Staying on schedule and on budget takes more than hard work—it takes data. Lots of data. Key performance indicators (KPIs) should be a guide to your daily production. However, these should also act as an early warning system, keeping you informed about how efficiently your materials, machines, and teams are moving so you can adjust before things get off track.
Traditionally, production KPIs have been tracked using everything from gut instinct to ground and drone surveys that capture high-accuracy data. But as projects move faster and margins tighten, site teams need more current data to make the best decisions.
Enter DirtMate—real-time production data without the guesswork.
DirtMate delivers daily insights into critical production KPIs, helping you train operators, improve haul routes, and maximize equipment lifespan.
What KPIs does DirtMate unlock?
DirtMate helps civil construction teams track essential production and efficiency metrics every day, with no added effort. Simply install DirtMate on your existing equipment, regardless of OEM, and let production data flow into Propeller—your site data command center.
With DirtMate, you can track the following KPIs every day (and even every half hour):
- Production: Track material volumes and get surface updates to monitor excavation progress.
- Load counts: Automate load tracking by shift, day, and week.
- Utilization: Monitor machine hours, including idle time versus active operational time.
Why these KPIs matter for project success
KPIs inform every stage of a project, starting from the bid phase. Estimators use performance metrics to set targets that impact profit margins—meaning they can either sink a business or protect its success. Meeting these KPIs keeps projects on schedule, costs within budget, and crews on track, reducing waste or rework.
By continually refining estimates based on real-world production data, contractors can make more accurate bids and ensure profitability before the contract is signed. Tracking operator efficiency also gives supervisors a way to improve operator performance from afar, without having to be in the cab or even on-site.
Real-time KPI tracking gives teams a critical advantage—they can identify inefficiencies before they snowball into problems, optimize fleet utilization, and cut down fuel waste.
How can operators apply these metrics to increase productivity?
One of the biggest challenges in heavy civil projects is coaching operators to improve efficiency and streamline haul routes without being on-site every second.
With DirtMate, you get the data you need to:
- Coach from afar: Monitor operator performance remotely and give feedback based on daily insights, adjusting inefficiencies before they impact your margins.
- Avoid costly mistakes: Over-excavation requires more time and resources for compaction and rework. With real-time cut surface data, operators can dig to precise depths.
- Keep teams accountable: When performance is tracked, operators develop better habits, improve output consistency, and uphold site safety rules.
How does increased machine productivity benefit the business?
- Longer equipment lifespan: Reduce unnecessary wear and tear by tracking equipment runtime and maintenance requirements.
- Lower fuel costs: Flag excessive idling and inefficient usage to cut fuel costs and reduce major repairs.
- More competitive bids: Fine-tune your operations to bid lower without sacrificing margins.
- Safer worksites: Make sure operators use safe haul routes and travel at approved speeds.
- Proof of work: Maintain a daily progress record to verify completed work and prevent disputes.
Stay competitive with progress and production KPIs
Keeping track of daily production KPIs has a compounding effect over a project’s lifespan. With DirtMate, teams get an affordable way to track progress, performance, and surface data to make better decisions and keep projects on track.
