Despite the fact that the population continues to grow, and the construction sector is expanding, the growth of its digitization remains very slow.

In reality, most construction sites, as large as they are, operate with the same processes used sixty years ago.

Fortunately, these last few years have marked a change of trend, as we realize that technology and communication are both essential for tracking progress and building better.

 

Build in a smarter way

To build smartly, general contractors – encouraged by technological advances and expansion of construction activities – are starting to use ‘Internet of Things’ technology more and more to automate their manual processes and improve the management of their sites.

Sensors, wearable devices and software make it possible to collect data and visualize operations at the construction site in a less expensive and more efficient way, in order to improve productivity and safety within the construction site.

To keep up with these fast-paced construction methods, engineering consulting firms need to undergo their own digital transformation. Field supervisors will have to be more efficient in doing their tasks to ensure that work is being done according to plans and specifications. Whether it be daily field reporting, scheduling & cost tracking or as built drawings, there is room for optimization.

 

When entrepreneurship and technological advances go hand in hand!

In order to create technologies that will improve construction methods, tech providers need to have a good understanding of the industry,  its environmental factors, and  its operating processes to cope with barriers and potential resistance.

It is important to ask the right questions to put clients at the heart of the product development process so that it can meet their expectations. To do this, there are several qualitative and quantitative research methods, including questionnaires, interviews and focus groups.

In the short term, undergoing a digitizing transformation in the construction industry will centralize the data and provide faster and more efficient ways of functioning in construction sites.

In the future, the use of technologies such as machine learning and artificial intelligence will enable construction professionals to use information to predict specific outcomes and ultimately build smarter.