To synchronize exchanges between its teams and worksites, TBC Construction turned to Procore

The Challenge

Since 2015, TBC has improved its work-flow through 3D drawings and BIM, enabling a major reduction in the use of paper. However, despite a cloud-based internal server structure, this was not entirely optimal.

The Solution

To enhance data collection and improve its processes, TBC turned to Procore.

The Results

• Simplified data collection by eliminating the need for Excel and consolidating information from internal server
• Improved efficiency by streamlining workflows and processes across teams
• Provided a single source of truth with real-time project insights accessible to all workers and partners

A company in search of bigger projects

Founded four decades ago, TBC Construction specializes in the electrical, ventilation/air conditioning and plumbing/heating sectors. With approximately 100 employees in its Québec City and Brossard offices, as well as 350 workers on its construction sites, TBC is capable of handling all aspects of a building's electromechanical requirements on large-scale projects.

Its client list includes companies such as Pomerleau, Broccolini and McGill. TBC is known for its ability to collaborate on large-scale job sites, from hospitals and seniors' homes to condo towers such as Maestria in Montreal, comprising two skyscrapers of 58 and 61 stories connected by a walkway.

Since 2015, TBC has improved its work-flow through 3D drawings and BIM, enabling a major reduction in the use of paper. However, despite a cloud-based internal server structure, this was not entirely optimal.

And that's where Procore comes in, with its ability to help manage large amounts of data.

A new platform to centralize work

The company decided to use Procore to improve its processes.

"We had some knowledge of the Procore platform, as some general contractors we work with were already using it to share information with their specialty contractors," says Geneviève Contant, Director of Innovation, Quality and Continuous Improvement at TBC. "Our project managers and foremen were already accustomed to viewing drawings and other documents on the platform, so it wasn't a new tool for us internally. Our employees had a favourable opinion from their experience using Procore to access documents shared by general contractors."

TBC’s workers in the field were excited about being able to use the Procore platform. Foremen particularly appreciate the tools for managing photos, drawings and daily logs, and being able to access the insights and information they need quickly.

Using Procore has enabled the company to continue with its digital transformation.The platform allows workers to markup drawings and complete editable forms from anywhere on the jobsite using an iPad. When TBC initially met with Procore, the solution was more suited to general contractors. A few years later, it has evolved to meet the needs of specialty contractors.

"The most important advantage of the solution for us is that you can collect data without having to fill out Excel files," says Contant. "It also consolidates information that used to be scattered across internal servers, especially as employees didn’t always have time to properly identify files."

While it is too early in the process to talk about major benefits, TBC is certainly seeing better standardization of its data classification. The inspection tool simplifies processes, allowing for the creation of reports and the extraction of statistics – very useful for commissioning follow-ups, inspections, and more. The planning tool has added more work for those who file plans into the project, but it's now much easier for foremen to annotate them and share information with the project manager.

In the past, photos were saved in a folder with little to no reference to help the team find its way around. Now, the addition of photos to projects in Procore has improved TBC's ability to identify locations. The Daily Log tool has proven to be quite intuitive, and has the ability to create reports that are sent automatically. The entire TBC team finds this to be a great benefit, to help note problems or issues from the jobsite.

The challenges of digital adoption

Every company that has undergone a digital shift has faced the challenge of getting employees to accept and adopt the new tools. TBC was no exception. While some employees applauded the initiative, others needed convincing. Contant first trained the employees, then allowed them to explore the platform's functionalities before giving them a follow-up training six months later.

TBC gradually integrated projects into Procore, and administrative staff have been trained to highlight the benefits of the platform. Subsequently, shorter training sessions focusing on specific tools were organized to deepen skills in a targeted manner.

Adoption of the platform was relatively fast, as several employees had already used it in a previous project with a general contractor. However, Contant notes there are still areas that need to be explored to fully realize its potential.

"Recently, monthly meetings have been established to remind employees of Procore functions that can make life easier, such as using global project searches instead of the drop-down bar for all items within a tool. These meetings will continue to demonstrate Procore's subtleties, enabling it to be used to its full potential," says Contant.

Identify your needs

When setting up Procore, it is essential to clearly define your needs, advises Contant. You must identify the data you want to have, and then organize Procore so the platform meets those specific needs, allowing the tool to be customized.

"When we chose Procore, we wanted to find efficiency gains. The tool is very powerful, especially when it comes to data, which was one of my main concerns. Procore will help us manage and document our most important projects."