Autodesk Tasks

Background

PlanGrid (acquired by Autodesk) is a construction productivity tool helping workers in the field and office connect, collaborate, and become more efficient construction projects of all sizes. In 2018 PlanGrid was acquired by Autodesk in order to help build out the new Construction Group.

The Project

One of the oldest and most used features of PlanGrid was a tool called Issues. Its primary use is to mainly track issues found onsite.

However it had been used for a variety of needs ranging from the back office to tracking quantity of materials. This project was to get issues to become a more proactive tool then reactive.

The Problem

Reinvent Plangrid Issues to allow for more proactive tracking and less reactive.

My Role & The Team

Lead designer working with 1 PM, 1 other designer and 12 Engineers from Aug 2018 - January 2019

Background

Tracking reactive work with “Issues”

One of the earliest features within PlanGrid was a tool called “Issues.”

It was designed as an easy way for workers to mark and track "issues" they've found in the field on a blueprint. However users have found it is also a way to track quantity of materials, track progress, place proactive tasks, and much more.

Users could only create issues directly on a sheet, with visibility in a log outside the sheet viewer.

Examples of PlanGrid issues before joining

Ideating

Exploring the future of tasks with quantity tracking

In 2017 and early 2018, PlanGrid began researching and exploring ideas on how to drive more proactive tracking (Tracking work defined ahead of time) within PlanGrid. Allowing customers to take scheduled work and make it useful for the field.
First explorations we looked at were around how to track quantity of materials. This being one of the most requested forms of tracking progress.

Introduction of “Tasks”, formerly Issues

After doing several rounds of research and prototypes, It was decided to take a step back and first lay a solid foundation towards tracking progress and quantity of materials. The first step was rebranding issues to tasks.

Along with this change we also decided to allow users to create tasks outside of a sheet via the task log, introduced a task stamp type, and introduced a new sub type field to help distinguish if a task is pre planned or a issue.
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Executing

Allowing the import of "Tasks" into PlanGrid

After successfully launching the rebrand of Tasks and the ability to create outside of a sheet, we then took a look at the next step to allowing users to work proactively. This next step was the introduction of a simple bulk import tool.

We interviewed 6 different companies to better understand how they were managing schedules and how we can potentially work nice with their current processes. We found almost all had some form of spreadsheet taken from scheduling software that they then modify to make it useful for the field. This leading to outdated spreadsheets that are still hard for field workers to consume and report back to.
After doing this round of research we explored a tool where users can download a spreadsheet templateto transfer scheduled work or can upload a pre existing spreadsheet and then map the fields to the various task fields provided. Those allowing for bulk importation of planned work.

Closing the loop on proactive "Tasks" with sheet associations

Now that users can create and import tasks outside of a sheet we then introduced the ability to take those newly created tasks and associate with a existing sheet.

This done through the modification of the sheet field on tasks. Now users who don't have a sheet linked up can go through the process of selecting what sheet they want to associate with and even place the task on the sheet where it's needed.

This now closes the loop of taking proactive tasks made elsewhere and applying them in a way that is useful for the field. Opening doors to endless possibilities such as progress tracking and tracking of materials.

Accomplishments & Learnings

Achieved
1) Launched v1 of tasks in under 6 months including sheetlets tasks, sheet association, bulk importing and such more
2)  Realigned a core feature to extend to pre construction

Lessons learned
Pushing more on planning and project management could’ve led to more releases and less politics

Next steps

With the introduction of sheetless tasks we now open up the field to endless possibilities. One key one that stands out are progress tracking. Which is tracking the overall progress of a project through individual tasks.

To see work on progress tracking,
visit this page

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