I’m not going to lie to you — digital transformation in construction is tough. Coming from a family of builders, I know how high the hopes were. It promised to make us better. We were told that technology would cut costs, make us more efficient, and make our sites safer. So why have we not transformed?
We’re a unique industry. We’ve been around forever, and we’re rooted in our ways of doing things. Construction has always been both dynamic and complex, and that hasn’t changed since the Romans built the Colosseum. So, integrating technology into construction sites needs to overcome some cultural, human and infrastructural challenges.
But, what keeps the past winning over a bright future of digital transformation? Here are a few reasons:
Reason #1: It’s not that we don’t want to change, but change is difficult
The construction industry has always relied on manual processes and established practices, and that makes it difficult for us to embrace new technologies. Resistance starts with lack of awareness, fear of losing human jobs to a machine, a reluctance to move away from the way we’re used to doing things or fears about the actual time and money it takes to implement new tech.
Overcoming these fears and challenges requires a technology that is easy to deploy, doesn’t require many resources, and brings tangible, clear benefits to both workers and management.
Reason #2: We’re used to handling all the complicated and complex stuff
Architects, engineers, contractors, subcontractors… The list goes on and on. With so many stakeholders on each project, it makes collaboration and coordination complicated and difficult, let alone thinking about bringing in a digital solution.
Interoperability issues, data sharing concerns, and the lack of standardized practices makes it even more challenging. The only way to cut through the chaos is to implement a technology solution that can seamlessly integrate with existing systems and data flows.
Reason #3: “Show me the money”
We’re in the business of complexity. Each construction project has unique site conditions, changing specifications, and complicated supply chain. Integrating technology into such dynamic environments can be challenging.
Technology solutions that are highly customizable, scalable, and can seamlessly integrate with existing IT infrastructure and workflows are the only ones that can meet the needs of diverse construction projects and ensure a quick and powerful adoption.
Reason #4: We’re not used to using technology at work
We all use technology everyday in our private lives. But we’re not used to navigating complex construction tech software and tools at work. There is a gap that needs to be bridged. That can be achieved with plug-and-play, easy-to-use solutions built around the culture and best practices of construction companies.
For workers at all levels to adopt technology, just as they do in their personal lives, solutions need to be quick to implement, intuitive to use and feel natural to adopt. This will help streamline processes, get things done faster, and leave a trail of jaw-dropping efficiency behind. Each worker will quickly realize they have a construction superhero sidekick, but in the form of kickass technology.
Reason #5: Our projects are complex by nature
We’re in the business of complexity. Each construction project has unique site conditions, changing specifications, and supply chains that can make your headspin. Integrating technology into such dynamic environments can be challenging.
Technology solutions that are highly customizable, scalable, and can seamlessly integrate with existing IT infrastructure and workflows are the only ones that can meet the needs of diverse construction projects and ensure a quick and powerful adoption.
So, how does the construction industry overcome these challenges?
I don’t think anyone in the industry would argue that technology solutions and tools are a must to improve efficiency and safety. The question has always been — ‘how?’.
The term ‘Construction Intelligence’ and the complex systems it often involves can definitely sound overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be. Adopting technology into a construction site can, and should be easy, for the people who work on it. It can offer tangible digital transformation with zero-intrusion to workflows while requiring minimum resources.
Introducing the most effective IOT approach
Built for builders by builders, Trusstor created the simplest IoT wearables approach, fully accessible and usable for everyone, that combines advanced oversight and reporting capabilities. This solution seamlessly and non-intrusively integrates into the on-site working environment, giving the ability to track workers and equipment through every square foot of the site. This gives transparent visibility of everywhere people are (or are not) working.
Everything is plug and play, so no need for existing communications infrastructure, cables and power supplies. And Trusstor can integrate with and use data from all your existing IT systems. This keeps your people safer, better equipped and well-informed — allowing them to solve problems before they develop into a crisis.
Trusstor empowers builders to instantly cut costs, optimize efficiency and raise safety standards, through more-knowledgeable-than-ever decision making, real-time crisis control and daily on-site problem solving. The result is a confident leap to digital transformation, one that shows immediate ROI.
To find out how Trusstor can deliver the advanced oversight, reporting and analysis capabilities needed to enable one single source of truth of how a build site is, and should be, performing click here to schedule a demo — https://trusstor.com/contact/
