Don't Get Stuck with the Wrong Tech: How to Choose Gear That Works for Your Crew
In today’s rush to go digital, DOTs, contractors, and engineers are overwhelmed with new tools promising to solve all their problems—some that help, and some that fall flat. When it comes to digital stationing, selecting the wrong software can waste valuable time, blow your budget, and lead to ongoing frustration for your team. So how can you avoid investing in tech that doesn’t truly fit your needs? Here are a few key red flags to look out for—and how OnStation takes a different approach.
🚩 RED FLAG #1: Vague Demos with No Field Relevance
It’s one thing to see a slick presentation. It’s another to see how a platform handles the way you actually do your job. Some digital stationing platforms claim to “work for everyone,” but that usually means they’re not designed for anyone in particular.
At OnStation, we’ve sat in countless demos buying software for our own company—and we know how frustrating it is when a sales person talks in circles or dodges real questions. That’s why every OnStation demo is tailored to showcase a solution designed to address the unique challenges your team and projects are facing. We’ll pull in actual road plans, real stationing references, and use your terminology—so you can picture your crews using it on Day 1.
→ Key Questions to Ask During Your Digital Stationing Demo
Can you demonstrate how the platform handles our specific road plans or stationing requirements?
Can this platform scale as our projects or team grows?
How user-friendly is the interface for both field crews and office staff?
How does this platform integrate with our existing systems?
Also, asking to incorporate a free trial into your demo offers your team a hands-on experience with the product, helping you avoid investing in ineffective tech. It allows you to quickly assess whether the tool is intuitive, if your team will actually use it, and if it performs well in real-world jobsite conditions—not just in theory. With digital stationing, accuracy, speed, and ease of use are crucial. If the tool doesn’t let you pinpoint your location in just a few seconds, it’s not meeting the mark. (No pun intended!)
💡Pro Tip: Don’t just test the tool on your own—get a foreman, inspector, field engineer, etc. to try it out with you. The more of your crew that participates in the trial, the more data you’ll have to determine whether the tool is truly worth the investment. Not only does this help you avoid wasting money on a tool that doesn't work, but it also ensures you don’t miss out on a solution that could provide great value and a high ROI—simply because there weren’t enough users involved to reveal its true potential.
🚩 RED FLAG #2: Feature Promises with No Delivery Date
We’ve all heard it: "That feature’s on our roadmap." But if you've been disappointed before, you know that a promise without a clear timeline is just a delay tactic.
One of the clearest indicators of a strong platform is how often it evolves. Regular updates keep the software current and reliable, ensuring a better user experience and addressing any potential security concerns. To gauge this, ask questions like: How often do you push updates? and How are feature requests prioritized? A solid platform should have a clear, structured process for implementing improvements based on user feedback.
Here are some red flags to watch for that suggest a software isn’t being actively maintained or improved:
No Updates or Infrequent Updates - several months
Frequent Buggy or Problematic Updates
Lack of Communication
No Roadmap or Clear Vision
Failure to Address Known Issues
→ OnStation in Motion: A Transparent Look at Our Progress
At OnStation, we believe in showing—not just telling—where our product is headed. That’s why we maintain a public What’s New page, where you can explore our ongoing improvements and upcoming feature concepts. From enhancements to existing tools like the Projects tab to forward-looking additions such as photo galleries, Active Worksite™️, and advanced analytics dashboards, we’re always building toward a more powerful platform.
While some vendors make vague promises about what’s “coming soon,” we prefer transparency. Our track record speaks for itself—with every meaningful update documented, you can see the momentum behind our progress. If a vendor can’t show how their product is evolving, it’s fair to ask whether they’re focused on the future or just selling the present.
🚩 RED FLAG #3: No Support After the Sale
Buying software is the easy part. The real challenge comes after the sale—when your team is out in the field, running into real issues and needing real support. That’s where many platforms drop the ball. In heavy highway construction, where conditions change daily and timelines move fast, delayed or absent support doesn’t just cause frustration—it can bring adoption to a standstill.
We’ve heard it time and again from crews across the country: “We had one training session, then never heard from them again.” Or worse—“We hit a snag and didn’t get a response for days.”
When support disappears after the deal is done, even the best software gets pushed aside. Crews lose trust, supervisors stop promoting it, and the tool you invested in ends up collecting digital dust. Without reliable, ongoing support, your investment never reaches the people—or the potential—it was meant for.
→ Support, the OnStation Way
We care deeply about the experience we provide—not just through our product, but through the support that comes with it. Whether you’re a customer or a prospect, our goal is simple: to make your job easier, not harder. We know the last thing you need is more frustration, so we’re here to help you reach your goals, every step of the way.
When evaluating vendors, ask: “What happens when we need help—during onboarding and long after?” Make sure the support fits your team’s style, pace, and needs. Here are some support tools we offer to all our customers and prospects—because getting help shouldn’t feel like hitting a roadblock. 🚧
Check out how we keep things smooth and stress-free:
-
You can call or text us directly during business hours, and our team will be quick to respond. We know your time is valuable, and we’re here to help keep your project moving without unnecessary delays.
-
OnStation’s Bit Bot is your 24/7 digital sidekick, always ready to help right from our website. Whether you’ve got a quick question or need real-time guidance, Bit Bot’s got you covered. It also includes a live chat option, connecting you directly with our support team—perfect for those times when you’d rather type than talk.
-
Need help or want to report an issue? You can submit a support request directly through the OnStation app or on our website—it’s quick, easy, and routed straight to the right team. Best of all, our support crew typically reaches out within the hour, so you’re never left waiting in the work zone.
