CASE STUDYThe Austin Company

The Problem

Lack of Real-Time Data The Austin Company is a US-based international firm offering architec-tural, engineering, design-build and construction management services. Before Canvas, they used clipboards and paper to fill out lengthy site inspection reports and safety audits, adding administrative time to each work day. In this paper-based system, critical job information was skipped or left missing. It could take days for forms to return to the main company office where another employee waited to receive and pro-cess them. All the data would then need to be manually re-entered into their internal database. The office staff was wasting at a minimum of 5-10 hours per week on processing paperwork.

Inspections that once took 2 hours or more, now take 15 minutes!”

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Increase Inspection efficiency

800%Productivity Hours Saved annually by eliminating paper

$90,000 $250,000 Savings

500+ Mobile Forms Created

Canvas is a mobile platform that makes it simple for any business to automate how work is done, replacing outdated process and expensive paperwork. The Canvas App works on all smartphones and tablets, helping companies easily collect information across their orga-nization, share it instantly with others and gain real-time insight on their business operations.

info@gocanvas.com

(703) 436-8069

@GoCanvas

The Strategy

Automating the ProcessIn 2013, The Austin Company approached Canvas Enterprise Executives to discuss the best ways to optimize their current inspection processes. After determining that automating as much of the data capture process as possible was pivotal, Canvas got to work creating the perfect platform. This included the implementation of:

• Mobile forms with auto-fill fields connected to jobsite databases (materi-als, site lists)

• Building required fields to ensure critical information is collected on every form

• Dynamic fields to only show questions that apply • Excel or CSV reports on-demand to file larger safety compliance reports

All-in-all these features have led to better organization across the board. No longer do personnel have to search through filing cabinets or stacks of paperwork to find the right report. They can just type in the ID, project site name, or any other key identifier and download/print the report instantly. The Results

Streamlining InspectionsSince implementing Canvas mobile forms in 2013, The Austin Company has been able to reduce their average inspection time from 2 hours per form to 15 minutes! This is an 800% increase in efficiency, and has allowed them to significantly increase the amount of jobs completed per day. Organizing Data Through automated tri-color coding they now determine form status as “not started,” “in progress,” or “complete”. This has helped to increase the com-munication of project statuses both in the office and out in the field. Now ev-eryone, including corporate, has a real-time view of what is being completed and have access to the data instantly. Also, to help keep things organized, The Austin Company uses the Canvas Folder functionality to organize the forms they create per department. This way when a user logs into their device, they can just click the folder (Safety, Maintenance, etc.) and retrieve that specific kind of form. Reducing CostsBy completing mobile forms and storing them on the cloud, this has reduced costs that were previously spent on paper, copier maintenance, shipping supplies, postage, and office staff. The Austin Company can even edit each form to suit their information capture needs and do not have to re-order a new batch of paper forms anytime there is a change.