Project Site Tracker-press article>homefinder mag

1. Industry From Traditional to Digital
From
TradiTional
To digiTal
An important factor not always considered – monitoring Text Lawrence Julius
KEEPING track of a development’s construction
is no easy task. Once a project is underway, few “The system not
will have the access to view progress first-hand.
This can be frustrating especially for property only saves costs,
buyers who wait with fingers crossed, hoping
nothing goes wrong. Within this waiting period it improves
even abandonment can happen. Due to lack of
monitoring, problems are not detected early, productivity too.”
and those in the dark will try to mitigate loss – Eric Gan, Director,
right at the last minute, to no avail. CONPEX Solutions Sdn Bhd
A possible solution can be found through a But Tracker is not only used in construction, it
web-based system called Project Site Tracker, is also customizable to monitor the conditions
an innovative online monitoring tool by CON- of hill slopes and potholes for example. Gov-
PEX International Consortium Group. Ar Eric ernment bodies can use this monitor to speed-
Gan, Director of CONPEX Solutions Sdn Bhd up detection and action. This system can even
defines the system as, an “Online real-time be installed within a client’s internal server
reporting” platform. This system digitizes the if requested.
traditional processes and methods of project
monitoring and provides data access within a “The system not only saves costs, it improves
centralized system. productivity too,” says Eric.
“Those given access can go to the site and get An administrator will allow or disallow access to
information directly instead of painstakingly people and filter all incoming materials like pho-
tracking down documents manually,” says Eric. tos and documents. Among other services within
Eric Gan, accessing Project
Site Tracker from his tablet PC.
the system are templates to organize information
Be it property developers, investors, govern- more efficiently and accessed easily. Certificates
ment officials or financial institutions, they and reports during the construction period like
can monitor a project’s progress anytime, the progress, cost and payment reports can all be
anywhere via the Internet. uploaded and organized for easy reference.
Project Site Tracker can be accessed through Eric says via this route, a lot more transparency
its website, which means data can be accessed is given to property buyers. “It lifts confidence in
using mobile devices, on the go. One of the fea- the developer’s ability to deliver,” Eric says.
tures of Tracker is the ability to upload photo
updates, taken by those with jurisdiction, direct On the other hand, stakeholders and contrac-
to the system for others to view and comment. tors get to keep close watch and make critical
This platform enables a visual insight into the decisions faster, while government enforce-
progress of the development, a valuable source ment agencies can use this to monitor progress
for those who normally rely on paper reports as and working conditions. Non-performing loans
well as opening space for discussions. can be reduced as well when financial institu-
tions opt to keep track of their mortgage prop-
Eric adds, “When a progress report comes erties with the system. Eric is confident inci-
in, there are no supporting pictorials to actu- dences of project abandonment can ultimately
ally see the progress. Sometimes certifications be reduced through this means of monitoring
are inaccurate.” developers’ construction progress online.
Eric believes that the technology is all in place;
it is just a matter of accepting it and changing a For more information
traditional mindset could be a challenge. visit www.projectsitetracker.com
76 homefinder | July-August, 2011