By opening up to the public around your construction project, by consulting with them and asking them for feedback, you can create a unique collaboration between your team and the surrounding community. Technology plays a crucial role in this, as it does not only enhance public consultation, it also makes it measurable.
The SitePodium app is just one way of using technology as a part of public consultation. Some other examples are digital notice boards and interactive screens. You can even set up a VR area where residents can ‘walk’ through the neighbourhood to experience the final results before your project has even started.
There are so many ways in which you can incorporate technology in public consultation. We have published a series of blogs on the subject of public consultation in construction already. Here we will look at the role of technology in order to enhance public consultation and feedback even further.
Advantages of using technology to enhance public consultation
When you think of public consultation, you might think of public meetings, showrooms and visitors’ lounges, a stand in the square, or a ballot during one of your site’s open days. Theoretically, public consultation and feedback does not need technology.
There are several reasons, however, why technology comes in very handy when public consultation and feedback is concerned. This list below explains.
- Technology allows you to collect data. Raise an online poll or questionnaire and the answers are neatly presented, in graphs if you like, at the click of a button.
- People are expecting you to use technology. They can access your information using their phone, when they are at work, in the bus or on the couch at home. They do not want to have to leave the house to come to your meeting, stand, or site every time to give their feedback.
- With technology you can bring a subject to life. Use imagery, sound effects, lighting, gadgets, or other impressive ways to bring your message across.
- The data you collect can be used in the future to discuss lessons learnt, successes booked, and present your initiatives to future tenders.
- Use multifunctional umbrella software, and you need only one app, programme or system for most of your public consultation efforts. You can create mailing lists, target your communication, and schedule your posts in advance.
What is the role of technology?
Using technology for public consultation makes the gap between you and the public around your site smaller. If you need to know how the local residents feel about something tomorrow, you can raise a poll in SitePodium today to find out. Technology makes that poll more accessible for those invited to answer and you will likely get more replies as well.
Technology enhances the results you book with public consultation and feedback. The role of public consultation is to bridge the gap between your building site and the local residents around it. By using technology as well as face-to-face consultation methods, you are able to narrow that gap even further.
Technology alone is insufficient
But watch out. Because by using technology as your only public consultation tool, you will actually achieve the opposite. The gap between you and the public will expand, because technology remains impersonal. It is a handy tool to have when you want quick answers, share a digital presentation, or reach a select group of residents. But its benefits really come to light, when you combine it with face-to-face communication with the public as well.
The people in the community around your project are more likely to cooperate if they have spoken to you personally already. You will get many more replies to a poll raised under local residents if they visited your public meeting prior to that. With face-to-face communication, you give your building site a face and a character. Done right, that makes you automatically more accessible, friendlier and more sympathetic. Add technology to that, and your public consultation methods are complete.
How can SitePodium be of service?
SitePodium is an app which allows you to incorporate technology in your public consultation and feedback. It has a feed where you can post videos, pictures, messages, milestones and other communications. You can raise a poll, ask people how they feel, and share contact details for questions, feedback, and issues.
On top of that, the data in SitePodium is collected for you and presented in useful formats. You can make your own reports, store them and use them in future presentations. Moreover, this data will help you perfect the way you use public consultation in all your future construction projects.
Contact us
Are you interested in hearing more about how the SitePodium app can bridge the gap between your building site and the community around it? We are happy to give you a demo and to show you in person what our app can do.
Alternatively, you can download our brochure to read at your leisure or contact us for more information.
