News & Insights
The future of construction permitting: How digital solutions are providing an edge for Mercury teams
Technological advancements have significantly changed the way construction teams manage complex projects, with traditional physical paperwork being replaced by digital solutions that offer major benefits throughout the lifecycle of a construction project.
At Mercury, we’ve been at the forefront of this innovation over the past three years, implementing digital solutions that streamline the permit application, review, and approval process, ultimately leading to significant gains in permit quality, while improving consistency, transparency and accountability.
The transition from manual processes and paperwork, which previously required multiple signatures on paper documents, to a fully digital solution has enhanced the way permits are submitted, managed, and approved. Permitted tasks can now be completed using a smartphone or tablet, allowing for the addition of photos, document attachments, and detailed audit trails, which considerably strengthens permit oversight.
With a range of our projects across the group already benefitting from these solutions, the adoption and phased introduction of digital permits continues to grow as part of Mercury’s Digital Edge programme.
According to Simon O’Leary, Mercury’s Group Permit Controller, by embracing these technologies the construction industry can expect a number of benefits, including improved efficiency, reduced costs and enhanced permit oversight via smart analytics.
Simon, who was had led the roll-out of this digital project at Mercury, outlines the key statistics and benefits of these solutions below.
Enhanced efficiency: Our Digital Permitting process leads to improved results for clients and more effective project management – as a group we have submitted over 73,000 individual digital permits since October 2019.
Standardised processes and improved oversight: With digital permitting now in use across our complex projects in a variety of countries, we have streamlined and standardised our workflow, which enhances overall oversight capability and ensures high levels of compliance.
Safer data storage: Digital document management provides a safer method for storing sensitive information for the many different types of documents used on our project.
Positive environmental impact: Digital solutions significantly reduce the environmental footprint of construction companies, demonstrating a commitment to sustainability. Mercury estimates to have saved 219,000 pages since implementing digital permit solutions.
“From increased efficiency, standardised processes, safer data storage, and reduced environmental impacts, it’s clear to see why the integration of digital statistics and platforms like Data Scope are fuelling advancements in the construction sector,” Simon states.
At Mercury, we’re committed to embracing innovation, and our continuous adaption of the latest digital solutions has pushed our capabilities beyond borders, allowing us to consistently manage and deliver the most complex of construction projects.
DIGITAL EDGE – A BEYOND50 PILLAR
Digital Edge aims to ensure that our frontline people have the right technology to enable them to deliver real value to our clients, pushing digital construction to the edge. Read more about innovation in Mercury here.
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