“Now, for a typical inspection, instead of two people, I just need one,” Clayton says. He can document the site with his tablet and, when finished, hit “send.” But there are drawbacks: The tablet overheats, the screen gives off a harsh glare in sunlight, camera images are grainy, and media transfers from other devices can be tricky. However, the tablet still provides value, Clayton says.

PunchList's popularity has inspired a new business model for Crescent, which is in the process of spinning off an app development unit to serve other construction firms such as Skanska. The firm is working with Clayton on its own punch-listing app as well as other construction apps.

Costs to develop apps can give pause. “Our projects usually fall between $5,000 and $50,000 [for each app],” says Clayton, which is still lower than some firms that charge between $35,000 and $150,000.

In addition, free and low-cost apps are flooding the market. Last year, industry consultant Software Advice estimated that about 230 construction apps for iPhones and iPads existed. Today, that number has grown to nearly 1,000. “It's a burgeoning market,” says Houston Neal, the consultant's marketing chief (see Q&A, below).

Today, the industry is at a turning point with tablets. Construction tablets that were designed to be more rugged than simple are now sharing space on jobsites with other tablets. Fortunately, the advent of cloud computing helps them interact more easily.

Which device will win on the jobsite? It's too early to tell. HP just decided to exit the consumer tablet business after lackluster sales of its new TouchPad, which runs on its own operating system. However, it still supports Slate, a business tablet that runs in a Windows-based environment. Meanwhile, companies such as Motion Computing are making a strong case for tough-guy tablets geared toward regular jobsite users, while media tablets may be a better fit for architects, engineers and managers.

Either way, says Ozinga, clients have come to expect the instant gratification that tablets provide. “I've had customers call and say, 'I have a big pour tomorrow. Are you going to come out?' I say I'll do my best to come. They say, 'Well, I don't care who comes out there—just make sure they bring the iPad.” n