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Changes You’ll Notice After Switching to Digital QC
How Real GeoCAAB Users Eliminated QC Errors, Billing Disputes, and Overtime
Contractors who switch to digital QC often expect cleaner reports or faster submittals. What they quickly realize is that removing manual documentation also eliminates many of the errors, rework, and inefficiencies that slow projects down and complicate payment.
The changes are noticeable. Immediately.
Below is a real before-and-after comparison from RTD Enterprises, a geosynthetic installation contractor that implemented GeoCAAB across large-scale liner projects. Their experience highlights the operational differences you can expect to see on your own projects after switching from manual QC methods to a fully digital system.
This is not a theoretical example.
It’s a real project comparison from a GeoCAAB user who has lived both sides.
Before Digital QC: What RTD Was Dealing With
On a large 80-acre closure project in Kentucky for TVA, RTD’s QC technicians completed their daily responsibilities in the field, then spent additional hours each evening transferring data into notebooks or spreadsheets.
That process created several recurring challenges:
- Duplicate repair numbers entered manually
- Incorrect initials or timestamps
- Missing or mismatched trial weld records
- Errors discovered only after reports were submitted
Reviewing hundreds of spreadsheet rows late at night made even small mistakes difficult to catch. When issues were identified later, reports were returned with requests for clarification or correction. In some cases, these corrections affected sequencing, weld tracking, or testing documentation, creating additional confusion.
Beyond documentation, progress payment tracking added another layer of effort. Installed square footage was compiled daily from superintendent field reports, then reconciled at month-end. Discrepancies between installed quantities and client expectations often led to site recounts, material reconciliation, and billing discussions that consistently felt conservative rather than confident.
Despite quality work in the field, the lack of certainty in documentation and quantities introduced friction that consumed time and resources.
The Turning Point: A New Project, A New Approach
Shortly after, RTD began a 64-acre cell project in Tennessee for the same general contractor and client. This time, GeoCAAB was fully implemented from the start.
Rather than layering software on top of old habits, the QC process itself changed.
GeoCAAB’s structured data entry, automated validation, and GPS-backed tracking removed many of the failure points that existed in manual systems.
After GeoCAAB: The Differences That Actually Matter
Several changes immediately improved daily operations.
Dropdown-controlled data entry ensured that only approved names, repair numbers, and values could be selected, eliminating manual entry errors from the field.
Automated checks flagged failed tests, missing trial welds, or mismatched dates and times in real time. Instead of discovering issues days later, technicians addressed them immediately, while the work was still fresh and verifiable.
GPS-backed installation tracking provided a definitive record of installed quantities. Progress payments were no longer based on compiled spreadsheets or subjective reconciliation. Installed square footage was documented, traceable, and defensible.
The impact was immediate. On average, RTD eliminated approximately two hours per day of overtime per QC technician once liner activities were completed. This does not include the time previously spent reviewing reports or resolving post-submittal corrections.
Beyond Reporting: Strengthening Client Relationships
GeoCAAB also changed how RTD interacted with general contractors and clients.
Digital AS-BUILT data allowed RTD to assist GCs when repairs were missed or accidentally labeled twice. Instead of creating disputes, the data became a collaborative tool that helped resolve issues quickly and professionally.
Clients consistently commented on the cleanliness and speed of RTD’s reports. Final submittals were clear, complete, and delivered without the back-and-forth that once delayed approvals and payments.
Most importantly, progress payment discussions shifted from debate to certainty. With GPS-backed documentation, there was no question of overbilling or underbilling. The data spoke for itself.
What This Means for Modern QC Programs
RTD’s experience highlights a reality many contractors face. Quality issues often do not originate in the field. They originate in manual documentation systems that were never designed to scale with modern project complexity.
GeoCAAB does not replace experienced QC professionals. It supports them by removing administrative friction, reducing human error, and ensuring that accurate work in the field is matched by equally accurate documentation.
For RTD, the result was not just better reports, but a more efficient operation, stronger client trust, and greater confidence in every submitted number.
GeoCAAB: Experience the Next Revolution in Geosynthetics
We are a computer-aided as-built software, built by the field, for the field, that utilizes GPS mapping to maximize efficiency, accuracy, and organization.