TRUE Exhibits: Glass Expo Midwest 2018

Join TRUE Software Solutions in Indianapolis, Indiana at the Glass Expo Midwest 2018 hosted at the JW Marriott Indianapolis! Stop by November 8-9, 2018 booth #314 to see how TRUE can take your glass subcontracting business to the next level.

TRUE (www.constructtrue.com) is the #1 self-performing glazing subcontractor software on the market. We’re excited to showcase our capabilities including bid management, submittal prep, contract management, labor scheduling, procurement, time keeping, and field reporting. With integrations for GDS, LogiKal, TOAD, Pro-Tech, and e/PWS, TRUE can pull everything you need into one system!

Stop by our booth #314 to learn why TRUE really is the smart, simple way to manage your business.

Furthermore, mention promo code GEM2018 to get “TRUE Time” for free for unlimited users for 1 year (a $700 value!).  Offer expires end of day Friday, November 9, 2018 and requires a subscription of 1 user of “TRUE Job”.  TRUE Time is an easy-to-use time clock app with GPS capture, job costing, and more.

Can’t wait for the show to hear more? Contact us today at (833) GET – TRUE or sales@archive.constructtrue.com to learn more.

TRUE Exhibits at GlassBuild 2018

Once again the annual GlassBuild America exhibition (Sep 12-14) is upon us, and for the fourth year in a row, TRUE Contractor will be demonstrating all its exciting new features in sunny Las Vegas booth #1778.

TRUE (www.constructtrue.com) is the #1 self-performing glazing subcontractor software on the market with integrations for GDS, LogiKal, TOAD, Pro-Tech, and e/PWS. We’re excited to showcase our capabilities including bid management, submittal prep, contract management, labor scheduling, procurement, time keeping, and field reporting.

Stop by our booth #1778 to learn why TRUE really is the smart, simple way to manage your business.

Use promo code GLASSBUILD2018 to get “TRUE Time” for free for unlimited users for 1 year (a $700 value!).  Offer expires end of day Friday, September 14, 2018 and requires a subscription of 1 user of “TRUE Job”.  TRUE Time is an easy-to-use time clock app with GPS capture, job costing, and more.

World of Concrete 2018

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make World of Concrete 2018 such a success! Can’t wait to get all of our fantastic new clients up and running with TRUE Contractor! Missed out on getting a demo at the show? Don’t fret, just head to www.constructtrue.com to schedule your demo today!

Construction Mobile Devices

Best Cases for Construction Mobile Devices

Due to the rugged nature of the industry, construction workers tend to break more phones than most other professionals. Since instant communication is critical to keep projects on schedule and the unpredictable nature of work performed on the job site, workers need to have their phones working at all times. Also, the increasing reliance on mobile construction software makes the role of smart phones more crucial than ever before. To keep expensive smartphones safe and in peak condition, we have selected some of the best phone and tablet cases for construction mobile devices.

For construction workers, the risk of damage to mobile device increases exponentially. No matter how careful you are, it is always possible that you and your construction mobile devices will eventually find yourselves in a tight situation where only one of you is likely to survive.

The good news is that there are ways to protect your investment and still carry on with business as usual, most of which involve encasing your phone in some sort of protective cover. The bad news is that many of these cases and covers don’t go terribly far to protect the phone. They look great, but you’re still going to wind up with a broken construction mobile device if you drop it, sit on it, step on it, or snap it off its belt clasp.

In order to help you select a case that will help increase the odds of both you and your construction mobile devices making it home in one piece, we’ve compiled a list of the most rugged mobile device cases out there. The cases selected are all designed and tested to make sure the case takes the beating and your expensive equipment does not.

Ballistic Hard Core Tactical

If you want a case that survives just about anything, go for the Hard Core Tactical. This is one of the toughest case out there, and has some great reviews. If you need a super sturdy case for your construction mobile devices, whether its Apple or Android,  and are not worried about size, this is a great option and there are many sound cases by Ballistic.

The Ballistic Hard Core case is strong enough to withstand drops on concrete, gravel and much more. This case has a 12-foot high impact rating and is ready for the construction site.

