The construction industry is facing numerous challenges in a fast-paced world. From the need to innovate and digitise, to the impact of changing technology on business models and processes, there’s much to consider when it comes to ensuring your construction firm is future-proof.
In this article, we’ll be exploring how technology can help you become more sustainable in today’s world, as well as looking at some of the smart construction technologies and innovations on the market now that could change the way your businesses operate.
Challenges facing the construction industry today
The construction industry today is facing many challenges, such as:
- An ongoing shortage of skilled workers
- The rise of new technologies that are outpacing current equipment and tools. For example, drones are widely used in the field, but these drones may not have a standard way to share information with other drones on the same site (they use different protocols).
- The increased cost of project management – all parties involved need to be connected and updated constantly throughout a project’s life cycle. This can also lead to delays when information doesn’t flow smoothly through all parties’ systems; this results in increased costs as well as wasted time and resources due to miscommunication – something that becomes even more challenging when you’re working across multiple geographic locations.
Can construction businesses survive ambiguity?
Construction companies are no stranger to ambiguity. The very nature of construction businesses means that teams have to anticipate a multitude of unknowns. It can be argued that the very success or failure of your business depends on your ability to successfully manage these uncertainties.
For you to get an edge over your competition and increase your chances of future success, businesses need tools and technology that can help overcome these challenges and predict them in advance. There are many different ways that technology can do this:
- Technology can help construction companies plan better by enabling them to make more accurate predictions about future costs and revenues. This is especially important when dealing with large projects which may take years before completion (and thus require long-term financing).
- Technology also helps construction companies optimise their processes so they become more efficient at executing tasks such as resource allocation or scheduling activities like production runs or project execution phases.
How can I future-proof construction businesses?
Future-proofing is a process of planning and taking action to ensure that your business will be able to thrive in the future. To future-proof, you need to think about what might happen in the next five to ten years, then plan out how you can handle those potential changes.
In construction, there are several ways you can future-proof your business:
- Make sure you have the right team. Whether it’s skilled workers or management staff, make sure they know their roles and responsibilities as well as how they contribute to the overall success of your company.
- Use new technologies to improve your business processes and operations (and don’t forget about cybersecurity). For example, artificial intelligence has been used to improve workplace safety at construction sites. AI is used to monitor the interactions of assets, machineries, and workers real-time and to alert managers of potential hazards, errors, and wastages on-site.
- Think about how technology can help automate certain tasks so employees spend less time doing manual work which could lead them to spend more time on strategic thinking instead – this allows them to be more productive by working smarter rather than harder when trying to get ahead of schedule deadlines.
How does technology enable construction firms during uncertain times?
Construction is one of the most affected industries by the recent COVID-19 pandemic, economic downturns, and climate-change-related events. With construction companies navigating these challenges, how can technology help them get back on their feet? The answer lies in smart construction technologies that are helping construction businesses optimise workflows, manage costs and reduce risks.
How does construction management software work?
Construction management software works by allowing users access to an online database where projects are stored as documents with sections for each stage of development – planning, design, procurement etc. This enables users at any point on any given project (with access through secure logins) to know exactly what needs to be actioned on site at any time.
The system is designed to be intuitive and easy to use, with a familiar interface that makes it easy for users to find what they need. The software can also be integrated with other systems to make it easier for users who have experience working with those systems already. The software can be accessed through a web browser, or via an app on mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones.
Let’s look at some examples:
- Construction management software helps project managers manage their tasks and resources more effectively. For example, construction management software platforms like PlanRadar allow you to access all building-related information in one place including models and designs, enabling your people to identify inefficiencies and spot opportunities for growth. To learn more about how PlanRadar helps you to integrate and manage your real estate and construction projects, you can try the app for free or contact us here.
- BIM (Building Information Modeling) allows for better collaboration between stakeholders such as architects, engineers, and contractors so they can work together seamlessly from start to finish.
- Project scheduling software automatically generates schedules based on plans or drawings, so that there is no need for manual effort on this front either – saving time and money while also ensuring quality control.
1. Building Information Modeling (BIM)
A 3D model of your building is a powerful tool that allows you to visualise and share the design with all stakeholders. BIM allows you to create and share a 3D model of the building and all its components.
In addition, BIM is a collaborative tool that helps everyone involved in the construction process to work together—from architects, designers, engineers, and builders through supply chains—to identify potential issues before they become problems. This means less time wasted on redoing site tasks or tracking defects.
2. Project management software for construction businesses
Construction management software refers to any software platform that helps you organise and manage all the moving parts of your construction project.
- It allows you to assign tasks to different members of your team, so everyone knows what they need to do on any given day.
- It allows you to track the progress of each task, so that nobody gets left behind or confused about their role in the project.
- You can easily see how long it will take for each part of a job to complete, which makes it easy for your customers and stakeholders to understand project site progress and reduce the risk of any delays.
3. Construction scheduling software (CS)
Construction scheduling software (CS) is a software solution that allows companies to manage their project schedules and budgets, as well as the performance of their workers. It’s used in nearly every industry, but especially in construction as it helps keep track of all the moving parts that go into any given build.
The basic idea behind CS is this: since projects require many different tradespeople, who often specialise in specific tasks, each crew member has a certain number of hours or days they’re expected to work on the site at any given point during construction. CS uses this information along with space constraints and other variables (such as weather) to ensure that everyone stays on task and meets deadlines without running out of materials or getting paid too much overtime.
Conclusion
The construction industry is changing and evolving rapidly, and it’s important to make sure that your business is adapting to the changes, using technology so that your team does not get left behind in a rapidly changing market. If you are looking to get started with a construction management software or BIM model for your construction projects, you can start your 30-day free PlanRadar trial here.
