Here’s a look at some of the apps top contractors are using and why they recommend them
Friday, March 18, 2016
Six Killer Apps for Contractors
Here’s a look at some of the apps top contractors are using and why they recommend them
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5 comments:
These apps all seem pretty interesting and using them for contractor work can definitely be a huge help. I was a little disappointed that there are really only three types of apps, each with two similar apps, so there really aren’t six killer apps, theres just three with options incase you don’t like the layout or functionality of one type. The apps that stuck out the most to me are the 3D modeling of a property from photos so you can see what a product will look like in your home before you buy it. In painting or roofing, its so hard to imagine what big surfaces will look like with a different color. Though a lot of the color look will change based on the time of day and the weather, but having the option to see it in a photo is extremely helpful. It’s like the apps and websites that let you try on glasses on a photo of your face or furniture in your home.
I do not doubt that these apps could help contractors a lot, but I do somewhat think that this article is a little skewed. First of all, the first two apps mentioned are not apps that I thought would be on this list. I was expecting apps that were designed for contractors, not students in class. While I do think those apps would be helpful for contractors, I was caught off guard that they are on this list. Also, I am partial to Notability as an app where you can write on pictures. Next, the next two apps are not apps for individual private contractors; they are apps for general personnel management. It could be a helpful tool for all sorts of general contractors, but I think they would belong on a “apps for managers” list, not on this one. And now here is where I get hypocritical…I think the last two apps presented are perfect for this list, but I am skeptical about how they work. I have tried numerous measuring and 3d modeling apps and none of them come close to working well, albeit the ones I am using are all free and may not be as advanced, but even still, I have trouble trusting a measuring app.
The best thing to come out of this generation of phones is undoubtedly the app system. It’s an amazing system allowing anyone with a little bit of coding background to create an app, and then allows anyone with a compatible device to download it. These apps can range for mind numbing games to totally useful tools. A lot of the applications mentioned in this article seem very helpful, especially for theatre. The two apps mentioned for sketching and designing both seem useful for designing and tech designing, and internet based storage and accessibility is always a plus. I’m not sure the time tracking apps would be as helpful, except maybe in a commercial shop. Finally, the 3D modeling apps, while cool, wouldn’t really be helpful since we don’t start with a 3D object to design typically. Although it might be useful for providing an idea of what the set might look like in the space. Overall, there is a lot of overlap that occurs between what is helpful in contracting and what is helpful in theatre.
A lot of these apps seem pretty interesting. My dad is a contractor so I've seen him deal with these issues first hand, and I always believe apps that deal with time tracking and organization are helpful - I have used several to document my own life, from planning to chores to weight loss. There really is an app for everything! But one thing I am weary of in these articles are the quality of the aforementioned apps. One in particular in this set is the one on taking photos, and having the app measure certain things FOR you, based on the photos. I have used apps like this and they almost never work practically, because the technology simply isn't there yet. You need a size reference and the perfect lighting and the perfect angle - way more than a regular person can do on their phone. Another low quality issue with these types of apps is when they boast they can show you different treatments on your walls or house - that isn't true either. There isn't a (free) app that can change the color or style of your house, hair, or anything. In those situations, if you want to see what your house would look like with (blank), you should just request it from a contractor.
These apps are interesting, but I feel like the article is missing a couple key pieces of information – what platforms are the apps available for and how much do they cost. The time keeping apps seem to me to have more use working in theater than the others. Tracking employee hours and locations can be a hassle; especially if you have to track employees at multiple locations. The downside to this is that it only tracks the hours. Unless this app is fully integrated with the payroll system – I don’t think its anything new. The first two apps, Penultimate and Skitch seem like great ideas, but, again, I don’t think this is anything new. Adobe, Dropbox, and Google Apps are just a few that allow multiple people to view documents regardless of physical access to the file – i.e. cloud storage. Adobe allows marking over PDF documents and can be used on mobile devices and desktop devices. Google Apps allow multiple people to view and edit documents at the same time; marking over existing documents I’m not sure about. In reality, I think there a lot of apps and software programs out there that do what these apps do that are more well established, well known, and more readily available.
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