“They’ll Think I Want to Control Them” – How to Convince Employees to Use a Mobile App
During Contractors.es implementations, I often hear company owners say:
“I want my employees to use the app, but I’m worried they’ll see it as a way of controlling them.”
And it’s actually easy to understand why.
If someone has been working the same way for years and suddenly hears about recording working hours, reports, photos or reporting problems through an app, they may think: “Why do they need all this?”
But when we start talking about how employees can actually use the app in their everyday work, the picture quickly changes.
Running out of materials? You can report what you need right away.
Need a piece of equipment? You can check its availability or request it.
Something goes wrong? A photo and a description can immediately reach the right person.
End of the day? You can fill in your working hours and report without having to remember everything later.
There are also task assignments, material issues, weather information and costs related to the work being carried out.
And that’s when it becomes clear that the app isn’t only about the owner knowing more.
It can also mean that employees have to call, ask, search and remember less.
I think this is where the key to a successful implementation lies.
Don’t start the conversation with what the owner will be able to control.
Instead, show the employee:
“Look at what this will make easier for you.”
Because if the app genuinely makes everyday work easier, it doesn’t need much convincing. After a few days, employees often start noticing that certain things can simply be done faster.
And that’s when the most important sentence appears:
“Actually, this is more convenient.”
From my experience, this is when the biggest concern about being controlled starts to disappear.
The app stops being something imposed by the office and simply becomes a tool for everyday work on the construction site.
Based on my experience with Contractors.es implementations – Beata Bukowska, Implementation Specialist