From the jobsite and project management teams to the executive suite, lean and efficient operations are key to sustaining competitive abilities. But for most construction companies, regulatory compliance is far from an efficient task. Given the regulatory environment that contractors must navigate, this is no surprise – between testing requirements, specialty trades, and license classifications, contractors face some of the most complex and varied licensing requirements of any industry. 

Yet lean principles such as reducing waste, improving workflows, enhancing communication, and ensuring quality can be applied to regulatory compliance. By employing state-of-the art tools and best practices, you can reduce the administrative burden on your staff and improve your firm’s ability to respond to opportunities. 

So, how do you bring efficiency to processes related to licenses and permits? It starts with employing these four steps.

1. Automate 
To manage compliance efficiently and reduce administrative waste, appropriate software is critical. Dedicated compliance software is best, but any system that allows you to track all of your licenses, permits, and corporate records in one place is a good step. 

Your software should generate reminders for important regulatory tasks such as renewing licenses, submitting annual reports, and updating your corporate records when information changes. 

This significantly reduces the administrative burden of manually tracking due dates and submissions. It also reduces the risks of costly errors such as missed deadlines and lapsed licenses.