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The Connected Jobsite: Why It’s the Future of Self-Performing GCs

Written by David Spivac | May 17, 2025 4:00:00 PM

What’s Slowing Your Jobs Down Isn’t the Crew

You’ve got good crews. Solid superintendents. Your people know how to build—and they want to get the job done.

But something’s still getting in the way.

It’s not your labor force—it’s your workflow.

Think about it:

  • How often are timecards submitted late or missing information?

  • How long do invoices sit in limbo waiting for approvals?

  • How many decisions are made with week-old data—or no data at all?

These aren’t just minor delays. They’re symptoms of a deeper issue: disconnected jobsites.

In today’s construction environment, where every hour and dollar counts, the old way of managing field data just doesn’t cut it. Handwritten logs, email threads, paper invoices—none of it moves fast enough to keep up with real-world project demands.

That’s where the connected jobsite comes in.

In this article, we’ll explore what a connected jobsite really means for self-performing general contractors—and how it’s changing the way teams work, communicate, and win.

Let’s break it down.

 

What Is a Connected Jobsite, Really?

The term “connected jobsite” gets thrown around a lot—but what does it actually mean for a self-performing general contractor?

It’s not just about having Wi-Fi on site or handing out tablets to your foremen. A truly connected jobsite goes beyond devices. It’s about creating a seamless flow of information between your field crews and your back office—in real time, without double entry, and without the chaos.

Think of It Like This:

In a disconnected jobsite:

  • Crews record hours on paper and drop them off at the office on Friday.

  • Invoices wait days for PM approval before accounting ever sees them.

  • Daily reports are inconsistent—or don’t happen at all.

  • The office is always playing catch-up.

In a connected jobsite:

  • Time is tracked daily from the field and synced straight to payroll.

  • Invoices are routed and approved digitally—right from a PM’s phone.

  • Field reports are submitted in minutes and instantly visible in the office.

  • Everyone sees the same data, at the same time.

It’s Not About More Software—It’s About Less Friction

A connected jobsite doesn’t mean piling on more apps, more logins, and more confusion. It means:

  • Automating the workflows that slow you down

  • Replacing paper with smart, structured digital tools

  • Making sure the field and office are always on the same page—literally

When your data flows automatically between crews, PMs, accounting, and leadership, you eliminate bottlenecks before they start. You stop relying on people to “check in” or “follow up.” And your team can focus on building, not babysitting processes.

 

The Real Risks of Disconnected Workflows

Disconnected workflows don’t always look like problems—at first.

Maybe your super snaps a pic of a timecard and texts it in. Your AP team prints out emailed invoices and manually routes them for approval. Field updates trickle in by phone or at the end of the week.

It works—until it doesn’t.

Because when your jobsite runs on scattered systems and delayed communication, small issues quickly turn into big, expensive problems.

Delayed Labor Data = Inaccurate Job Costs

If your timecards come in late—or get entered manually days later—you’re already behind. That means your job costing is based on outdated numbers, and your PMs are making critical decisions with foggy visibility.

Risk: You overspend, underbill, or lose track of how the job’s really performing.

Invoices Fall Through the Cracks

When AP relies on inboxes and printed PDFs, approvals stall. Invoices sit on desks. Vendors call wondering where their money is. You lose early-pay discounts—and goodwill.

Risk: You rack up late fees, miss budget forecasts, and burn vendor trust.

Field Crews Work With Incomplete Information

Your crew can’t move forward if they don’t have up-to-date schedules, approved change orders, or clear direction. Waiting on answers? That’s idle labor you’re still paying for.

Risk: Downtime, rework, and missed production targets.

Manual Entry Opens the Door for Errors

Every time someone has to retype hours, cost codes, or invoice data, there’s a chance for mistakes. And when you don’t catch those errors early? They snowball.

Risk: Payroll inaccuracies, compliance issues, and budget overruns.

Leaders Are Flying Blind

When the field and office aren’t synced, decision-makers are left guessing. You can’t see trends, spot risks, or proactively manage your business if you’re stuck reacting to outdated data.

Risk: Missed opportunities. Slower growth. Higher risk exposure.

The bottom line?

Disconnected workflows don’t just slow you down—they bleed your margins. And in today’s market, even a 2% inefficiency could be the difference between profit and loss.

 

5 Benefits of a Digitally Connected Jobsite

When you connect your jobsite—from field to office to ERP—you don’t just save time. You unlock better decision-making, fewer errors, faster billing, and a level of control that’s hard to get any other way.

Here’s what self-performing GCs are seeing when they go digital—and get connected.

1. Real-Time Labor Visibility

When time data is entered from the field and synced daily, you always know where your labor stands—by crew, job, and cost code.

Why it matters:
No more waiting for the week to end. PMs can spot overruns early and adjust before it hurts the budget.

2. Faster Approvals = Better Cash Flow

Digitally routed invoices, timecards, and change orders move at the speed of your business. No printing, scanning, or chasing signatures.

