In most cases, construction projects rely on several parties combining to work towards a common goal. But, one unfortunate fact of these projects – that may not come as a shock to anyone – is that sometimes, delays occur.
Research shared by Architects’ Journal and Construction News shows that, on average, only 40% of projects are completed on time. For some, this may just be considered part of the construction process but it is cause for concern, as delays prove to be both frustrating and costly.
As an example of how costly this may be, a study carried out in 2017 showed that delays cost companies up to 20% more than the original estimate.
The common forms of construction project delays
In early 2021, The Guardian published an article that outlined a looming construction crisis on the back of ‘shortages, delays and soaring prices caused by Brexit, Covid and the Suez blockage’. In these cases, no parties are to blame, but the project may come to a standstill until are solution presents itself.
However, a recent Viewpoint blog post called ‘What Causes Construction Project Delays?’ outlined that the bulk of delays are caused by the following six factors:
- Budget inaccuracies
- Labour challenges
- Approvals
- Subcontractor schedules and compliance
- Lack of effective communication
- Poor weather
How do I minimise delays in construction?
Broadly speaking, there are two types of construction delay, outlined as
1. Delays in activities for which there is programme float available (i.e. they can be delayed without impacting on the completion date).
2. Delays that will impact the completion date – sometimes referred to as critical delays.
Whilst the first type of delay may not be a concern for organisations, anything that pushes back a completion date certainly is. So, how do you minimise the threat of these?
Becoming aware of the cause is essential for eliminating delays. The list below comes from Border States
- Provide accurate financial estimates
- Manage the materials efficiently
- Communicate effectively
- Review the designs thoroughly
- Streamline approvals
- Clarify the project scope
- Prepare for weather delays
How can Payapps help?
Confusion, clarity and payments are overarching themes of what slows down a project, and third-party payment claims can go a long way toward helping to eliminate this threat, keeping you on track for your deadline. This is where Payapps comes in.
Payapps is collaborative online construction software that allows for quick and easy approval of standardised payment claims created by your supply chain.
With automatic notifications and approvals, Payapps ensures that financial deadlines are met and all data and correspondence are saved within the system, guaranteeing streamlined communications and keeping all parties working towards the completion date of your project.
