On busy residential sites, the project manager’s deputy often keeps the day running: checking attendance, approving timesheets, ordering extra timber, and confirming the latest estimate with the client. When that deputy has rapid access to live costs, schedules, and material take-offs, productivity soars. CountBricks makes that possible by turning real-time voice conversations into fully costed estimates, invoices, and purchase orders. This article explains how CountBricks helps deputy supervisors take command of data, prevent integration headaches, and keep every house build on budget.
A deputy supervisor—or simply “deputy”—is the right hand of the licensed builder. They coordinate trades, verify deliveries, and sign off on daily safety paperwork. Without quick access to figures and documents, deputies spend hours phoning the office or re-entering data. CountBricks eliminates that friction by syncing:
• Live materials pricing from preferred suppliers
• AI-generated labour allowances tied to local award rates
• Blueprint take-offs pushed directly to field devices
• Voice-activated change orders captured in the moment
• Delayed estimates that leave subcontractors waiting for green lights
• Manual timesheet approvals causing payroll disputes
• Out-of-date price books leading to cost overruns
• Disconnected software forcing double entry between site and office
1. Open the CountBricks mobile mic
2. Say, “Add 42 metres of 90×45 MGP10 pine at current supplier rate.”
3. The AI engine looks up today’s price list and updates the house frame package instantly
4. Deputies review and approve on their phone before the numbers sync back to the office dashboard
Every approved task in CountBricks automatically generates a labour allowance. Deputies compare planned hours with on-site check-ins in the same app—no more spreadsheets. If bricklayers clock in two hours late, the estimate flexes, alerting management before the budget slips.
Supply chain volatility is the deputy’s nightmare. CountBricks pulls nightly price updates from trusted vendors. When framing timber jumps 7 %, deputies see the delta on screen and can immediately recommend alternative sections, backed by fresh numbers.
CountBricks auto-generates branded variation quotes that deputies can email from site. Because the figures draw from the same cost database, there is zero risk of quoting the wrong margin.
• Cause: Deputies may have unsynced offline entries
• Fix: Tap “Sync Now” in the field app and ensure cellular data is enabled. The cloud reconciles any conflicts and pushes a notification within 30 seconds.
• Cause: Supplier catalogue credentials have expired
• Fix: Go to Settings › Suppliers, re-enter the API token supplied by your merchant, then press “Test Connection.” Deputies will see the updated rate on the next refresh.
• Cause: Background machinery noise or outdated microphone permissions
• Fix: Move to a quieter zone, then check device settings to allow microphone access. Use the command, “Help Deputy troubleshooting,” to trigger the in-app tutorial.
• Log voice notes at the end of each task so the system time-stamps costs accurately
• Schedule a daily 5-minute sync to push data before heading home
• Use the photo-attach option when approving a supplier delivery—helpful evidence if disputes arise
• Bookmark CountBricks.com/services to access advanced how-to guides
CountBricks was engaged on a four-townhouse infill project where the deputy previously juggled three apps and endless PDF mark-ups. With CountBricks:
• 312 individual material lines were voice-entered in two days
• Estimate accuracy improved from ±12 % to ±2.5 %
• Site queries dropped by 38 % because deputies could answer on the spot
Explore similar success stories at CountBricks.com/portfolio.
Deputies can create a free sandbox project by heading to CountBricks.com/services and clicking “Start Trial.” The guided setup imports your current price book, blueprints, and schedules in under ten minutes. For on-site training, schedule a virtual walk-through via CountBricks.com/contact.
Whether you are a seasoned site leader or stepping into your first deputy role, CountBricks provides the AI tools you need to estimate, schedule, and invoice without leaving the slab. The next time you type “help deputy” into your search bar, remember that the answer is waiting at CountBricks.com, ready to keep your residential builds on time and on budget.
• Deputies find an unexpected shortage of 50 mm PVC conduit.
• They say, “Create PO, 120 m 50 mm conduit, deliver tomorrow 7 a.m.”
• CountBricks checks live supplier stock and emails the purchase order, attaching the updated cost code so finance can match invoices automatically.
CountBricks embeds a diary that links photos, weather data, and voice notes to each cost line. Deputies no longer store crucial evidence in personal phones; everything is centralised, date-stamped, and searchable. During defect liability, the team can trace any variation back to the exact day it was raised.
1. The deputy marks “lock-up stage achieved.”
2. CountBricks calculates the contractual percentage, pulls the latest cost totals, and drafts the progress claim.
3. After a quick on-screen review, the claim is signed digitally and sent to the client portal.
• Start small: run CountBricks on a single duplex before rolling it out across multiple sites.
• Use the in-app “coach marks” that appear when you first say “help deputy.” These micro-tutorials guide the exact button your team should tap next.
• Set automated reminders: if data hasn’t synced in 24 hours, CountBricks pings the deputy and the office, preventing lost information.
Regulation, safety, and supply pressures will only intensify. Deputies equipped with intelligent, voice-first tools can pivot faster than those chained to clipboards. Join hundreds of builders who trust CountBricks to turn rapid on-site decisions into accurate downstream data. Visit CountBricks.com/contact to book a personalised demo and keep your next project ahead of the curve.
