Time, Transparency, and Trust — How Digital Records Transform QS Work and Reduce Construction Disputes
Irish construction faces persistent delays, disputes, and paperwork headaches. This white paper explains how Quantity Surveyors (QS) and developers can reclaim time, speed valuations, and prevent disputes by replacing paper dockets with verifiable digital records.
RICS: QS teams lose up to 30% of time chasing records.
Autodesk+FMI: 30% fewer disputes with real‑time digital data.
ISME: SMEs wait ~75 days; digital evidence speeds valuations.
One source of truth across sites; audit‑ready records.
Executive Summary
PwC’s Irish Construction Survey (2023) reports that 77% of contractors experienced delays linked to supply chain and record‑keeping challenges. ISME (Q1 2024) shows SMEs wait ~75 days to be paid, often due to valuation disputes and missing documentation. RICS (2022) finds QS professionals lose up to 30% of their time chasing information.
The fastest path to relief is digital. Autodesk+FMI (2022) found firms using real‑time digital data saw 14–16% project cost reductions and 30% fewer disputes. Hub360 captures verifiable, time/GPS‑stamped records at source so QS teams and developers can move faster with confidence.
1) The QS Role Today
Pre‑Contract
- Feasibility, cost planning, BoQ & tender documentation
- Risk/contingency analysis, value engineering
- Procurement strategy & tender evaluation
Post‑Contract
- Monthly valuations & interim payments
- Change control / variations (VOs) & claims
- Subcontractor accounts; cost reporting & forecasting
Assurance & Liaison
- Evidence for audits & client QS queries
- Coordination with site, finance & PMO
- Defensible recommendations to developers
2) The Cost of Inefficient Records
- Time lost: RICS — QS teams lose up to 30% of time chasing missing or inconsistent records.
- Valuations delayed: ISME — SMEs wait ~75 days to be paid; slow, paper‑based valuations are a key driver.
- Disputes multiply: UK NAO — poor documentation contributes to overruns and claims on public projects.
- Developer risk: delays, reputational damage, and VAT/compliance exposure.
Every missing docket adds friction. Every unclear entry invites a query. Over time, this becomes systemic delay.
3) Disputes Are Not Inevitable
Disputes thrive in grey areas. Remove ambiguity and disputes fall. Evidence:
- Autodesk+FMI (2022): real‑time digital data → 30% fewer disputes; 14–16% cost reductions.
- European Commission (2020): BIM & digital tracking → 10–15% efficiency gains; fewer claims from poor documentation.
- GS1 UK (2021): ePOD cut invoice disputes by ~70% (logistics; principle applies to construction deliveries).
4) Digitalisation as the Fix
Capture at Source
Drivers/site teams log loads with timestamp, GPS, site, material, vehicle/driver, and optional photos/signatures.
Instant Evidence
Auto‑receipts to QS and subcontractors; evidence available during the valuation cycle, not weeks later.
Audit‑Ready Storage
Central, searchable records; exportable packs for client QS, auditors, VAT checks, EPA/TII requests.
One Source of Truth
Live dashboards across sites give developers and QS teams the same verified information in real time.
5) Benefits for QS, Developers & Subcontractors
QS Teams
- Save hours weekly — less admin, more analysis
- Faster, smoother valuations
- Defensible decisions with verifiable evidence
Developers
- Earlier approvals; improved cashflow cadence
- Fewer disputes; stronger client relationships
- Compliance confidence (VAT, audits, EPA/TII)
Subcontractors
- Immediate receipts reduce queries
- Clear proof supports faster payment
- Less friction with QS and developers
6) The Cultural Shift in Construction
- Policy pull: EU/IE push digital (e.g., e‑invoicing/PEPPOL; TII digital asset management).
- Market pressure: tighter margins and schedules demand transparency.
- Professional demand: QS teams want tools that prioritise high‑value work.
Digital records meet all three: compliance‑ready, operationally efficient, and professionally empowering.
Conclusion & CTA
Delays and disputes are symptoms of paper‑based, fragmented records. With verifiable digital dockets, QS teams reclaim time, developers gain control, and disputes become optional. That’s time, transparency, and trust—built into your process.
See audit‑ready valuations in action
Hub360 captures time/GPS‑stamped records at source and gives QS and developers a single source of truth.
References
- PwC — Irish Construction Survey (2023): 77% report delays linked to supply chain & record‑keeping.
- ISME — Prompt Payments (Q1 2024): construction SMEs wait ~75 days to be paid.
- RICS — Data management insight (2022): QS time lost up to 30% on information chasing.
- UK National Audit Office — Major Projects Review (2020): documentation gaps drive overruns & disputes.
- Autodesk + FMI — Harnessing the Data Advantage (2022): 14–16% cost reduction; 30% fewer disputes.
- European Commission — Digitalisation of the Construction Sector (2020): 10–15% efficiency gains with digital tracking/BIM.
- GS1 UK — ePOD case (2021): invoice disputes reduced by ~70%.