PlanRadar is an Austrian IT Startup for the construction, real estate, and facility management industries. The history of the company started in Vienna in 2013, when One of our founders Domagoj Dolinsek, who had worked as a construction project manager for many years, had the idea of creating a technological solution that would simplify his work. Domagoj Dolinsek combined his ideas with business process pros Ibrahim Imam and Sander van de Rijdt and Constantin Köck and Clemens Hammerl who are the pross in the IT field to create PlanRadar.

Only someone who is directly into the subject can create a great digital tool with the right functionality. Perhaps therefore our startup has been on the right track from the start - focusing on the real needs of the construction and real estate businesses. At the moment, PlanRadar operates in more, than 65 markets worldwide, and has more than 120,000 customers worldwide.

Avtandil Mekudishvili Sales Partner of PlanRadar answers our questions today:

- Mr. Avtandil please explain to us what is the product of PlanRadar?

- PlanRadar is an award-winning, digital SaaS field management platform for documentation, task management, and communication in construction and real estate projects.  PlanRadar digitizes daily processes and communication in our industries. The platform connects all project stakeholders and provides real-time access to valuable project data, enabling teams to increase quality, cut costs and realize work faster. The easy-to-use platform adds value to every person involved in a building’s lifecycle, from contractors and engineers to property managers and owners, with flexible capabilities for all company sizes and processes.

The team uses a single structured platform where information is fed back in real-time. This eliminates inconsistencies, instant feedback, and warnings about problems, new tasks, and status changes. Dashboards with clear graphs allow us to see the entire progress of the project and to identify weak points.

According to our customers, each PlanRadar user saves about 7 hours per week, which is a significant time-saver for their company. I strongly believe that increasing efficiency is crucial for the construction and real estate markets in Georgia. Rising costs, a shortage of highly qualified specialists, and other challenges can be addressed through greater efficiency.

In addition, PlanRadar offers a 30-day free pilot program, allowing everyone to test the system and ensure that PlanRadar aligns with their business processes.

- The idea is clear, let’s talk about the technical side, what are your efforts focused on, how does your service work and what features does it have?

- It would be complicated to describe all features of PlanRadar briefly, so I will try to explain the main ones.

The principle of interaction with PlanRadar is easy to use. You register and create a project in your account - it takes a little time to fill in the required boxes and upload the drawings and/or BIM models, Gannt chart from MS Project or you can create your own chart in our system from begging, and you can immediately create tasks, assign them, and create reports in a couple of clicks just on site. No need to come back to the office.

To create a report - just a couple of clicks, there are already templates for reports ready-made, and you can create a custom - just by dragging and dropping the necessary columns. Walking around a construction sitewith a smartphone and checking/unchecking a checkbox is not a problem - this check is automatically converted into a PDF inspection report.

PlanRadar apps can be used on iOS, Windows, and Android OS and you can use it without the Internet. When the connection gets back the data and your changes are synchronized in the cloud and everywhere on each project

- From an interface point of view, how convenient and easy is it for users to use PlanRadar?

- One of the challenges of any new product is to convince people to try something new and to show the undeniable benefits. Constructors are usually conservative people and there are also certain stereotypes about extra effort and implementing software to the job. Elementary data entry using mobile devices on the construction site can cause skepticism, and many old-school professionals often avoid or forget to do it.

Part of the reason is really some complex software manipulation. That's why we did a great job on the functionality of our solution, hiding all the complex algorithms from the average user, and providing a transparent, intuitive, and friendly interface.

Also, PlanRadar supports more than 20 languages, and since December 2022, our Georgian partners can use the Georgian language in our system.

- What distinguishes PlanRadar from other existing similar services?

- There is a lot of project management software on the market, but construction project management is much more complex and has many nuances. It was important to simplify tasks and optimize processes rather than complicate the program. On the one hand, a digital tool should be clear and easy to use, and on the other hand, it should be broadly functional, considering all the needs of a moving, multi-component construction project.

- But we have some solid advantages, that helps PlanRadar run our business in more than 65 countries:

• PlanRadar can be used due to the entire life cycle of the project or a building whatever the size of the project or company.
• PlanRadar is an easy-to-use platform. You don’t to need to have IT consultants to implement PlanRadar in your company and you don’t need an additional employee who will just work in the system.
• PlanRadar has flexible pricing, so each company will find the most optimal option for them. Before purchasing, our customers can try our product for 30 days for free without any obligations.
• PlanRadar is a SaaS product - no need to buy and service or rent servers, no need for implementation. Everything is in the cloud. In accordance with the GDPR, we keep operational and client data on AWS servers located in Germany.
• You don’t need to buy any special hardware devices. The employees can use their own smartphones or tablets.

 

- What about your target audience, who is considered as your segment?

- PlanRadar's audience is the widest. When it comes to construction and real estate, it is:

• Specialists and engineers of various profiles
• General contractors
• Architects
• Project managers
• Property owners and developers
• Facility managers, property managers, asset portfolios

Also, companies in the hospitality, industrial, energy, and infrastructure sectors can get their own benefits with PlanRadar.

 

- Your product is already in high demand in the international arena. What about the Georgian market?

- The previous year was hard for everyone, because of the war in Ukraine, global inflation after the COVID-19 pandemic, and broken or dramatically changed supply chains because of the fragmentation of the economy. These trends most likely will be in this year as well, plus the economists expect a recession in the EU and UK. Because of that, it is really important for businesses to improve their efficiency as much as possible.

Despite these and other challenges, Georgian companies did a great job and construct outstanding projects and I believe, that they will run their business with high standards this year as well. I see a lot of potential in Georgia.

We started running our business in Georgia in May of 2022. Since that short time, we already signed contracts with Anagi Construction Company and ELEMSI. I believe that it is a great start because these companies are leaders in their sectors. It is critically important for new businesses in the region to have such solid partners from the begging. In December of 2022, we added the Georgian language to our mobile and web apps, so I believe that 2023 will be productive for PlanRadar in Georgia.

- From a business point of view, what perspective have you seen in business interest?

- I see our interest in Georgia becoming one of their reliable pioneers of digitalization construction, real estate, and facility management sectors. I deeply want to help local companies run their business as great as possible and create with them long-term mutually beneficial cooperation. We will proceed with our business activities in Georgia this year.

- PlanRadar is a member of the International Real Estate Federation FIABCI, please share your opinion and tell us how important membership is for you.

- FIABCI-Georgia is a great team with amazing members. FIABCI-Georgia shows professionalism every day and at every event. I see our partnership as very important and beneficial for our business in Georgia and abroad. The expertise, insights, and support provided by the association have been greatly valued by our team, and their contributions have been considered invaluable. FIABCI-Georgia is a dependable and reliable partner, and I am proud to be associated with them. Their efforts have played a significant role in the achievement of the company's goals in Georgia and a continued partnership is eagerly anticipated. Because of that, we decided to provide a 20% discount for FIABCI-Georgia members.

By the way, PlanRadar noticed the professionalism of FIABCI in Georgia and now PlanRadar works tight with FIABCI-Emirates as well. ​​​​​​​

- What are your future plans in the Georgian market? 

- Our future plans in the Georgian market are simple – continue helping Georgian companies be more digitalize, sustainable, and efficient. We got great feedback from local companies, and I see a lot of opportunities in Georgia. I believe this year will be productive for the industry despite all the challenges.