In construction, productivity is often measured in completed tasks, deadlines met and budgets maintained. But what if we could go deeper beyond the surface-level metrics to understand not just how teams perform, but why they perform the way they do?
That’s exactly what BAM is doing by leveraging the power of data analytics to uncover hidden trends in team behaviour and productivity. In this exclusive webinar, Garry Fannon FCIOB, Digital Project Solutions Business Partner at BAM, and Jordan Nutter MCIOB, Digital Project Solutions Lead at BAM, reveal how BAM is using real-time analysis of task management data to track both leading and lagging indicators of project performance, offering insights that were once invisible.
Understanding human behaviour in construction
For years, construction companies have relied on traditional performance indicators: schedules, cost reports and site progress updates. While these provide a snapshot of how well a project is progressing, they often fail to tell the full story. BAM recognised this gap and began analysing data from safety checklists, permits to work and snagging reports, everyday documents that when examined collectively, offer a new perspective on site productivity.
What they discovered was eye-opening. By tracking when and how teams completed these tasks, BAM was able to pinpoint peak productivity periods, identify slowdowns, and understand how external factors such as weather conditions, project complexity and team morale, impacted performance. The ability to detect these patterns has allowed BAM to make smarter decisions about resourcing, planning and process optimisation.
Take, for example, the case of a high-profile BAM project where multiple teams were working on different phases of construction. On paper everything looked fine, tasks were being completed, deadlines were being met. But when BAM started analysing when safety checklists were being filled out and how snagging reports were being submitted, a different picture emerged.
They noticed that certain teams were submitting safety checklists at the end of the day rather than throughout the shift, indicating that checks were being completed retrospectively rather than proactively. This insight led BAM to adjust its approach, implementing real-time safety checks rather than retrospective ones, leading to fewer incidents and improved team efficiency.
Similarly, permit-to-work data revealed that certain trades were spending excessive time waiting for approvals, creating bottlenecks that were delaying overall progress. By tweaking the approval process and introducing a more structured system, BAM was able to cut approval times and keep projects moving without unnecessary delays.
The overlooked role of email in construction information management
While BAM’s approach to data-driven decision-making was improving productivity on-site, another challenge remained, one that wasn’t visible in any dashboard or checklist but had the potential to cause just as much disruption: email chaos.
Emails in construction are like the foundation of a building, essential, but often overlooked until something goes wrong. Every day, hundreds of emails flood inboxes across project teams, from site managers to contractors and clients. Design approvals, contract changes, safety updates, RFIs—critical decisions are made via email, yet many of these conversations are not properly captured or managed.
Missing emails can lead to costly disputes. Let’s say for instance, a project team needs to refer back to a subcontractor’s email regarding a structural change, but the email is buried in an individual’s inbox. With no centralised system to retrieve it, the team will be left scrambling, losing valuable time and risking contractual issues.
It’s a scenario that plays out across the industry time and time again. Someone leaves a project, and suddenly, key conversations vanish. Or, during a dispute, teams waste hours searching for an email thread that could have resolved the issue in minutes.
Better email organisation isn’t just about saving time, it’s about protecting businesses from unnecessary risk and improving decision-making.
“If your single source of truth doesn’t include email, it’s not really the truth”
Huw Knipe, Ideagen Mail Manager
The lesson? Email needs to be treated as a structured part of information management, just like safety checklists and work permits. Without proper organisation, valuable insights can slip through the cracks, and companies can find themselves exposed to unnecessary risks.
A smarter approach to construction information management
BAM’s journey highlights a fundamental shift in the construction industry: those who harness data—both structured and unstructured, will have a competitive edge. Whether it’s analysing safety reports to improve productivity or ensuring that email communications are properly managed, the ability to make data-driven decisions is transforming how construction projects are delivered.
It’s important to remember, email remains a crucial piece of the information management puzzle. Without a clear system in place, critical project details can get lost, leading to inefficiencies, disputes and lost revenue.
Don’t let email mismanagement put your projects at risk
Request a demo of Ideagen Mail Manager today to see how your business can streamline email management, improve project visibility and reduce disputes.
