Construction Project Management: Technology makes life easy, but the impact goes far beyond simplifying everyday tasks. If you think at a broader level, it is transforming industries and the way they work. The impact of innovation is immense in all segments, and construction is not an exception. In fact, new technologies are literally transforming every process and operation in the segment, making things a lot simpler than they ever were.
According to McKinsey, construction technology firms have generated investment funding worth $10 billion from 2011 through early 2017.
From Construction Project Management Software that offers ready access for the stakeholders to crucial documents to cost control apps that enable tight budgeting and autonomous equipment to handle the design and build processes on-site, a lot is happening on the ConTech front. Things are all set to get only bigger in the future, and not embracing innovation means that your construction business will lose the competitive edge.
Let us explain what ConTech is all about and why no business should miss out on the bus!
What is construction technology- Understanding the concept
Just like the industry is complex, construction technology has much broader coverage than you expect. It is essentially a collection of innovative software, tools, equipment, and modifications that bring advancement in field construction methods. It is currently finding use in all kinds of projects, from small residential buildings to large industrial plants.
Technology is making inroads into the domain in the most fascinating ways. An increased use of prefabricated parts, automation of processes with advanced Construction Project Management Software, relying oncomputers to design buildings and switching to green technology for eco-friendly construction are only a few instances.
Why must construction businesses absolutely leverage technology?
Now that you can imagine the potential of construction technology, you will probably want to dig deeper for understanding the viability of the investment. Year after year, new advances are making breakthroughs that enable project managers to deliver bigger, taller, and stronger structures. Let us explain how innovation can empower businesses to improve on different fronts of projects.
Better productivity
The construction domain is a complex and resource-intensive one, and productivity is a big concern for firms and project managers alike. A lack of productivity often translates into cost overruns and delays in projects, which are the last things you would want to encounter. Thankfully, technology has the right answers. For example, Construction Project Management Software empowers managers with better communication, simpler scheduling, and tighter control over various processes. Together, these factors account for higher productivity.
Offsite construction is another way businesses are using technology to enhance productivity. This method increases worker productivity and reduces waste by replicating the environment of a manufacturing plant. Offsite construction is of two types, modular and prefabrication. Modular construction involves the creation of entire sections offsite, and these are transported and attached to the main building later. Prefabrication, on the other hand, involves the creation of smaller components like frames, wall panels, and floor systems, which are assembled on-site.
Training and safety
Another area where construction technologies are making an impact is training and safety. Innovations such as augmented reality and virtual reality are used for training the workers and giving them a life-like perspective on risks, which enhances on-site safety to a significant extent. These virtual training apps are specifically useful in such as operating cranes and other heavy equipment, which workers need to be confident about before working in real conditions.
Wearable technology is also improving worker safety with constant monitoring of their movements and defining hazards at the job site. Similarly, geofencing lets safety supervisors earmark the dangerous and restricted areas that pose hazards to the workers. Drone technology enables better supervision of sites with lesser time and effort. Together, these technologies help in the prediction and prevention of accidents even before they happen.
Labour shortages
One of the biggest problems in the industry is the lack of skilled labourers, but thankfully technology is helping in this aspect as well. It lets businesses work without interruptions and save labour costs with the use of robots, Artificial Intelligence, and autonomous machinery. Robots can easily take up simple repetitive tasks such as tying rebar and bricklaying. While they reduce the dependency on human workers, the jobs get faster and error-free too.
With autonomous equipment, it is possible to carry out cumbersome tasks such as excavation and grading work all day long, even without requiring expert operators to handle them. Additionally, Construction Project Management Software helps managers get more with less with better scheduling of shifts for the available workers.
Considering the immense potential of new-age construction technologies, they definitely make a worthy investment for any business. Embracing them is the key to boosting profits, enhancing work quality, and driving overall growth for your business. If you are still having your doubts about the investment, you should do it sooner rather than later!
Summary
Technology is fast-making inroads into the construction domain and has immense potential for enhancing projects. It can boost productivity on sites, make them safer, and curb the effects of the labour shortage.
