On many projects field reports already arrive by WhatsApp, but as free-form messages, voice notes and unlabelled photos. The admin then spends hours copying them out. Two small changes make them easy to roll up: the same message format for everyone, or a form that becomes a table by itself.
Option 1: WhatsApp with a fixed format
- Share the message format above with every foreman and pin it in the group.
- One message per foreman per day, sent before the agreed time.
- Work is always written with its code, location and quantity with units.
- Photos are sent straight after the message, captioned with the work item code.
- Avoid voice notes for numbers; type them.
- The admin copies them into the daily table every afternoon, so the weekly roll-up is just a sum.
Option 2: Google Form into Google Sheets
| Question on the form | Answer type |
|---|---|
| Date | Date |
| Block or unit | Choice (list of blocks) |
| Work item code | Choice (from the budget) |
| Quantity today | Number |
| Unit | Choice (m3, m2, m, piece) |
| Workers: skilled, labour | Number |
| Weather | Choice |
| Problems | Short text |
| Photos | File upload |
Every answer becomes a row in Google Sheets. Because the work item code and unit are picked from a list there are no typos, and the data can be summed per code straight away for the weekly report and the workbook’s progress columns.
Common mistakes
- Every foreman using a format of their own.
- Reports sent in a busy chat group where they get buried.
- Quantities written without units or location.
- A form so long that foremen stop filling it in. Start with 8 to 10 questions.
The full guide is in How to create a weekly construction schedule report in Google Sheets. It has a free template (Excel or Google Sheets) and a checker that reads your own workbook.
Ready to use the Komander agents on your projects?
When your workbook is complete, apply for a pilot: we help connect your project data to the Finance, Cost and Scheduler agents and review the first reports with you.
Send to melwani@komander.ai. Your workbook check result is included when there is one; the workbook itself is not sent.
Common questions
How do I collect daily reports from foremen?
With the same WhatsApp message format for everyone, or a Google Form whose answers go straight into Google Sheets.
Why use a Google Form for field reports?
Answers become a table automatically, and codes and units are picked from lists, so there are no typos.
How many questions should a field form have?
Start small, about 8 to 10 questions, so it gets filled in every day.