Voice dictation can work on a noisy construction site, but test it in the real conditions. Move away from the loudest source where possible, keep the microphone close, speak plainly and review the transcript before relying on it.
Run a site test, not a desk test
Record the same short note in the places you normally work: beside plant, inside a stairwell, in the cab, and outdoors. Include the details that cause trouble when they are wrong, such as a subcontractor name, a level, a product code and an instruction.
Then read the transcript while the context is still in front of you. A transcript that looks fine for a generic sentence may still turn "bay four" into something unhelpful. The question is whether it preserves the details your team needs, not whether it produces tidy-looking prose.
Distance and direction matter
Give the microphone the best signal you can. Face it towards your mouth, speak in short sentences and avoid talking across another conversation. If a saw, grinder or compressor is close enough to make conversation hard, it is a poor place to dictate a record.
Wind has the same effect in a different way. Turn your body, use a sheltered spot or wait for a brief pause. There is no credible universal decibel threshold or success rate for site dictation because the phone, enclosure, wind and speaker all change the result.
Slow down for the details that matter
Names, measurements, codes and abbreviations deserve a second pass. Say a name twice if it matters. Use the full term when an acronym is unfamiliar. For a safety observation or a disputed instruction, it is often better to make a short recording and a brief text note than to rely on a rushed transcription alone.
Speech tools may use prompts or vocabulary controls, but review recognised terminology before it becomes part of the daily record.
What happens with poor signal?
On poor-reception sites, test the current beta workflow for recording, transcription, synchronisation and report production before relying on it.
Do not leave an unfamiliar reporting step until the end of the shift. Trial the workflow when there is time to check the finished record.
Product features and availability can change during beta. Confirm the current workflow before relying on it for a project.
Sources and further reading
OpenAI's speech-to-text guide describes the transcription capability used by many applications. LARD's beta waitlist is the public availability page. For vocabulary-specific advice, read how transcription handles construction terminology.