Torsion Group is a main contractor operating primarily within the residential and purpose-built student accommodation sectors. As Commercial Director, Jon Carter oversees the commercial management of both project delivery and wider business operations.
After a conversation with our Head of product Shane Uppal, we learnt that his responsibilities include contract agreements across both clients and the supply chain, legal compliance, project controls, valuation processes, and their integration with financial management systems.
Today, Site Diary is deployed across all Torsion Group schemes. However, Jon explained that usage still varies between sites, and the business continues to work towards a more consistent approach across all projects.
The Challenge: Inconsistent Project Controls and Records keeping
Before implementing Site Diary, Torsion Group identified a lack of consistency in several areas of project control. One key issue involved site records.
In some cases, sites maintained inadequate diary records. In others, records simply did not exist. As a result, the business recognised the need to bring greater structure and consistency to this important process.
Furthermore, when the team analysed the root causes, they found that a lack of simple and accessible tools contributed to the problem. Site teams needed a solution that made record keeping easier rather than adding more administration to their workload.
Therefore, Torsion Group decided to explore the market and identify a platform that could support a more standardised approach.
Why Torsion Group Chose Site Diary
Jon explained that the company did not extensively review competing solutions. The only alternative considered was FieldView by Viewpoint, which the business already subscribed to.
However, once Jon trialled Site Diary and reviewed it alongside other board members, the decision became straightforward.
Our platform offered a simple and intuitive user experience. In addition, its accessibility on smartphones made it easy for teams to adopt and use throughout the working day.
As a result, Site Diary provided the practical solution the business had been searching for.
How the Changes Impacted the Team on keeping records
As with any new process, implementation presented challenges.
Jon described the overall adoption of Site Diary as largely positive, although uptake varied across different teams. Importantly, any challenges encountered related to people and processes rather than the software itself.
The business continues to focus on encouraging wider use of Site Diary records, particularly when supporting valuation substantiation and project administration.
Reflecting on the implementation process, Jon shared an important lesson learned:
"We need to ensure we make life simple for the staff, provide adequate training, then periodically remind staff of its use and remove any obstacles they may have encountered."
Jon Carter, Commercial Director at Torsion Group
This approach has helped Torsion Group drive better adoption while ensuring teams gain maximum value from the platform.
Conclusion
For Torsion Group, Site Diary has helped bring greater consistency to project controls while improving site-level record keeping across the business.
The platform has strengthened communication between teams, improved visibility for directors, and reduced commercial risk through better documentation.