Phone: All iPhone models

Price: $29.99

Pros:

  • Certified Drop Protection on Concrete (Up to 12 feet)
  • An IP-54 protection (meaning that the phone protects against debris, dirt, dust, and water)
  • A 200-lb pull strength, “assembled with aircraft-grade aluminum”
  • Integrated screen protection
  • Limited Lifetime Warranty

Cons:

  • Difficult to disassemble; not recommended for those who need to remove the case often
  • Waist-clip is not as tough as the rest of the case

Where to buy: https://www.goballisticcase.com/

Lifeproof frē

Lifeproof is another company that makes a highly durable and waterproof yet slim fitting phone case. The case makes smart phones c
ompletely waterproof and guards them against almost any element. Lifeproof cases are a known standard in the phone case industry. They have been proven against water, dropping and more. They are known for their durability and each one is tested before it leaves the factory.

Phone: 
iPhone 4/4s, iPhone 5/5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 5c, iPad Air, Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Galaxy S5, Samsung Galaxy S6, Samsung Galaxy S7, Motorola Droid Turbo

Price: $79.99

Pros

  • Perfect for iPhones
  • Military Standard 810G-516.6 and IP-68 approved and can be submerged in water for a whole hour at a depth of two meters, meaning the case is completely waterproof, dirt proof, snow proof, and shock proof.
  • Fits easily into pockets
  • One-year warranty


Cons:

  • Does not review nearly as well for non-Apple products.
  • Requires an extension cable for headphones

Where to buy: www.lifeproof.com

Otterbox Defender Series

It’s hard to look for mobile device cases in construction without hearing about the Otterbox Defender series. Otterbox has been a long time used and trusted case brand by cell phone fanatics. They have been making cases since 1998 and are one of the most widely used brands by construction workers around the globe. Otterbox is regarded as so rugged that people have tested its durability with chainsaws and by dropping it from the rooftops of malls.

While it isn’t IP-certified, this smartphone case can handle just about anything on a construction site.

Phone: Almost all devices

Price: $49.99 – $59.99

Pros:

  • Basically indestructible. Drop, dust, screen, and scratch protection
  • Built with a two-piece polycarbonate shell and a rubber cover for shock resistance
  • One-year warranty
  • Wireless charging works through the Defender case

Cons:

  • The screen protector can produce a glare and can make it difficult for the phone to detect touch
  • If you’re using a fingerprint scanner, the screen protector will make it difficult to use.

Where to buy: www.otterbox.com

Spigen Tough Armor

If you own a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge, the Spigen Tough Armor is likely your best bet for a ruggedized smartphone case. Tough Armor is not only one of Spigen’s best-sellers but the strongest in the Armor Series for Construction Mobile Devices. Its dual-layer structure is made of a shock-absorbing TPU layer and a PC frame that is able to withstand extreme impacts. It is packed with all your protective needs in an ergonomic profile, making it pocket-friendly. The Tough Armor for Samsung Galaxy comes with the latest, reinforced design of its built-in kickstand for extra durability.

When it comes to style, Spigen tough armor case is a great pick. This case is available in 5 colors, and all looks astonishing. It is very slim and lightweight but still gives the same level of protection as other cases. It provides dual-layer protection made of a TPU body and polycarbonate back.

Precise cutouts and raised lips around the screen and camera ensures their safety. A kickstand is added on the rear bottom side for hassle free movie watching. Spigen tough armor cases are military drop tested and worked with air-cushion technology for better shock absorption.

Phone: All Phones

Price: $34.99

Pros:

  • Maintains touch sensitivity
  • Air Cushion Technology
  • Slim & Lightweight

Cons:

  • Not waterproof

Urban Armor Gear Plasma Series

The Urban Armor Case is the style friendly and still rugged competitor of the bunch. With the unique design of the case as well as the slim functionality, it appears a very useful option for the construction site.

The UAG cases are a great option for any construction worker who wants to keep their phone slim but protected. The case features a rugged composite construction and shock cushions and is still light. Any worker that likes to keep his/her phone in their pocket should consider this case because of its slim design.

