The construction industry is one of the largest sectors in the world economy, yet its challenges are gaping. The sector is labor-intensive and has processes deeply set in the physical realm. Low efficiency, delayed construction and high costs are a few aspects that offer opportunities for optimisation. Digital transformation is the lever that can catapult this sector into its next wave of growth. This is where Building-Information Modelling (BIM) comes into the picture.

BIM offers the potential to view the entire project in full glory, covering all elements of design and construction, right at the pre-construction stage. Access to information at every phase has deep repercussions on the time taken for completion and overall costs incurred. Real-time information on the project fosters deep collaboration between stakeholders, helps them foresee risks, and reduces the possibility of errors.

Implementation of BIM is possible at different stages covering eight dimensions, which translates to information for all stakeholders at various depths.

The case for a BIM mandate in USA

With expenditures reaching over 1,293 billion US dollars, the United States is one of the largest construction markets worldwide. Post the pandemic-led pause, the sector is expected to bounce back with anticipated growth in the healthcare, commercial, and transportation sectors starting in 2021. The demand for housing is on a steady rise, with multi-family complex, residential projects picking up pace.

Managing this increase in workload with no significant drop in productivity would need the right technologies. Quite evidently, BIM can offer solutions for many of these incumbent challenges. Construction firms in the USA had started implementing BIM in the 1970s yet the adoption rate has been rather slow.

Even at a projected growth rate of 15.6% in 2021, the sector doesn’t yet have a national-level BIM mandate. In 2003, the US General Services Administration created the National 3D-4D-BIM Program that included a BIM adoption mandate for public building projects. Among the states, Wisconsin was the first to implement a BIM mandate for public construction projects for over a USD 5 million budget or more.

BIM mandate in the US has been challenging because there is no single federal agency that can plan and mandate BIM for all public projects. Without a mandate, BIM adoption is likely to be slower as it will be dependent on the association between construction firms, contractors, architects and other stakeholders.

For BIM adoption to grow, we must think of BIM beyond its use as a design tool and explore the depths of information that BIM models provide. The information at every stage of construction enables enhanced control over the entire project, reduced errors and risks, optimized costs, better safety and logistics and faster completion. Besides, BIM can be used in diverse construction arenas including highway and road engineering, rail and metro transportation engineering, landscape and land development, tunneling and subway architecture, offshore and marine architecture, heritage building conservation to name a few.

Even if a universal mandate is not feasible, a gradual implementation would work in the nation’s favour with federal buildings leading the way for BIM implementation. The government should refine the mandate based on its own experience with BIM. Besides, a mandate governing construction projects in the private sector may also be worthwhile, especially based on the building height, size or complexity or environmental impact. The regular revisions of the National BIM Standard-United States (NBIMS-US) will propel the adoption of BIM as a comprehensive tool for visualization, construction simulation, and facility management for any project.

While mandate implementation may take its time in the US, having defined BIM standards can facilitate faster adoption.

Adoption of BIM across the globe

With the increasing demand for urban planning and smart cities, many countries are moving faster towards BIM adoption.

The Scandinavian countries Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Denmark have been among the early adopters of BIM. In 2007, Finland implemented IFC compliance and BIM adoption for all public construction projects. Similarly, Norway adopted the BIM mandate for its state projects in 2010, followed by Denmark in 2011 and Sweden in 2015. In 2016, Norway shared an open BIM certification.

The Swedish Standards Institute has published a series of guides with the aim of promoting BIM in the country since 1991, while starting from 2014 the BIM Alliance Sweden has brought together the main public and private stakeholders, to find more resources and support construction innovation.

UK has also been a forerunner when it comes to BIM adoption. In 2011, the UK government aimed at digital transformation of the construction industry that would eventually project UK as the leader in the sector. Thus in 2016, the UK implemented a BIM Level 2 mandate for all its public construction projects. While Portugal and Spain are already going strong on BIM, France and Germany have scheduled a phased-out introduction of BIM in the last couple of years.

In Asia, Singapore was one of the first countries to adopt BIM, followed by Japan, Korea and China. In 2015, the Building and Construction Authority in Singapore had made BIM obligatory for all construction projects over 5,000 square metres. Since then, the Singapore government has witnessed a significant increase in construction productivity. In fact, the government estimates that productivity increases by up to 30% when using BIM. Australian state governments see similar benefits and some have introduced similar mandates.

