Charleville Development Corporation Accelerates Project Delivery and Improves Quality with Vela Systems Across All Projects

Charleville Development Corporation, a Miami-based developer of high quality, high-end projects, has announced that it will use Vela Systems as its mobile field software solution to accelerate delivery, improve quality and hold subcontractors accountable across all projects pursued by the company. Additionally, the success of the implementation at the Blue at Doral project has resulted in its selection as a case study to be published by Primavera Systems, Inc. Charleville uses Vela Systems’ software installed on tablet PCs from Motion Computing to replace the rolls of drawings and field notebooks typically found on a work site. Charleville is currently using Vela at The Blue at Doral, a $56 million marquis condominium and hotel project that consists of 15 three-story buildings on a 17-acre site that overlooks the Blue Monster, a well-known course at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa in Doral, Florida. Because the Blue at Doral was the only on-course development at the resort, consumer demand for condos and owner expectations for quality were both very high. As a result of using Vela Systems, Charleville has gained at least three weeks of time and knows exactly how much deficient work is on the site so that it does not pay subcontractors for work that is not up to its standards. “Streamlining our processes and completing jobs faster helps us compete in the market,” said Justin Murphy, senior project manager at Charleville Development. “We are a relatively small company and most of us have multiple roles. So whatever tools we can use to maximize our time in the field or with subcontractors and minimize our time on paperwork really helps.” Charleville also took advantage Vela Systems’ easy integration with Primavera Systems software so that changes made in the field would be reflected in its construction management systems. “The total time required to get it up and running was less than an hour,” Murphy said. “The integration automatically moves information on projects and contacts from Primavera Contract Manager into Vela and transfers information like field reports and punch list items from Vela into Primavera. We’re never lacking for the information we need, whether we’re in office or out in the field.” As a result of using Vela Systems with Primavera, Charleville has been able to * Reduce time spent on paperwork: Each user is saving 10 hours a week because they don’t have retype field information like punch list and work list items into a computer.
* Accelerate the project: Charleville estimates that Vela is saving at least two days per building per month for a total time savings of 30 days. Vela Systems informs sub-contractors almost immediately what they need to do, so the work starts sooner.
* Hold subcontractors accountable by understanding “the cost of quality”: With Vela, each identified issue can be automatically assigned a cost, which feeds automatically into Primavera Contract Manager. By tracking the cost of quality, project managers know how much deficient work is on the job at all times and can ensure that subcontractors are held accountable, so that Charleville does not pay for work that is not up to its standards.
Charleville’s original plan was to use the Vela/Primavera solution for the Blue View at Doral and then one-by-one roll it out to new projects. However, the new efficiencies gained by using Vela and Primavera, has led the company to immediately implement its new solution for all its projects moving forward. Designed ‘from the ground up’ to make work in the field more efficient and effective, Vela Systems’ mobile field software enables people in the field to mark up drawings, make notations and initiate work processes while on the job site in their own handwriting. And though Vela Systems’ software operates as a stand-alone solution, information on schedules, punch lists and contracts can automatically be synchronized and updated on both the Vela-enabled Tablet PCs and in Primavera applications. Vela Systems automatically integrates with Primavera Contract Manager modules (formerly Expedition) for field data collection and management, and with Primavera scheduling products for field updating of schedule activities. As a result, all information on schedules, punch lists and contracts can automatically be synchronized and updated on both the Vela-enabled Tablet PCs and in Primavera applications “It’s a great marriage,” Murphy said. “Vela is going to be our standard field application and Primavera will be our office application going forward.” “From package delivery drivers to rental car return attendants, mobile devices are everywhere today,” said Tim Curran, CEO of Vela Systems. “Vela Systems brings mobile solutions to the construction industry that can meet the challenges they face in the field. With Vela, our customers are delivering projects faster, working together easier and working more efficiently.” Charleville Development Corporation
Charleville Development Corporation is a leading Miami-based developer of high-quality, high-end projects. Marquis South Florida projects currently under development by Charleville include the $56 million Blue, the $110 million Marina Blue, the $320 million Opus, the $ 83 million Kubik, and the $78 million Regalia. About Vela Systems, Inc.:
Vela Systems is The Leader in Field Software for the AEC Industry™. Vela Systems software streamlines and accelerates all field processes in construction and capital projects. By replacing their field notebooks with Vela software and Tablet PCs, Vela’s customers save 4-8 hours per week per user, accelerate project delivery by two days per month, capture the true cost of quality and reduce litigation risk through standardized documentation. Industry leading architects, engineers, contractors and owners agree that Vela Systems helps them Work Faster, Collaborate Easier, and Finish Sooner™. To see how Vela’s customers are improving construction delivery from Las Vegas to Dubai, please visit www.velasystems.com.