THE use of popular apps such as WhatsApp and Facetime, and an increasingly heavy reliance on drones, have dramatically transformed the approach to marketing within the real estate sector. YouTube listings and virtual tours, which are now the norm, capture in exquisite detail everything from a property’s roof to its well-manicured lawn, before taking the viewer inside to explore.

Technology has had an equally significant impact on the construction side of things.

There was a time when clients beyond Jamaica’s borders had to guess whether a hired contractor was really building the dream home they discussed. Now, anyone with a smartphone can get real time updates.

To give clients peace of mind, some local companies have gone a step further than reliance on third-party applications. Engineering and construction firm Lalace, for example, has built out its own app that allows clients to track their projects from anywhere in the world.

“It’s like having a personal eye on the project. The application allows the client to log in and actually view the activity — daily or weekly, depending on the nature of the project — happening on site,” Lalace’s Managing Director Litroy Wallace told the Jamaica Observer.

He thinks the mere availability of the tracking app gives the company a certain level of transparency that makes it attractive to potential clients.

“We have heard a lot of horror stories in terms of people having bad experiences over the years. The track record in the construction industry is very low so that is one of the reasons why this application was created — to alleviate fears that may arise and allow clients to be at peace when they engage our services,” said Wallace.

The eight-year-old company focuses on expansions, renovations, and new builds in the residential segment of the market. Its clients are mostly in Kingston and St Catherine. With a 20-member team that is expanded or scaled back as needed, Lalace pitches itself as a one-stop shop that has all the technical skills required to design and build projects.

It has made tech work for it in many ways.

“In terms of software applications now available on the phone, it has helped us tremendously,” Wallace said.

“For example, if we’re out there in the field and we need to make on-site decisions, there is software out there that you can actually use to do calculations. Whether it is from a structural point of view or any one of the technical areas that needs modifications or troubleshooting, you can basically do it on your phone. You can remotely send it to other technocrats within the area and they can bounce ideas off each other. Gone are the days when we used to have to go back in the office, pull up the worksheet, and then crunch numbers,” he added.

As Wallace explained, the use of tech has helped boost efficiency — which translates to savings that he can pass on to clients.

“A typical example of how technology has helped to minimise wastage on project sites is the use of the electronic level. This device has the ability to check the precision of wall surface straightness, which aids in the quantity and quality of rendering to be provided,” he said.

In addition to using tech to boost efficiency in the field and enhance how it communicates with clients, the company relies heavily on technology in its marketing. Its
Instagram page is full of posts that showcase stunning, software-generated architectural designs, as well as skilfully edited content that shows its team at work in the field. Drones are used a lot for “before and after” shots that show how properties are transformed by the Lalace team.

Wallace highly recommends a tech-forward approach in every aspect of business.

“A company really would be falling behind if they don’t get with the programme and immerse themselves in what technology has to offer. I would implore all engineers, designers and contractors to really examine what is out there and to see how best they can utilise it in their practices for greater efficiency and greater effectiveness of their offerings,” he said.