How JPI Construction allocates resources effectively and organizes workforce planning data with Bridgit Bench

Company JPI Construction
ENR Ranking 303
Location Irving, TX
Years on Bridgit Bench ~ 4 years
Previous Tools Microsoft Excel & Whiteboards
JPI project

How JPI Construction allocates resources effectively and organizes workforce planning data with Bridgit Bench

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Irving, Texas, JPI Construction is a national developer, builder, and investment manager. They focus on Class A multifamily property types such as low-density garden apartments, mid- to high-density wrap and podium projects, student-living housing projects, and mixed-use high-rise developments.

In 2019, JPI was the number one developer of Class A buildings in Texas and in the top ten nationally. Those lofty distinctions were not reached by accident. The company was founded on the belief that there was a need for Class A multifamily assets in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, and their objective was to fill the need.

One of the ways JPI has achieved success is through its commitment to service. They’re focused on finding ways to help their customers.

THE CHALLENGE

When a company is seen as a leader in a market, others aim to overtake them. Therefore, remaining a leader is just as challenging, if not more so, than the journey to the top.

JPI is striving to stay at the top of a market that is always changing. “We believe the keys to staying on top is technology and not being content with how things are,” says Stephen Dantone, director of construction services. Dantone notes the company philosophy includes always looking for learning opportunities. Associates who believe in the values of the company and support its direction are highly valued by JPI, according to Dantone.

Between Southern California and the Dallas–Fort Worth area, JPI has approximately 100 field associates who are actively engaged in 22 projects. They expect to add up to ten new projects in the current year, which will require taking on more associates.

To accomplish this growth and maintain the standard of service on which the company prides itself, a new workforce management tool was necessary.

THE SOLUTION

Sometimes one does not recognize something is lacking till a new solution is implemented.

While at a conference, Dantone came across a presentation of Bridgit Bench. Impressed, he grabbed a coworker to also view the presentation. “From that point forward, we knew where we wanted to head,” says Dantone.

Till that point, JPI had gone from whiteboards to Excel for workforce planning. Both were flawed.

Dantone, who built the Excel spreadsheet for JPI, says, “While Excel was an upgrade over what we had before, we still didn’t have a way to effectively evaluate our team members.”

“Updating the spreadsheet was cumbersome, and it took a lot of information to produce what we wanted to see.” It also was easy to break, as someone could accidentally delete formulas. Fixes were time-consuming.

Workforce planning in this manner also did not allow JPI to forecast how to best allocate resources, and ramping up and down on projects was a challenge. It also required costly workforce planning meetings that included many associates.

With that first demonstration, Dantone recognized multiple plusses about Bridgit Bench: It was intuitive, simple to use, and had great functionality.

Stephen Dantone, Director of Construction Services at JPI Construction headshot

“It accomplished everything we were doing, but on steroids, and made it easier.”

Stephen Dantone, Director of Construction Services at JPI Construction

An element of the functionality that has proven helpful is the availability of the Bridgit Bench mobile app which enables associates who are always on the go to more easily stay on top of things. 

Some of the added features Dantone extols are the painlessly compiled reports that let JPI know who is on what project and help to determine availability. Resource planning is simplified as there’s no need to look at a giant whiteboard – statistics are readily available and can be effortlessly adjusted as needed.

Not only has Bridgit Bench helped JPI with resource planning, it has helped them recognize areas of redundancy, reduce workloads, and save time. Dantone estimates that the company saves two days a month because of Bridgit Bench. 

But JPI will soon gain even more. Recently JPI reached out to Bridgit to suggest a tweak. When it’s implemented, the company expects the adjusted workforce management tool to save them 4 to 5 days each month.

Bridgit’s customer service has also impressed Dantone.

“They reach out to see if they can help, take requests, and have been on point with delivery every time.”

Stephen Dantone, Director of Construction Services at JPI Construction

Dantone sums up the benefits of using Bridgit Bench simply: “If we staff the right people in the right position, we can build better buildings quicker, and clients will be happy.”

The resource management tool is helping JPI stay organized and allocate resources efficiently. JPI uses Bridgit Bench to help accomplish its mission of using technology well, being on the cutting edge, and staying on top.

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