The standard process of report writing, especially engineering documentation, follows a familiar routine—manual data collection from databases and handwritten notes, copying text, pasting text, recalculating, rewriting, and then, finally, formatting the document. It’s fair to say that report writing is not enjoyable for most people, particularly when you have to churn out several reports in a short period of time to meet project deadlines or regulatory requirements.
Plus, time is money in business. The countless hours spent producing multiple reports over the course of a project can quickly add up to thousands of dollars, draining resources that could be far more effectively allocated elsewhere.
At 3 Dot Digital, we’d like to propose a more superior report-writing process. We’ve worked with clients in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industries to reinvent the way things are done.
Citation, an AI-powered report writing solution, takes care of the repetitive, mundane subtasks of producing reports, and lets you focus on the important task of piecing all the data and analysis together to create a credible report.
In this post, we’ll show how Citation stacks up against manual report-writing methods, highlighting the key differences and advantages of an AI-driven solution.
Citation offers a fundamentally unique approach to report writing, leveraging the power of AI to automate and streamline the entire process. There are key features that distinguish Citation from other AI tools:
1. Automated data integration: Citation seamlessly integrates data from various sources, including ESRI GIS, removing the need for manual data entry.
2. AI-powered calculations and analysis The software can perform complex calculations and analyses automatically, reducing errors and saving time.
3. Automatic annotation: AI will automatically label and annotate your maps, images, tables, and graphs.
4. Modular report generation: Citation’s modular design allows you to create customised report templates that are tailored to your company, and can be reused for different projects.
5. Automated formatting and layout: The software can automatically format reports, guaranteeing consistency and visual appeal.
6. Cloud-based collaboration: Citation is cloud-based, allowing for easy collaboration, and comes equipped with enterprise-grade data security.
7. Quick report generation: Citation can reduce the amount of time it takes to write a report from days to just minutes.
8. User-friendly: Users can easily pick up Citation with minimal training.
In comparison, current report writing processes often involve a fragmented workflow, data silos, manual work, and long hours. For example, engineers need to gather data from various sources, including field notes, spreadsheets, CAD drawings, and GIS data. This information is then manually compiled into reports using word processing and spreadsheet software.
There are plenty of drawbacks to this method. With manual data entry, there’s a significant risk of making mistakes, which is time-consuming to rectify. Teams that frequently use disparate software applications and data sources can struggle with inaccurate or missing data due to data silos.
Furthermore, the lack of automation means teams will be waiting on reports to be ready before they can proceed with the next phase of the project. There are also limited collaboration and version control challenges when you don’t have a centralised cloud-based solution for your reports.
Here’s a breakdown of the key differences and advantages of Citation compared to current report writing methods:
| Manual Report Writing | Citation Report Generation | |
| Time taken | Days | Minutes |
| Data integration | Disparate data sources | Connects with various data sources |
| Data accuracy | Prone to human errors | Automated data collection, calculation, and analysis |
| Data updates | Manual checking | Real-time data updates |
| Workflow | Disjointed workflow | Seamless workflow with cloud collaboration |
| Calculation and fact checking | Manual | Automated |
| Regulatory compliance | Manual verification | Automated verification |
| Report formatting | Manual | Automated |
| Risk of rework | High due to inaccurate reports | Low due to accurate, reliable reports |
| Scalability | May struggle to keep up with complex projects with increased reporting requirements. | Easily scalable to keep up with complex projects. |
| Cost | Higher due to more man-hours and experts required to generate a report | Lower due to AI automation and less time required to generate a report. |
Clearly, Citation offers a compelling alternative to the current method of manually producing reports and engineering documentation. By automating time-consuming tasks, minimising errors, and improving collaboration, it empowers engineers to focus on what they do best: solving complex engineering problems and delivering innovative solutions.
The AEC industry is becoming increasingly data-driven and competitive, making manual processes a liability for companies. Having timely, accurate, and reliable reports is critical for decision-making and project success. Citation offers a powerful solution for automating the report-writing process, improving efficiency, accuracy, and consistency.
If you’ve been looking for a way to boost project productivity, then consider investing in an AI automation service for reporting. Do contact us to book a demo session for Citation. We’d love to make your reporting process easier and more efficient.
