Like many trade sectors, the construction industry is facing growing challenges, from rising costs to labour shortages and increased administrative demands. To combat these issues, UK builders are increasingly turning to digital tools, which are becoming essential for streamlining operations, reducing stress and boosting overall business efficiency. Marius Stäcker, CEO and Co-founder, ToolTime, tells us more.
Our research this year revealed that 86% of UK construction professionals believe digital tools are crucial for success, with 93% already using them for day-to-day operations. Builders leverage software for various purposes, including time savings, compensating for workforce shortages and improving work-life balance.
Maintaining profitability in the face of rising costs
The rising cost of supplies emerged as the number one challenge for builders in our survey. Growing operational expenses make finding ways to maintain profitability, manage costs and ensure prompt invoice payments critical elements of small business management. Investing in digital and software tools can offer the opportunity to create a resilient business model by streamlining and optimising operations for greater efficiency, enabling businesses to focus on increased revenue generation and profitability even with limited resources and in the face of higher operational costs.
Roofing company ZafBuild, for example, says that using our business management platform enabled them to grow profit by 20%, while home emergency services business Generational Homes reports savings of four to six hours every day, helping them complete an additional 20-25 jobs every week to bring in additional revenue.
Indeed, our research showed that 34% of construction workers use digital and software tools to save time on admin for business growth, with 26% saying they used them to create more efficient backend processes.
Combatting skilled worker shortages and overwork
While rising costs was the main challenge, 23% of construction respondents also cited burnout due to overwork as a major concern. With labour shortages putting pressure on the available workforce, builders find it harder to complete jobs on time and maintain high service standards without overextending themselves or their teams.
Digital tools offer a solution to this problem by automating many of the administrative tasks that would otherwise consume valuable time. Platforms that streamline scheduling, job tracking and customer communications can alleviate a significant burden, allowing teams to focus on the physical aspects of the job rather than getting bogged down in paperwork. Digital tools can also provide much-needed visibility into operations, helping construction businesses optimise workflow and ensure jobs are completed on time without overwhelming the team.
According to our data, 40% of construction professionals use digital tools to compensate for skilled worker shortages, allowing them to maintain output and meet project deadlines despite limited staff. Surveys also show that 32% use digital tools to spend more time on their trade and 30% to strike a better work-life balance.
By centralising tasks like scheduling, job allocation and time tracking, builders can ensure that every worker is assigned to the right job at the right time. This eliminates the need for constant back-and-forth communications, reduces downtime and ensures that jobs are completed on schedule.
It reduces the burden of managing multiple aspects of the business manually, giving builders more time to focus on their trade and, ultimately, themselves.
Boosting professionalism and client trust
In an increasingly digital world, professionalism is becoming a competitive advantage. Builders who adopt digital tools streamline their internal operations and present a more organised and reliable image to their customers. Features like digital job reports, instant invoicing, and seamless communication channels enable builders to respond more quickly to customer inquiries, resolve issues faster, and ensure that jobs are completed to a high standard.
Our survey found that 36% of construction professionals use digital tools to improve customer communications, and 39% of respondents cited better oversight of business operations as a key benefit. This increased transparency and professionalism helps build trust with clients, who are more likely to recommend and return to organised, efficient and communicative businesses.
This can be transformative for small business owners in particular. Many builders operate micro-businesses with fewer than five employees, where the owner often wears multiple hats, handling everything from client relations to accounting. Digital tools can relieve the pressure of this multitasking, allowing business owners to easily share information with the team and delegate tasks without fear of error or balls being dropped.
Digital tools and 2025 growth
As the construction industry faces rising costs, skilled labour shortages, and mounting administrative demands, digital tools are becoming indispensable for business survival. Builders who invest in digital solutions are better equipped to manage their workload, reduce stress, and grow their businesses, even in difficult economic times.
Digital tools enable builders to operate more efficiently and effectively by streamlining administrative tasks, automating workflows, and improving client communications. This not only helps prevent stress and burnout but also opens the door to new opportunities for business growth. Those who embrace technology now will be well-positioned to succeed in an increasingly competitive market where efficiency, professionalism, and customer satisfaction are the keys to long-term success.