-
Our OnStation Knowledge Base is packed with answers, walkthroughs, videos, and step-by-step guides that cover just about everything—no need to play phone tag. Whether you're troubleshooting, exploring features, or just curious, it's all there at your fingertips. It’s like having a construction crew of knowledge ready 24/7. You could say we nailed it. 🛠️
-
Whether you're brand new or just need a refresher, our free, self-paced training videos are available to everyone. They cover everything from the fundamentals to advanced tips, so you can learn at your own pace—anytime, anywhere.
-
Each quarter, we host live sessions to showcase new features, share best practices, and give users the opportunity to ask questions and get real-time answers.
🚩 RED FLAG #4: If Crews Aren’t Adopting During the Trial, It Won’t Get Better Later
Even top-rated platforms like PlanGrid, Procore, or Bentley’s SYNCHRO can miss the mark if they’re not rolled out with crews in mind. It’s not just about powerful features—it’s about making sure those features actually get used, in real-world conditions, by the people who need them most.
Low adoption is a clear sign that a tool doesn’t fit the way your crews work. Maybe it takes too many steps to get started. Maybe it wasn’t built with field conditions in mind. Either way, if it slows things down or adds confusion, it gets dropped—fast. And when adoption fails, so does the investment. The tech becomes shelf ware, and future rollouts face resistance before they even begin.
Tracking user, company, and project analytics during a trial gives you real proof—not just promises. It shows who’s using the software, how often, and where it’s adding value. Instead of guessing or relying on gut feeling, you get real data to back your decision. It helps you answer the big question with confidence: Is this tool actually working for our team?
📊 Is This Tech Worth It?
Take this quick 3-question check to see if your current tool is helping—or holding you back.
→ Make Your Trial Count: What to Track Before You Buy
Don’t just ask about features—ask how often people actually use them. During a software trial, usage data speaks louder than sales decks. Real adoption shows whether a tool fits your workflows and makes life easier for your team.
Here are key user analytics to track during a trial:
Active Weekly Users – How many users are logging in consistently, not just testing it once?
Login Frequency by Role – Are both office staff and field crews finding value?
Time to Full Onboarding – How long does it take to get users up and running with confidence?
Feature Usage – Which tools are actually being used—and which are ignored?
Time Spent in Software – Are users finding what they need quickly or getting stuck?
Mobile vs. Desktop Access – Are crews using it where the work is happening?
Help & Support Activity – How often are users reaching out for help? Are their questions being answered?
If a tool is truly useful, adoption won’t need to be forced. Crews will use it because it makes their jobs easier.
💡Pro Tip: When evaluating new platforms, ask vendors for real usage data—not just promises. And if you’re questioning your current solution, take a quick health check:
Are people actually using it?
Is it helping your field and office teams equally?
Does onboarding feel smooth or like a chore?
The answers will tell you whether you’re investing in a tool that sticks—or one that stalls.
🚩 RED FLAG #5: Solves a Problem You Don’t Actually Have
One of the most common pitfalls in buying new construction tech? Getting sold on a flashy platform that’s solving the wrong problem. If the tool doesn’t align with your team’s real-world challenges, it’ll end up unused—no matter how many features it claims to have.
That’s why it’s so important to step back and ask:
“What’s the actual problem we’re trying to solve?”
And just as importantly:
“Does this software make that problem easier, faster, or more efficient to solve?”
Smart vendors won’t just pitch features—they’ll take the time to understand your operations, your goals, and your pain points. They’ll help you figure out if their solution fits your workflows, not force you to adapt to theirs.
At OnStation, that’s our approach. We don’t assume we’re the right fit for everyone. Instead, we listen first—then talk about how we can help if it makes sense. Our focus is clear: solving one high-impact challenge in heavy highway construction—“Where am I, and what’s happening at this exact location?” If that’s the issue you’re facing, we’re built for it.
The bottom line: tech should solve real problems. If it’s not doing that, it’s just noise.
→ Ask Smarter, Buy Better: Questions to Avoid Solving the Wrong Problem
Before committing to any new construction tech, it’s critical to make sure the solution is solving your problem—not just offering a shiny fix to someone else’s. Here are a few key questions to ask during your evaluation process to stay focused on what really matters:
-
Make the vendor name it clearly. If they can’t, that’s a red flag.
-
If your crews don’t feel the pain, they won’t use the solution.
-
Ensure it’s not duplicating systems that already work.
-
Ask how you’ll measure real impact, like usage rates, time savings, or improved communication.
-
Look for use cases that actually match your environment—field and office.
-
Complexity kills adoption. The best tools make life easier, not harder.
When you lead with these questions, you filter out the noise and zero in on tools that bring real, measurable value to your team.
Conclusion: Choose Tech That Fits—Not Just Tech That Sells
The stakes are high in heavy highway construction, and choosing the wrong tech can cost more than just time—it can waste resources, stall progress, and kill crew adoption. That’s why making a smart decision isn’t about chasing the flashiest features—it’s about choosing tools that solve real problems your team actually faces, in the field and in the office.
Every tech decision should come back to one thing: return on investment (ROI). If a platform doesn’t simplify workflows, improve communication, or speed up decision-making, it’s not delivering ROI—no matter how impressive the sales pitch sounds.
At OnStation, we build our entire approach around this. From how we structure demos to how we run our trials, it’s all about solution-based selling—helping you identify if we solve your problem. And if we do, we make sure you experience real value during the trial, not just a tour of features.
Plus, our enhanced support ensures you're never left guessing. We stay involved, answer questions quickly, and help guide your team so that you’re confident in the decision you and your company are making.
Click the button below to see how we run our trial, focus on real-world problems, and support you every step of the way. Let’s make sure you don’t get stuck with the wrong tech.