As you know, COVID-19 is having a major impact on almost every industry. Here in the Parks and Recreation field, we are of course included in the list of affected industries and the changes required by it. However, we do have some distinct advantages. For example, much of our maintenance work is often performed in the great outdoors. Also, performing Parks and Recreation work does not always require a lot of human interaction, especially during times when the spaces we maintain are closed to the public.
Nevertheless, performing proper maintenance on the many properties, structures, and pieces of machinery we maintain does require a certain level of communication and coordination between staff members. That is why cloud-based management software can be so helpful, not only while these unprecedented protocols are activated, but also long after this temporary medical crisis is over. Here are some ways cloud-based services can help you coordinate with staff members and implement maintenance procedures, even during isolation or social distancing.
Work Planning and Tracking
Work planning and tracking is an especially important part of the Parks and Recreation industry right now. That is because special procedures put in place have drastically altered the way many locations are being maintained. Priorities have temporarily changed. Drastic and quick changes can easily cause your maintenance plans to get off track, if you are not careful.
One major change is unexpected and prolonged closures of properties have taken place. However, those closures are providing opportunities you can take advantage of, if you can learn to coordinate the efforts of your staff members while maintaining safe distances from one another. Property closures give you more time to make upgrades and do maintenance that would be more difficult while the venue you maintain is open to the public. With cloud-based software, you can:
- Plan out work that needs to be done.
- Assign work to specific staff members.
- Track progress online from home or any isolated location with a computer or mobile device.
Coordinating with Your Staff
Cloud-based project scheduling and tracking provides a vital way to protect yourself and your staff from unnecessary contact for as long as social distancing practices are still in place. Your staff members can see the list of tasks to be done. They can also make updates to work orders and view completed tasks or tasks in progress. Therefore, you can still coordinate your efforts with minimum or no physical interaction between staff.
Allowing Staff Members to Work Independently
The ability to work independently is another major advantage of cloud-based maintenance routine management. Currently, many people need to work from home. Those who cannot do so are expected to try to work as independently as possible. Having a maintenance and inspection tracking system anyone can access whenever necessary accomplishes that goal. It allows you to keep operating as efficiently as possible from home or from whatever isolated location you are using as a home base. Cloud based software also alleviates some strain on your I.T. staff because no on site hardware is required and no special configurations or remote VPN access are required for staff to use software.
Field workers only need a cellphone or other mobile device to login and see exactly which tasks they need to perform. They can also update the status of inspections, equipment or projects from their positions in the field. Not only is that beneficial while we are all dealing with social distancing but it can continue to save a lot of time well into the future. When staff members do not have to physically go back to a home base frequently, they can go from task to task faster. That increases efficiency.
Cloud-Based Maintenance Plans and Emergency Data Analysis
Another reason to utilize cloud-based programs for maintenance and inspection of Parks and Recreation venues right now is emergency data analysis. This crisis has been a time of firsts across many industries. The situation is constantly evolving. As practices improve, cloud services can help to track those improvements, not only in the Parks and Recreation industry, but in other industries as well. Industry leaders can learn from those changes so that, if something like this crisis ever occurs again, reactions can be quicker and safer.
By tracking, comparing, and sharing data remotely, various Parks and Recreation organizations can also share information easily, even across state lines. That information can help all Parks and Recreation staff members work more efficiently in the future. Such cooperation and coordination can continue in good times, as well as times of crisis, which will hopefully be few and far between.