Slice of Construction Podcast: Revolutionizing Scheduling with Nitin Bhandari, Co-Founder & CEO of Planera

Slice of Construction Team / September 10, 2024

Read the article on Slice of Construction

What you’ll get out of this episode:

• Simplifying Construction Scheduling: Planera offers a powerful yet easy-to-use scheduling tool, making complex construction planning accessible to all team members.
• Collaboration and Alignment: Emphasizing team involvement to drive project alignment, ensuring everyone from management to on-site workers is on the same page.
• Overcoming Industry Challenges: How Planera addresses common scheduling pitfalls by offering integrated, user-friendly solutions that prevent errors.
• The Future of Construction Tech: Nitin Bhandari on the importance of clean data, cloud-based solutions, and AI in shaping the next decade of construction.

Introduction

In the latest episode of the Slice of Construction podcast, Jared Taylor interviews Nitin Bhandari, the co-founder and CEO of Planera. Nitin shares how Planera is revolutionizing construction scheduling with a software that combines powerful functionality with user-friendly design. In this discussion, he dives deep into the importance of collaboration, the challenges facing the construction industry, and the future of construction technology.

Simplifying Construction Scheduling

Nitin Bhandari starts by explaining what makes Planera stand out in the crowded field of construction scheduling software. "If you can use a whiteboard or Excel, you can use Planera," he states, highlighting the platform's ease of use without sacrificing the complexity needed for detailed scheduling. Planera's approach bridges the gap between powerful tools like Oracle's P6 and more simplistic, less specialized options like MS Project.

The Power of Collaboration and Alignment

A major theme in the conversation is the importance of team collaboration in driving project success. Nitin emphasizes that participation in the scheduling process fosters alignment and buy-in, which are crucial for smooth project execution. When everyone on the team, from management to on-site workers, has a hand in shaping the plan, they are more committed to its success. "Participation drives alignment. Alignment drives buy-in," Nitin explains, stressing how this approach can prevent costly mistakes and improve overall project outcomes.

Overcoming Industry Challenges

One of the significant barriers in construction is the disconnect between complex scheduling software and the people who need to use it. Nitin discusses how Planera overcomes this by integrating a digital whiteboard interface with advanced scheduling tools. This allows teams to collaboratively create and manage schedules in a way that’s both intuitive and powerful. Moreover, the software provides ongoing quality checks, offering suggestions and alerts to prevent common scheduling errors.

The Future of Construction Technology

Looking ahead, Nitin is optimistic about the role of data and cloud-based solutions in the construction industry. He highlights the need for high-quality, non-siloed data as a foundation for future advancements like AI. While acknowledging the excitement around AI, he cautions that without clean and integrated data, its potential will be limited. Nitin believes that as the industry embraces cloud-native, API-driven technologies, the construction tech stack will evolve significantly, paving the way for more intelligent and efficient project management tools.

Conclusion

Nitin Bhandari’s insights reveal a clear vision for the future of construction scheduling—one that prioritizes ease of use, collaboration, and the intelligent application of technology. As Planera continues to grow, backed by a successful Series A funding round, it’s set to make a significant impact on how construction projects are planned and executed.