in a niche market.
Building certification is a highly error-sensitive business – small mistakes and oversights can have dire repercussions, including legal action. Manual processes are particularly susceptible to common errors such as omissions, typos and misinterpretation. Paperless systems minimise such risks through automation, logical truth analysis and enforcing accountability.
Also, records and data are stored securely on the cloud, away from natural disasters, malicious intent and other forms of data loss risks. Cloud data is easily manageable and recoverable, and it certainly trumps any physical filing system in terms of organisation, availability, convenience and security.
Many building certifiers still use traditional manual methods in an increasingly data-centric business environment. On the other hand, digitisation enables businesses to capitalise on opportunities to maximise work efficiency and accuracy while cutting down on expenses. Digital transformation is clearly the way to go for building surveyors focused on delivering exceptional services and cultivating growth. Visual Approvals has all of the tools in place to assist building certification organisations improve their productivity by going paperless.