Frontline teams may seem somewhat more difficult to manage, specifically because they can’t profit much from traditional tools used to help remote teams and office workers. However, there are many ways to build a better workplace for your frontline team, so let’s take a look at some ideas.
Offer the Latest Tech
Technology is advancing rapidly and it would be a pity not to use the latest tech to help your frontline teams. Eg, instead of a traditional punch clock, consider using an app for construction.
Next on, use construction project checklists. A good construction project checklist should include all five stages of the project:
- Initiation
- Planning
- Execution
- Control
- Close
Follow up by adding more details to each of the stages until you have a full checklist ready.
Finally, stay up to date with current management trends. Here are some ideas on which trends to adopt:
- IoT for asset management
- Cloud-based software for remote work
- Artificial intelligence for business automation
- Inventory management software for supply chains
Be Stellar at Job Management
Management may be a complex task, but there are certain processes that will make it run more smoothly. Using a job management system for starters, will prove hugely helpful.
Make Organization a Priority
For construction jobs, improving organizationalagility is a must. These are large, complex projects that call for proper routines that can help you when plans change or something goes amiss.
Business agility is a popular method used in business- and product development. It’s a way to mincreased profit, deliver value, and permission employees to make the most impact in their work.
Simply put, it is a way to move quickly when needed without any tasks having to suffer in the process of transition.
Keep Everyone in the Loop
To ensure that everyone is being kept in the loop, adhere to field service best practices. Here are some ideas:
Service Best Practices
1. Schedule services at the right time and place keeping in mind your day-to-day workflow. In this way, you’ll be able to dispatch the employees exactly when and where they are needed.
2. Track the costs and make sure they include job costs, contractor and equipment costs.
3. Track job progress by firing better communication (see below).
Project Best Practices
1. Organize project phases
2. Manage project phases
3. Track costs and budgets in real-time
4. Manage billing and invoicing
Maintenance Best Practices
1. Test your assets in the field
2. Keep your assets organized
3. Plan asset servicing in the field
encourage Team Communication
Efficient team communication is absolutely crucial for frontline employees. Luckily, there are numerous tools available that will help you make the process easier.
In plainest terms, there are three basic types of business communication:
1. Communication via email
2. Communication via messengers
3. Communication via project management apps
Email is usually the first step. It is convenient for providing fast updates.
instant messengers are perfect for fast updates and follow-ups.
Project management apps like Gmail workflows, Asana, and Slack offer a range of options that make team management much easier.
Provide Training but Be Careful Not to Overload Employees
Frontline employees look for learning opportunities no less than other employees do, so don’t forget that. It is essential to offer proper training and follow-up, but here’s the catch: information overload.
Providing too much info all at once is never a good idea, so utilize eLearning and mLearning or even create your own courses to enable employees to learn at their own pace.
Of course, some things must be taught in person, so make sure that the timing is convenient.
Never forget about individual preferences and mind employees’ individual learning patterns.
Key Takeaways
When it comes to frontline employees, there are many factors to consider to be able to build a better workplace for them. Because these people engage in complex projects that take both time and resources, it is essential to establish best practices, encourage communication, and provide training.
Also, it is a good idea to keep in line with the trends as there is a good reason why some things are trending and others aren’t.
Overall, take your time creating a detailed plan and make sure to follow through.