Building Efficiency: A Digital Transformation for Black Bear Builders

Web Design (UI/UX)

Siete y Media developed a custom internal application for Black Bear Builders, a construction company based in Banff, Alberta, Canada. The challenge was that the company was managing critical processes through multiple spreadsheets, which caused inefficiencies, delays, and lack of control. Goals - Centralize operations into one unified system. - Reduce time spent on repetitive tasks like cost estimates and payroll. - Improve visibility and control over projects, materials, and expenses. - Facilitate adoption with a solution that was easy to use, scalable, and quick to implement. Results - 24X faster cost estimates: from 2 hours to just 5 minutes. - 90% less time on payroll: from 45 minutes to only a few minutes, with automatic PDF records. - 15+ processes centralized into one platform (projects, reports, financials, suppliers, employees, and inventory). - Improved efficiency and transparency across the company’s operations. - A successful international collaboration (Chile–Canada) proving that digital transformation can overcome geographic and cultural barriers.

What was the main challenge in this project?

The main challenge was that Black Bear Builders managed their critical operations through multiple disconnected spreadsheets, which created inefficiencies, delays, and risk of error. Key pain points included: Cost estimates and reports that took hours to prepare. Payroll processes that were slow and error-prone. Lack of visibility and control over materials, expenses, and project progress. The company needed a centralized system that could streamline workflows, reduce manual tasks, and provide real-time access to reliable information.

What was your solution or approach?

Our approach was to design and implement a custom internal management app that centralized all of Black Bear Builders’ operations into one platform. We worked in stages: Phase 1: Launch essential modules (projects, reports, expenses, and payroll) to ensure immediate adoption. Phase 2: Expand with financial and resource management features (cost cards, contracts, invoices, client and supplier management, inventory). Phase 3: Continuous optimization with feedback from the team to adapt the app to their daily workflows. This staged implementation allowed Black Bear Builders to: Start using the app right away while we kept adding features. Replace more than 15 scattered processes with a single unified system. Gain efficiency, transparency, and control without the complexity of traditional software development.

What was the outcome or impact for the client?

The new internal app transformed the way Black Bear Builders managed their operations: 24X faster cost estimates → reduced from 2 hours to just 5 minutes. 90% less time on payroll → from 45 minutes to only a few minutes, with automatic PDF records. 15+ processes centralized into one reliable system. Greater efficiency and transparency across projects, finances, and resources. A successful international collaboration (Chile–Canada) proving that digital transformation can overcome geographic and cultural barriers. Overall, the client moved from fragmented workflows to a modern, integrated, and scalable system that saves time, reduces errors, and supports growth.