Domain
Construction Project Management
Geography
USA, Global
Platform
Mobile application, Web App
Services
Research, Strategy, Design
Planera is a US-based construction management software company that offers a collaborative platform for creating and managing project schedules. It provides features such as critical path analysis, resource loading, and risk simulation, allowing users to plan and execute projects more efficiently. The company’s goal is to simplify the scheduling process for construction projects, making it easier for teams to collaborate and deliver projects on time and within budget.
Planera collaborated with us to build a product for construction project managers, enabling easy yet accurate project planning, cost estimation and project management. It offers high usability, a seamless experience and an intuitive interface, simplifying complex construction project management processes, optimizing plans that drive team alignment & increase productivity.
Challenge
Construction project management and scheduling face significant hurdles including economic volatility, supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, and complex risk management. Unpredictable factors, intricate project dependencies, and resource constraints further complicate scheduling. These challenges are often interconnected and require a multifaceted approach involving digital technologies, robust supply chain management, labor force development, effective risk management, and sustainable practices to overcome.
Solution
A seamless project management & scheduling tool that can significantly improve construction project management outcomes by enhancing accuracy, optimizing resource allocation, facilitating real-time updates, and aiding risk mitigation. Planera fosters collaboration, data-driven decision making, and overall project efficiency by providing a centralized hub for managing complex schedules and their associated information.
Our Research
To optimize the complex construction ecosystem, we aimed to understand the intricate interplay between diverse stakeholders, from high-level decision-makers like management and project planners to on-ground executors such as cement masons and supervisors. By conducting in-depth user interviews across this spectrum, we explored the challenges and opportunities within the construction project lifecycle, from conception to completion, with the goal of identifying strategies to enhance efficiency, productivity, and overall project success.
Painpoints discovered
Communication Fragmentation
Construction planning suffers from fragmented communication, causing inefficiencies and delays.
Complex Planning Processes
Cumbersome planning procedures waste time and hinder efficient coordination among stakeholders.
Slow Construction Progress
Inefficient planning methods contribute to slow construction rates, leading to delays and increased costs.
Adoption
Barriers
Limited comfort with existing software tools among construction workers poses challenges for efficient planning
Our Strategy
Our product strategy aimed to revolutionize construction project management by empowering planners to visualize the entire project lifecycle from inception. We set to achieve this by building a platform that caters to the diverse needs of all stakeholders, from executives to on-site workers, enabling seamless communication and collaboration throughout the project. By understanding and addressing the unique mental models of each role, we aimed create a tool that facilitates efficient planning, execution, and oversight of construction projects.
Seamless Communication
Integrating scattered offline processes into a single platform
Mental Models
Of varied user personas that would benefit from Planera
Bridging the gap
Between the diverse stakeholders in the construction ecosystem
Design Execution
Our design process was iterative, with weekly design sprints focused on rapid problem-solving and feature ideation. This agile approach yielded wireframes, visual designs, illustrations, a comprehensive design system, and interactive prototypes. The foundation of our design system comprised of 10 core elements, expanded into over 120 atomic components and a rich icon library.
The Outcomes
Planera has demonstrated significant user adoption and positive impact within the construction industry. Adoption rates for the project management tool skyrocketed from 10% to 90% following its integration into construction worker workflows. Not to mention, it enabled Planera raise $13.5 Million Series A funding ( along with $ 5.4 Million Seed Funding) & accelerate the development and deployment of its visual planning tools for the entire construction ecosystem.
Not only did Planera made construction management tech easily accessible to the entire company, as opposed to 2-3 tech experts, but it also enabled it’s clients save millions of dollars. Owing to Planera’s simple & intuitive interface design, optimized for complete gamut of users across construction ecosystem, it empowered even blue collar workers to leverage technology to collaborate seamlessly.
Planera plans on shifting from on-premise project management systems to cloud-based intelligent applications, multiplayer collaboration and visual planning is positioning the company well for the future.
