TEAM SIMPEL, DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
Digital Construction Forms That Refine and Enhance Paper Without Risk or Compromise
Ebony Middleton | Published on 1 April 2025
We spoke with Simpel’s Client Success Lead, Matthew Ismay, and asked him for his take on the challenges construction teams face when transitioning from paper to digital construction forms within embedded workflows.
The fall of the filing cabinet: A digital transformation reshaping construction
Are form details changing after the fact?
From ITPs and RFIs, to permits and inductions, paper and pdf-based construction forms have long been the industry standard. They’re familiar, flexible, and built to reflect the way work gets done. But familiar doesn’t equal flawless.
Paper forms can be misplaced, damaged, and altered after sign-off. A seemingly small change like an extra note, a retrospective signature, or a date adjustment can all create inconsistencies that ripple through a project.
Even when the information on a paper form is correct, there is no method to guarantee that what you are looking at is the approved document. Without version control and a clear audit history, teams will be unaware of changes that have been made along the way.
Documentation issues that escalate into disputes
Consider a scenario where a subcontractor completes work based on an RFI response that was never fully approved. A key stakeholder’s sign-off was missed along the way, but without a clear audit trail, the oversight goes unnoticed.
Months later, during project closeout, the discrepancy is discovered, leading to disagreements over who is responsible for the corrective work and who should bear the associated costs. Without clear, unalterable records, resolving such disputes becomes challenging, potentially resulting in legal battles and strained business relationships.
When you need the detail, can you find it?
Accessibility is another challenge. Finding a digital form should be easy. Whether it’s for daily site management, approvals, or record-keeping, teams rely on having the right documents at the right time.
When documentation is needed for compliance, such as an FSC audit or a safety inspection, requirements can be highly specific. Proving that an induction took place months ago usually turns into a frustrating and time-consuming search.
Protect what works: Go digital without disrupting your processes
It’s one thing to understand the benefits of going digital but making the change is another. Matt has worked closely with construction teams moving away from paper-based workflows, and one concern always comes up: how to make the switch without disrupting the way they work. Processes in construction are carefully designed, refined over time, and built around compliance, efficiency, and safety. Changing them is not just inconvenient; it can introduce risk.
Simplify, standardise and automate your workflows
Simpel’s digital forms fit seamlessly into your workflows, ensuring that every submission, review, and approval follows a clear, standardised process. With configurable parallel and sequential options, teams can automated tracking capturing every activity, document change, and comment. Clear, actionable requests can be assigned at both the user and company level, helping teams monitor progress and maintain control.
Switching to modern tools with the same familiar processes
Switching to digital construction forms should feel like an upgrade, not a negotiation. With Simpel’s flexible construction eForms, you get all the benefits of going digital while preserving the processes that help your business thrive. No awkward workarounds. No compliance worries. Just the same paperwork without the paper, ensuring your workflows remain intact and your ISO certifications stay protected.
Think digital means changing your process? Think again. Book a demo today and see how Simpel’s can help you transform your processes without compromise.
Sign up to Simpel's Newsletter
A quick read with our latest news, blogs, recent software releases, and big company updates
