App Development
Digital Directory for Commercial Construction Sites
COMPANY
Conlink
ROLE
Industry
Construction
YEAR
2024
Conlink came from one of those “surely this could be easier” moments.
I was working as an electrician on a package of M2 NextDC data centre — a project worth upwards of $1.5 billion AUD — and every day involved asking the same questions:
Where's the induction room? Who's the first aid officer? What time’s smoko?
There were noticeboards, paper flyers, and word of mouth. But on a site that massive, it all felt… dated. So I built a digital site directory, kind of like the touchscreens you see in shopping centres — but for construction.
Scope
Replace static, paper-based info with a live, accessible digital experience.
Featueres
Daily updates from site management
Site maps & contact info
First aid/emergency details
Safety videos & announcements
This category details the step-by-step approach taken during the project, including research, planning, design, development, testing, and optimization phases.
Prototype in Webflow
I started in Webflow, mainly because it was quick and visual. Got a functional version out, tested it during breaks, and kept it super lean.
Scaling with Bubble
As things got more complex — like conditional logic, data filtering, and better backend control — I shifted the MVP into Bubble, which let me move fast without learning full-stack dev.
Hardware Setup
I bought a few secondhand touchscreens off Facebook Marketplace and hooked them up around the site. Also leveraged Smart TVs already on-site by casting the app, giving it a more “official” presence.
Testing & Optimization
This wasn’t just a solo sandbox. I worked alongside site management to align the app with their daily info and safety goals. Once they saw it in action, they were on board.
People used it
It wasn’t just a nice idea — people on site genuinely engaged with it.
It Filled a Gap
Conlink gave management a new way to communicate instantly and gave workers a clear, central place to find what they needed.
Solo-built, but not siloed.
I built it myself, but made sure it integrated with the people who’d use it every day.
Construction is ready for digital — they just need tools made by people who understand the ground-level pain points
A quick MVP, even hacked together, is often enough to open new conversations
Working solo but embedded in the field is a massive advantage
Tech doesn’t need to look “techy” — it just needs to work better than paper