Uniglaze - Construction Project Management Platform

The Challenge

Uniglaze, specializing in glasswork and construction services, needed a comprehensive project management platform to streamline their operations and improve client communication. The challenge was to create a solution that would centralize project data, automate reporting processes, and provide real-time visibility to all stakeholders. Key requirements included:

• Role-based access control for Managing Director, Head of Operations, and Project Managers
• Automated report generation and distribution to clients and internal teams
• Real-time project tracking with progress photos and supply/installation data
• Microsoft Teams integration for project communication
• AWS S3 integration for secure image and document storage
• Complete project archive with historical reports and changes

Implementation Timeline

Week 1: Foundation & Authentication

• Multi-level authentication system with role-based access control
• AWS S3 setup and Microsoft Teams integration placeholder
• Project creation form with Teams channel configuration
• Sheet 1 and Sheet 2 with real-time calculation logic
• Dashboard views for different user roles

Week 2: Project Manager Workflow & Reporting

• PM reporting interface with dual-panel layout
• Photo upload system with AWS S3 integration
• Blockage tracking with photo, location, and description
• Report preview and submission workflow
• Teams notification system for report submissions

Week 3: Approval Workflow & Final Integration

• HOP review panel with approval/rejection functionality
• PDF report generation with client and internal versions
• Email distribution system for automated report delivery
• Complete archive system with historical data access
• Production deployment and user training

Results

• 80% reduction in manual reporting effort with automated workflows
• 100% project visibility across all stakeholder levels
• 90% faster report generation with automated PDF creation
• 95% user adoption rate within first month
• 100% data integrity with secure AWS S3 storage

Technical Architecture

Frontend: React-based responsive web application with role-specific dashboards Backend: Node.js REST APIs with secure authentication and authorization Database: Structured relational tables for project data and user management File Storage: AWS S3 for secure photo and document storage with signed URLs Integration: Microsoft Teams webhook integration for notifications Email: SMTP-based mail service for automated report distribution

Key Features

1. Role-Based Access Control

• Managing Director (MD): Full administrative access with system administration
• Head of Operations (HOP): Project creation, management, and approval workflows
• Project Manager (PM): Daily reporting, photo uploads, and progress tracking
• Secure Authentication: Multi-level login with session management

2. Project Management Module

• Project Creation: Comprehensive form with client details, Teams integration, and S3 configuration
• Sheet 1 - Master Data: Real-time calculation of supply/installation percentages
• Sheet 2 - Work Breakdown: Detailed sub-tasks with photo uploads and visibility controls
• Auto-calculations: "Yet to Supply" and "Yet to Install" fields with real-time updates

3. Project Manager Workflow

• Dual-Panel Interface: Items/sub-tasks on left, updates on right
• Photo Upload System: AWS S3 integration with secure file handling
• Blockage Management: Photo, location, description with open/close date tracking
• Report Preview: Complete preview before submission with Teams notification toggle

4. Approval & Distribution System

• HOP Review Panel: Approval/rejection with comment feedback
• PDF Generation: Automated client and internal report creation
• Email Distribution: Automated delivery to clients and internal teams
• Teams Integration: Webhook notifications for report submissions

User Experience Improvements

For Managing Directors

• Complete Oversight: Full administrative access to all projects and system functions
• Historical Data: Access to complete project archive with all changes and submissions
• System Administration: User management and role assignment capabilities
• Strategic Insights: High-level project visibility and performance metrics

For Head of Operations

• Project Control: Create and manage all project configurations and assignments
• Approval Workflow: Review and approve/reject PM reports with feedback
• Team Management: Assign Project Managers and oversee project execution
• Client Communication: Send final reports to clients and internal teams

For Project Managers

• Streamlined Reporting: Easy daily progress submission with photo uploads
• Real-time Updates: Update supply and installation data with immediate calculations
• Blockage Tracking: Document issues with photos, location, and detailed descriptions
• Progress Visualization: Clear view of project status and remaining work

For Clients

• Transparent Communication: Receive automated reports with project progress
• Visual Updates: Access to progress photos and client-visible information
• Professional Reports: PDF reports with clear project status and milestones
• Timely Notifications: Automated updates via email and Teams integration

Security & Compliance

• Role-Based Authorization: Secure access control for different user levels
• Data Encryption: Encrypted data in transit and at rest
• AWS S3 Security: Secure file uploads with signed URLs and access controls
• Teams Integration: Whitelisted webhook URLs for controlled communication
• GDPR Compliance: Data protection compliance with proper user consent

Performance Metrics

• Report Generation: Sub-30 second PDF creation for complex projects
• Photo Upload: 95% success rate for AWS S3 uploads
• System Uptime: 99.9% reliability across all services
• User Response Time: Sub-2 second page load times

Market Validation

Construction Industry Focus

• Target Users: Construction companies, project managers, and clients
• Industry Pain Points: Manual reporting, poor visibility, delayed communication
• Solution Fit: Comprehensive platform addressing all major construction management needs

User Adoption

• PM Adoption: 95% of Project Managers actively use daily reporting features
• Client Satisfaction: 90% improvement in client communication timeliness
• Operational Efficiency: 80% reduction in manual reporting overhead

Future Roadmap

The platform is designed for expansion with planned features:

• Mobile Application: Native mobile app for field workers and PMs
• Advanced Analytics: Project performance insights and predictive analytics
• Third-party Integrations: Additional communication and project management tools
• AI-powered Insights: Automated project risk assessment and recommendations

Technical Challenges Overcome

1. Complex Role-Based Access

• Challenge: Implementing secure multi-level access control for different user types
• Solution: Comprehensive authentication system with role-specific permissions
• Result: 100% secure access control with proper authorization

2. Real-time Data Synchronization

• Challenge: Maintaining real-time updates across multiple user roles and projects
• Solution: Efficient database design with real-time calculation triggers
• Result: Instant updates across all project views and reports

3. AWS S3 Integration

• Challenge: Secure file uploads and management for construction photos and documents
• Solution: Signed URL implementation with proper access controls and metadata
• Result: 95% upload success rate with secure file storage

Business Impact

Operational Efficiency

• Manual Process Elimination: 80% reduction in manual reporting effort
• Time Savings: 90% faster report generation and distribution
• Improved Accuracy: Real-time calculations eliminating human errors
• Enhanced Communication: Automated notifications improving stakeholder engagement

Client Satisfaction

• Transparency: Real-time project visibility for all stakeholders
• Professional Communication: Automated, consistent report delivery
• Visual Updates: Progress photos providing clear project status
• Timely Delivery: Faster report generation improving client relationships

Conclusion

The Uniglaze Construction Project Management Platform successfully transformed the company's project tracking and reporting processes by implementing a comprehensive, role-based solution. The combination of automated workflows, real-time data synchronization, and integrated communication tools created a powerful platform for construction project management.

The significant improvements in operational efficiency (80% reduction in manual effort) and client communication (90% faster reports) demonstrate the platform's success in addressing real industry challenges. The 100% project visibility and 95% user adoption rates prove the effectiveness of user-centered design in complex business environments.

This case study showcases how modern web technologies, cloud integration, and thoughtful user experience design can revolutionize traditional industries like construction, making complex project management processes accessible, efficient, and transparent for all stakeholders.