How Hickory rapidly scaled to 14+ projects without losing control.

Managing construction is hard enough. Add international manufacturing, multiple projects running in parallel, and disconnected reporting systems  and the complexity compounds quickly.

For Hickory, one of Australia’s fastest-growing builders, that complexity was becoming a real barrier to speed and clarity on site. Known for delivering high-profile projects like The Regatta at Collins Wharf and Park Quarter in Melbourne, Hickory needed a better way to stay on top of thousands of moving parts.

“With 3 or 4 projects, you can probably manage things in Excel,” said Craig Hunter. “But once you’re working across more sites, with international supply involved, it’s a different story.”

As Hickory took on more work and complexity grew, so did the limitations of spreadsheets. 

The team needed to coordinate between local construction crews and offshore manufacturers. And without a consistent way to track progress and materials, back-and-forth was constant.

“It’s really difficult to just have a standard way of reporting,” Craig explained. “And when you throw international supply chains into the mix, you definitely need a system to help manage that.”

Hickory manufactures its own facade panels in China, shipping them to projects across Australia. Every panel needs to be tracked from production, into containers, onto ships, and through to installation and final QA.

“At every stage, we need to know where the panels are,” said Jad Farah who is responsible for xxxx. “We install them and conduct QA through Matrak.”

With Matrak, Hickory connects its global supply chain to its site teams in real time. Everyone sees the same information, whether they’re in the factory, on site, or in the office. And because site teams use it daily, that data flows both ways, creating one source of truth.

“I can pull out my phone and tell you exactly what’s going on with our windows or precast panels — in real time,” said Jad.

Craig and Jad both emphasise how easy Matrak is for teams on the ground.

“The app itself is intuitive. It’s built for people in the field,” Craig said.

For Jad, that means being able to collect and share information clearly and confidently.

“I love being able to do what I have to do quickly, and then present it to a client or my boss in a way that’s clear and simple,” he said.

With Matrak’s capability to visualise items on a plan, rather than in rows of spreadsheets, Hickory’s site teams can identify issues earlier, move faster, and avoid delays.\

This isn’t just about tracking materials. It’s about reducing friction. Matrak helps Hickory simplify communication, align every stakeholder, and avoid the inefficiencies that come from using disconnected systems.

With a clear line of sight from factory to site, Hickory’s team is more in control, more proactive, and better equipped to deliver high-quality builds at pace.

Want to see how Matrak can help your team do the same? Get in touch here.