Re-flow review
Bridge Civil Engineering
Location
Devon
Industry
Civil engineering
Users
65Key benefits
- Communication and digital documents
From changes to method statements (due to unexpected situations on sites) to updates from the HSE, Bridge use Re-flow to instantly get revised documents to their projects and get teams briefed and updated, eliminating delay. - Streamlined project management
Bridge have honed their processes to be quicker and more efficient with Re-flow – from tender visits and managing site documents efficiently, to capturing incidents and reporting for audits. - Visibility and flexibility
Managers can see updates of completed tasks from sites, giving them assurance of compliance and the progress of jobs. Re-flow’s flexibility also allows Bridge to instantly create and deploy new forms to respond to changing client demands
Summary
Bridge Civil Engineering are one of Re-flow’s original customers. The software was built in close collaboration between the two businesses and designed to address inefficiencies caused by manual processes and other common demands in the sector. This included adapting to unforeseen challenges on sites, delays from managing paperwork, and limited visibility across sites.
Bridge now use Re-flow in an end-to-end project flow. Their pre-construction team use the app during tender visits to set up project files, gather site photos, and upload documents. If awarded the contract, this pre-gathered data creates an instant information pack ready to be handed over.
All project management is then carried out on Re-flow. Re-flow manages all ongoing weekly checks, such as toolbox talks, site inductions, PUWER, LOLER, general site safety inspections, and timesheets – ensuring a seamless flow of information between site and office, continuous compliance, and excellent relationships with clients.
Background
Based in the South West, Bridge Civil Engineering work for blue-chip clients like National Grid, South West Water, the Environment Agency, and Devon County Council.
They’ve been trading for about 25 years and employ 65 staff for their varied civil engineering works.
For the last couple of years they’ve turned over £12.5 million, with 10 to 13 sites operating at any one time.
Challenges and aims
When Bridge first started collaborating with Re-flow almost a decade ago, their aim was to build a more modern way of managing their sites and to move on from inefficient manual processes:
Whenever there were changes on site – a common industry issue – this would lead delays: multiple phone conversations, the need to adapt the forms, to print them out, and to take the new documentation out to site, which could have been anywhere between a 2 – 3 hour drive away.
Other areas they wanted to streamline included digitising documentation and eliminating duplicate information – for example if their clients had their own HSE procedures.
As a forward-thinking business, Bridge knew that digitising site documents and streamlining communication related to changes on site would be especially impactful. With 10 – 13 sites in action at any one moment, this could potentially save Bridge a huge amount of time and admin load every week – keeping their projects moving without halting for delays.
Solution
Bridge now use Re-flow as a comprehensive field management solution that contributes to an end-to-end flow of data and digital documentation across their projects – from tender and reporting to audits.
1. Setting up tenders
Bridge use Re-flow during tender visits. Their pre-construction manager uploads location plans, information, tender drawings, and the tender bill to his app, giving him all the documentation he needs in his pocket. Whether it’s an A4 or A1 document – it zooms and scales quickly without impacting performance. He takes site photos, refers to the drawings, and refers to the bill of quantities on the app.
2. Centralised document storage
Bridge store and access drawings, RAMS, method statements, and paperwork all on the Re-flow app. This is how they carry out site inductions, method statement briefings, and digital safety checks like PUWER, LOLER, and site inspections.
3. Digital forms and the form builder
Bridge can create and update their own forms in-house, complete with automations and conditional logic. This allows them to show and hide fields or sections, streamlining data capture and improving form filling for site workers.
4. Instant communication
Managers can view submissions and inspections as soon as they’re completed and instantly react to changes. They receive instant alerts whenever forms are submitted for incidents and accidents and can monitor toolbox talks digitally.
5. Record keeping, reports, and auditing
As forms are completed on site, Bridge use Re-flow to collect and organise audit paperwork automatically. The team generate regular health and safety reports.
Re-flow is a fantastic piece of software, I’d absolutely recommend Re-flow to other people in the industry – and I have done numerous times over the years. A number of our own subcontractors have now adopted and used Re-flow as a result.
Results
1. Compliance visibility
“Having Re-flow gives us confidence that we’ve got all the site paperwork that we need on the software and we’ve got instant checks that all the correct forms are being filled out,” said Bridge’s Mike Rockey. “As a construction director, I know we’re compliant and ready for statutory inspections.”
2. Quantifiable time and cost savings
When faced with unforeseen site changes, Bridge have transformed their process for the better, leading to significant time savings.
When changes need to be made, the office team react immediately and get updated documents sent to sites through Re-flow instantly at the click of a button. On site, they can then react to those changes and sign digitally that they’ve read and understood the documents.
Whenever this happens, Re-flow has the potential to save half a day on every single site, according to Mike Rockey. “Across 12 sites, half a day on each – six days of work soon adds up. Re-flow undoubtedly saves time on program, which saves money and saves costs. Site workers aren’t left standing waiting for document updates from the office.”
3. Up to date, accurate data exactly to requirement
On the office dashboard, managers can see that weekly inspections are being carried out and visibility of all on-site tasks – without ever having to chase people up. Site workers keep records of their qualifications on the app and automated timesheet rules incorporate rates for out-of-hours working, ensuring accurate payroll and cost calculation.
Any incidents and accidents are recorded as they happen. Submissions trigger instant notifications to managers, enabling the team to react quickly.
The system also provides the flexibility to create and send out new, client-specific forms whenever they’re needed.
4. General improvements and audit readiness
Preparing for tenders have become quicker and more efficient. Completed site forms are available in the office the moment they’re submitted – automatically forming a digital record base for every action across the business. Photos can be added directly to inspections, incidents, and other submissions on the app.
Day in day out, data is collected and logged ready for auditing – from safety, quality, and environment ISOs to other audits like Achilles, Chas, and Considerate Constructors.
