Does the site need internet to fill digital reports?

With a connection, you can enter, save, update and finalise reports from your phone, then send and synchronise them. Saving and editing each require a connection; reports are not stored in a local queue.

Do workers need company phones?

No, they can use their own smartphones. The app is designed to work well on small screens.

Does digital eliminate errors completely?

No, but it drastically reduces transcription errors and omissions. Supervision of data remains the manager's responsibility.

§ 01 / Guides

Site reports: paper vs digital

A concrete comparison of time, errors and control: why going digital changes the way you calculate costs.

6 min readUpdated 12 October 2026Reviewed by Matthieu Crétier

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In short: Site reports: paper vs digital

A concrete comparison of time, errors and control: why going digital changes the way you calculate costs.

What this guide covers

•1. Collection time
•2. Errors and omissions
•3. Impact on costs and margins

The paper site report has ruled construction sites for decades. It's simple, immediate and needs no technology. Its fundamental flaw is that once written, the data must be recopied, interpreted and double-checked. Let's see what changes when the report goes digital.

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1. Collection time

Paper reports return to the office at the end of the week or month for collection and transcription. In archim, a responsible worker, team leader or appointed person records the day by phone according to the setup. With a connection, they save, update and finalise data against the job, then send and synchronise it.

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2. Errors and omissions

Paper reports can be lost or incomplete: a worker may forget two days or enter the wrong time. Saved digital entries can be checked and corrected with a connection. Optional morning presence is separate from final hours; if the day spans several sites, split hours between the projects.

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3. Impact on costs and margins

Recorded hours assigned to the site and valued using configured hourly costs feed labour cost. Review margin alongside the other included costs and revenue, checking completeness and a consistent period.

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4. How to overcome internal resistance

The first week is the hardest. After a few days filling in becomes a habit if the process is fast. Start with a small pilot crew, involve foremen and show early results.

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What to do next

Digital reports don't replace the foreman's supervision, but they remove transcription and delays. The result is a cost picture that updates daily, not monthly.

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FAQ

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Continue

Go deeper with the related resources.

Glossary

Site daily report

The site daily report is the daily record of hours, attendance, work, equipment and notes. A responsible worker, foreman or other appointed person can complete it by phone according to the company setup.

Feature

A day on site, without typing it all again

Time management collects attendance, work, absence and hours for people and equipment by job. The site lead records them by phone; the office reviews them and prepares supported exports for payroll and job costing.

Try the archim digital site report

Discover how to collect hours and work activities from site in real time.

Book a demo