Clients more likely to use web-friendly contractors

Clients are increasingly favouring contractors who have experience of using web-based collaboration systems, according to independent research commissioned by the Network for Construction Collaboration Technology Providers. (NCCTP).

The Proving Collaboration Pays study, carried out by Benchmark Researrach, found that 74% of clients polled said that they were more likely to award contracts to firms experienced in collaboration technologies, with 68% saying they would insist on using such systems on all future projects and citing greater control over projects as one of the main reasons.

In the survey, 98% of people quizzed said they experienced benefits from using the systems.

Some of the advantages listed included: 24-hour online availability of documents, drawings and other project data; holding all data in a single central location; reduced expenditure on couriers or post; less danger of losing important documents or drawings; and improved accountability.

Respondents also said that the technology also cut average drawing approval times by 26%, from an average of 9.3 days to 6.9 days.

The study focused on the attitudes and experiences of 272 UK-based staff from 195 different companies.

[Contract Journal, 26 July 2006, p. 2]