The Guggenheim Museum, The Tokyo Sky Tree, Sydney Opera House. These are just some examples of architect firms’ work that are outstanding enough to take our breath away.
We often admire the beauty of structures such as buildings. We forget the intricate project management systems that allow them to exist. Without these systems, such grand geometries and stunning lines would not be possible.
The reality is that all architectural structures require careful planning and organization, from everyday houses to monuments and plazas. Designing may be enjoyable, but it is essential for architects to implement a project management system. This will help them make informed decisions. Otherwise, the grand idea will never come to fruition.
The field of architecture requires a high level of precision, full legal compliance, and strict adherence to deadlines. Everyone involved needs to understand the big picture and the minute details to fulfill the requirements. It is important that everyone is on the same page.
Project management software, such as Nutcache, provides architecture firms with a multitude of tools for project creation and management. These tools are effective for projects of any size or scope.
Tags for Improved Task Management
You may be solely responsible for a part of a project. However, you are never completely alone. There are always people to support you insite architect firms.
Chip away at a task. Ask questions if needed. Request feedback. Get approval. Update teammates on progress.
With Nutcache, you can get others on board simply by tagging them with @mention. This feature is an easy and direct way to notify others of something that needs their attention or input. Once tagged, the tagged person’s name will appear in bold letters so they can quickly find the message. Implementing this practice will help improve communications and enhance employee performance by keeping everyone in the loop.
You can customize access settings for each project member. These settings can limit visibility or actions. For instance, you can restrict the ability to change deadlines. In a similar vein, you can share information with clients and set specific permissions.
This way, the client can see how the work is moving along. You won’t lose control of the project or risk any unwanted changes or edits. They can follow along as the project progresses and quickly find a task at a moment’s notice.
Collaborative Boards for Better Teamwork
Bringing a building to life requires many people from varied backgrounds and skills. These include an architect, landscape designer, interior designer, model maker, surveyor, and project manager. It goes without saying that one of the most important aspects of an architecture design team is collaboration.
Working on a design takes tremendous organization, excellent communication, and outstanding teamwork. However, as you may already know, these things don’t always come easy.
Working together on a project can be challenging. It’s hard to keep track of who is doing what and how far along they are. Fortunately, a collaborative board, such as a Kanban board, can keep everyone in the loop about what’s going on.
Essentially, a Kanban board allows employees to visualize their workflow with cards, columns, colors, and other visual cues. Each card contains a work task. These tasks are placed on a board.
The board is composed of vertical columns. Each column represents the state of the task.
The states are “to do”, “in progress” and “done”. These cards then move from left to right through the board until completion. Implementing a Kanban board to organize production work in architecture enhances transparency and clarity so nothing gets overlooked.
Another chart that helps keep teams organized is referred to as a Gantt chart. A Gantt chart is a timeline-like chart that lets you easily plan and break down every step of your project.
Primarily, project plans are used to break down big tasks. These tasks are then scheduled on a timeline. Additionally, dependencies between tasks, assignees, and developments are included.
The greatest advantage is the ability to see how tasks are connected. This provides a clear understanding of which tasks are ready to begin and which are dependent on others – so architect firms can work integrated.
Time Tracking for Enhanced Performance
Nutcache’s time tracking feature enables you to monitor how much time you spend on a task. This way, you can keep track of every minute of your day. Time tracking can also be used to improve performance as well as track disproportions and mismanagement.
When tasks are completed, you can compare the original estimate with the actual time it took to finish everything. With this data, you’ll have insight into what’s working and what’s not. You’ll also be able to provide more accurate estimates for clients in the future.
Time Tracking for Improved Client Relationships
Time tracking is one of the most reliable sources of transparency between architect firms and its clients. Time tracking allows you to quickly generate a report of tracked hours. You can present this report on short notice.
Having these numbers available will help build trust. Clients can use them to see how they are being billed and how the work is progressing.
They can also identify any roadblocks that may delay the project. You may need to provide a weekly or monthly update on progress. This can be done quickly and easily.
Invoice Tracking for Late Payments
Nutcache’s invoice feature integrates seamlessly with Stripe and Paypal, so you can accept online payments quickly and easily. What’s more is that you won’t need to stress over a late payment. In most cases, the client has simply overlooked the payment and will settle it promptly. In other instances, a client may require a bit more persistence for you to receive compensation.
Nutcache’s invoice tracking feature makes it easy to monitor overdue invoices. You can also send reminders to clients who are late with payments. Additionally, you can monitor client payment behavior by accessing your clients’ payment delay data.
And so much more
Nutcache can simplify how architect firms works together, controls costs, and meets deadlines. Don’t wait any longer – click here to learn more about our plans and start improving your architectural firm today!