Phone: Apple, Samsung, Microsoft, Google and LG devices

Price: $35 – $39.95

Pros:

– Impact resistant soft core

– Light composite construction

– Easy access to touchscreen and ports

– Slim Design

Cons:

– Not waterproof

– Some users have reported that the case splits apart over time

– Price

Where to buy: www.urbanarmorgear.com

If you are tired of bulky and sluggish ruggedized cases for your construction mobile devices this list should make it a bit easier to find a case that is functional and meets your needs. These cases will make it possible to protect your construction mobile devices, yet, allow you to tap away on your construction mobile applications while on the job site.

construction software

Mistakes to Avoid When Adopting Construction Software

Construction is an industry that is constantly evolving as advancements in technology are made. Every year there seems to be some new tool or solution that is changing the industry, making jobs take half the time and saving managers half the headaches. Each year, construction software tools become more and more affordable for organizations who need them. With the ever-growing list of benefits that adopting construction solution can bring to your company, including improving communication across your team, collecting accurate data, streamlining complicated workflows, the list goes on, it is easy to see why construction companies are quickly adopting technology to run their businesses more efficiently.

That being said, moving an entire organization into the digital era can often be problematic. For a solution to handle all of the various moving parts of a construction business, there is usually enormous cost associated with it, and that is before you factor in the labor hours involved with training your employees and importing all of your existing data. When it is all said and done, will the construction solution your company spent so much time implementing actually benefit your team?

Choosing the Wrong Solution

When it comes to moving your construction company into the digital age with construction software, it is important to choose the solution that best fits your business. Some business owners will choose the solution that is least expensive or had the best reviews, however it is essential that you take a deeper look and make sure that what you are signing up for is what you actually need.

Contract vs Service

In today’s world there are few construction companies that handle strictly service type work or contract work, in most cases companies handle a little bit of everything. Unfortunately, most construction software companies do not tend to cater to both. Luckily, TRUE does, we recognize that there are many moving parts in a construction business and you have to be able to switch gears almost immediately. TRUE allows your business that freedom. TRUE is the first of its kind that handles subcontractors’ workflows for both the service side of their business and the contract side. When choosing a software solution to help better your business, it is vital that you go with a solution that will handle all of the aspects of your operation, not just one.

Using the Wrong Tools

For a business to truly adopt a construction solution, it is important to understand the different devices it can be used on. Many software solutions, like TRUE, can be accessed from either a smartphone, tablet, or a computer. I’ll briefly go over the benefits of each instrument, and when you should use them.

Laptops & Desktops

For those members of your team that handle large amounts of data, procurement, inventory, scheduling and report, we recommend going for a laptop or desktop computer. Not only will it make it easier to input data, but making changes later on will be easier to spot. Entering data into a laptop will allow you to automatically open the outputted Excel file that is generated when completing an eForm. If you need to work with any complex calculations, and have the convenience of being next to a computer, a big screen will help.

Tablets

Tablets are a great option for many tasks in the field or when you need to access important information. Technicians and project managers are able to create documentation, documents sites and much more because tablets offer a happy medium between the big screen of the laptop, and the portability of a mobile device. Tablets, however, are the most expensive out of the bunch. Chances are, your employees will not want to bring theirs from home, so you may have to provide a company one. If it is going to be outside, you also need to purchase insurance for it, which could run the bill up quite a lot. Regardless, this is the best option if you want something simple, larger and easy to use with more functionality than a smart phone.

Smart Phones

Sometimes computers and tablets are not the most feasible option. For many of our users, a majority of their work happens in the field and this is where mobile phones come in handy. Smartphones are an excellent option because most employees today probably own one. Since TRUE construction software works with both Android and Apple operating systems, all of your employees are covered. Phones also have longer battery lives then the other options, so for people that are going to be on the field all day, this might be the best way to go.

When choosing devices for your team, it is important to think about their workflows, travel and field activities. What is going to suit them best and keep them working not only productively but efficiently?

Adopting construction software is a serious strategic move for your organization and it is important to treat it as such. Not only will you be investing a large amount of money in your new solution but you will also be investing a tremendous amount of time and energy implementing your new tool. Don’t waste what precious time and money you have on a solution that you will want to move on from in a few months because it doesn’t operate correctly on the devices your team has or because it doesn’t properly handle the various aspects of your business. If you need a solution that will function on multiple devices, on different operating systems, and handle both your contract and service work, there really is only one option, TRUE. For more information about TRUE Contractor Software, check out our website on www.docuwrx.com/solutions.