Why it matters:
You pay vendors faster, process payroll sooner, and keep field operations moving without delay.

3. Fewer Errors, Less Rework

When your data flows automatically between systems (without re-entry), you reduce the chance of typos, missed codes, or lost paperwork.

Why it matters:
Cleaner data = more accurate payroll, better compliance, tighter job costing.

4. Empowered Field Teams

Your supers and foremen have enough on their plate. A connected jobsite gives them simple tools—on mobile, even offline—to log time, approve documents, and flag issues fast.

Why it matters:
Less admin, fewer delays, and higher engagement from your field teams.

5. One Source of Truth for Everyone

When the field, office, and leadership are all looking at the same real-time data, decisions get faster—and smarter.

Why it matters:
No more back-and-forth. No more “I didn’t see that.” Just clear, consistent insight across every role.

 

How Self-Performing GCs Are Making the Shift

You don’t need to be a tech company to run a connected jobsite.

The GCs making the biggest gains aren’t rolling out flashy, complex platforms. They’re simplifying what they already do—using field-ready tools that work with their existing systems and crews.

Here’s how they’re doing it:

1. Start With One Workflow

Trying to fix everything at once usually leads to burnout and confusion. Successful GCs pick one broken process—like time tracking or invoice approvals—and replace it with something smoother.

Example:
Digitizing timecards with hh2 Remote Payroll to eliminate delays and errors.

2. Get Buy-In From the Field

If the tool doesn’t work for supers and foremen, it won’t stick. The best rollouts start with field champions who help shape the process and give honest feedback.

Pro tip:
Choose one jobsite to pilot. Let your team see how it saves them time and makes their life easier.

3. Keep the Systems You Already Use

You don’t need to change your ERP or start from scratch. hh2 integrates directly with platforms like Sage 100, Sage 300 CRE, Vista, and Foundation—so you’re building on what already works.

Result:
No double entry. No disconnected data. Just clean sync between the field and office.

4. Focus on Outcomes, Not Tools

The goal isn’t “use more software.” It’s “spend less time chasing data.” Self-performing GCs are laser-focused on:

  • Faster approvals

  • More accurate job costs

  • Fewer payroll errors

  • Stronger crew productivity

And when those results show up? Buy-in grows across the company.

5. Expand as You Gain Momentum

Once the first workflow sticks, expanding is easy. Add AP automation. Layer in daily field reports. Bring more jobs onto the platform—at your pace.

Result:
Each new workflow adds value without adding confusion. You get leaner, clearer, and faster one job at a time.

 

The Role hh2 Plays in Keeping Teams Connected

hh2 isn’t just another construction tech tool—it’s a bridge between your jobsite and your back office. Designed specifically for general contractors who self-perform, hh2 helps you replace scattered, paper-based workflows with a connected, real-time system your crews and admins will actually use.

Here’s how hh2 brings your jobsite together—without the growing pains.

Time Tracking from the Field

Crews enter hours by individual or by crew, right from the jobsite. Supervisors approve from any device. Entries sync directly into your ERP—accurately and instantly.

Why it matters:
No more chasing timecards. No more re-entry. Just clean labor data flowing into payroll and job costing every day.

👉 Explore hh2 Remote Payroll

Digital Invoice Approvals

Invoices are uploaded, coded, routed, and approved without printing or emailing a single thing. PMs and supers can approve from the field or office.

Why it matters:
You speed up AP, reduce errors, and create a traceable workflow that keeps vendors happy and accounting stress-free.

👉 See hh2 Document Flow in action

Daily Reporting, Simplified

Field teams log production, weather, crew activity, photos, and notes using a mobile-friendly, standardized template.

Why it matters:
Office staff and leadership get real-time insight into progress and issues—without chasing updates or waiting for check-ins.

👉 Learn more about hh2 Field Tools

Seamless ERP Integration

hh2 connects directly with the platforms you already use—Sage 100, Sage 300 CRE, Vista, Foundation, and more.

Why it matters:
No double data entry. No import/export nightmares. Just a real-time sync that closes the gap between the field and finance.

👉 Check hh2’s ERP integrations

Whether you're trying to streamline payroll, eliminate invoice delays, or finally get visibility into what's really happening across jobsites, hh2 keeps your people connected—and your business moving forward.

 

Ready to Connect Your Jobsite?

You don’t need a massive system overhaul to create a connected jobsite.

You just need the right tools—built for construction, trusted by contractors, and proven in the field. Tools that bring your timecards, invoices, reports, and job costs into one clear, real-time workflow.

That’s what hh2 delivers.

✅ Faster field-to-office communication
✅ Fewer mistakes and rework
✅ Real-time visibility from crew to controller
✅ A platform your supers and back office will actually use

Let’s eliminate the delays, reduce the admin drag, and give your team the power to build with clarity—not chaos.

👉 Talk to hh2
👉 Schedule a Free Demo

Connect your jobsite. Strengthen your business. Let’s get to work.