Jobsite Technology

  • Portable fax pays its way

    Ten years ago Medina Construction Co. started using fax machines that operate over cell phone lines to stay connected to the office from even the remotest of jobsites. For a company whose operation covers so much ground, the system has been invaluable.

     
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    Software on the Move

    Last month we looked at the hardware needed to set up your mobile office. Now it's time to add some software. I'm going to assume you already have a contact manager, a basic office suite, and some accounting software.

     
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    Ideas for mobile technology in the field

    Today's remodeling industry exists on jobsites and in-home sales calls, doing business from work trucks and home offices. The days of being tethered to a desk computer are over, so get mobile.

     
  • Review of Treo smartphone

    Thinking about getting a “SmartPhone” and wondering if it's worth the extra money?

     
  • Choosing your tech tool

    Thinking about some mobile technology for spring? Here's my short take on your choices.

     
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    Using a digital recorder

    Jonathan Levy, owner of Builders Integrity Group in Naples, Fla., uses a digital voice recorder for three types of communication: daily personal reminders (“So much safer than driving and writing,” he says); in client meetings (“If they know you're recording them, they're going to say less and be...

     
  • Round the Clock

    Dick Seibert turned to a time clock system to track employee hours for two reasons. First, many members of his crew had worked independently and were used to making their own hours.

     
  • Radar Love

    It's important for remodelers to have accurate, up-to-date weather information."The whole idea is to empower users and give them exactly what they want, when they want it, and on a mobile device," says Paul Douglas, Digital Cyclone's chairman and founder.

     
  • Shopping for a PDA

    Thinking about buying a PDA (personal digital assistant)? Michael O'Doherty, a network engineer with Horizon Data Corp. of Reston, Va., suggests you ask yourself 10 questions.

     
  • Logging Hours By Phone

    A St. Louis remodeler's field crew is turning in hours by Nextel phone, eliminating paper timesheets and adding minutes to the workday that normally might be used to bring timesheets to the office.