HORNE Streamlines Construction and Disaster Recovery Programs

Paper-based Processes a Poor Fit for Field Inspections

HORNE is a US-based certified public accountant and business advisory firm and has used OutSystems since 2017 to deliver mobile apps, web portals, client-facing reporting dashboards, and internal tools, including a call center application for COVID-19 contact tracing.

"We’ve used OutSystems since 2017 to deliver mobile apps, web portals, client-facing reporting dashboards, and internal tools, including a call center application for COVID-19 contact tracing. Our most recent innovation is a construction inspection mobile app called “Canopy Inspect.” Thanks to this application, inspectors can spend more time in the field, and we can move faster on construction projects with fewer people."

Bill Wadlington

Senior Manager Government Services

HORNE

Its government services division helps government agencies deliver disaster recovery programs with maximum efficiency, quality, and compliance. HORNE construction inspectors perform thousands of inspections every year as part of this effort.

However, the old paper-based process was extremely labor-intensive. Inspectors needed to spend time in the office gathering required information for an inspection. The inspection process involved printed copies of construction estimates, notes, and photo logs. Then inspectors needed to spend more time compiling inspection reports that summarized their findings in the office.

Bill Wadlington, Senior Manager of Government Services at HORNE, knew there had to be a better digitally-enabled way to streamline this process.

A Mobile App to Support Construction Site Inspections

Working with OutSystems delivery partner C2S Consulting, Bill and the HORNE Canopy development team came up with the concept for a mobile field services application now known as “Canopy Inspect.”

The Canopy Inspect app provides a site-specific checklist derived from the scope of work for each project. It uses logic based on the dollar value of each scope item to measure progress, report deficiencies back to the construction contractor, and provide final documentation for payment.

Freedom From Paper and Less Office Time

Inspectors no longer need to spend days in the office creating inspection reports; Canopy Inspect does this for them and automatically uploads the PDF documents back to Canopy, HORNE’s case management system.

Inspectors can now spend more time in the field, and HORNE can move faster on construction projects with fewer people.

Its government services division helps government agencies deliver disaster recovery programs with maximum efficiency, quality, and compliance. HORNE construction inspectors perform thousands of inspections every year as part of this effort.