These leading countries share a common goal: digitizing the construction industry to help minimize costs and ensure sustainability. A strong BIM mandate is helping them achieve this goal and build a smart nation.

Shouldn’t USA be then acing BIM too? What do you think?

The global economy has been hit with an unprecedented situation as the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19 situation continues to unfold. In a bid to contain the spread of the virus, governors across American states have issued “shelter at home” orders. People are being advised to stay at home and only people performing essential services are advised to be out. While some states, like Massachusetts, have exempted an array of construction activities from the provisions of the lockdown, it’s not business as usual for even those construction companies.

Companies are facing delays on many projects as social distancing norms and employees staying away are impacting the available human resources on site. In addition, supply chains are also being impacted by lockdowns and travel restrictions.

At this stage, companies are worried about how to get these projects back on track even as parts of the economy open up. As has been said, every crisis hides an opportunity. This crisis too has opened up the minds of construction companies to explore ways to innovate and accept technology as a way to propel their projects forward when the time comes.

Even as projects are stalled or progressing slowly, construction companies are taking the time to look for ways to make better schedules, correct designs, align the efforts of teams, and plan for resources and material requirements better. They’re looking to create a situation that will allow them to hit the ground running when a semblance of normalcy returns. And they’re looking towards technology like Building Information Modeling to do so.

Turning to technology like BIM at this time can prove fruitful for the construction industry. BIM allows easy collaboration and sharing of data in real-time among team members and provides easy access to up-to-date project information at all times, anywhere. The collection of data about on-going, but stalled, projects in BIM makes it easier to create better plans. This enables accurate decision-making that could positively impact the rest of the project lifecycle when work restarts. By incorporating integrated BIM, the carried over design clashes and constructability issues can be resolved, thereby averting costly rework or compromises as construction resumes.

How can BIM help to contribute towards saving time?

• The contractors are looking for innovative alternatives to reduce the embedded delays that inevitably creep into the project lifecycle. The building project managers are taking advantage of the lull to focus more on the preconstruction stages of the lifecycle, such as planning and designing during this quarantine phase. BIM can help designers to identify gaps and improve the design so that inefficiencies can be identified and removed to save time.

• BIM can help to encourage working and design collaboration between design consultants, engineers, and architects, along with streamlined and coordinated communication. This can help identify (and predict) possible problems in constructability or in converting the architected design into a functioning structure. This will allow the company to design well-considered workarounds for mitigation. As construction picks up again, these solutions will help reduce or eliminate the impact of the problems to save effort.

• Of course, with BIM, designers can create a comprehensive 3D model of the structure. It is well known that this allows for the detection of potential clashes that could emerge during the construction phase. Detecting these clashes early can help each team prepare their response and work better to avoid on-the-fly rework and improvisations. These take time. Better plans help to save that time and improve productivity. This will, in turn, help to speed up the process of project development.

• There are other inherent advantages of BIM that can positively impact acceleration of schedules as work picks up. For one, consider the ordering of materials. BIM models give a very accurate picture of what materials will be needed when and in exactly what quantity. This means the materials can be provisioned for use at exactly the right time for maximum efficiency. Another advantage of working with the BIM model is the collaboration due to the arrangement and updating of all documents in a single location. This single frame of reference ensures that everyone is working from the same source, preventing communication gaps and delays.

COVID-19 is testing the resilience of the American construction industry. But there’s always a new day. And when that new day dawns, technology solutions like BIM can contribute to the efforts of the construction companies that want to make up for a lost time.

An AGC survey found that 80% of all construction companies were unable to fill positions and 70% believed the situation would become worse as 2020 wears on. There’s no debate that this is a full-blown emergency.

The construction industry is unable to deliver projects on time. This holds up resources, drains cash flows, and hurts profitability. This also affects their ability to bid for other projects and hurts their reputation.

The AGC survey referred earlier revealed that many construction companies are looking towards innovative technology to tackle the shortage of skilled laborers. Technology like Building Information Modeling helps these companies become more efficient and effective -a valuable competitive advantage.

So, it’s apparent that construction companies need access to quality tech talent. But are these resources easy to find? Are they easy to keep engaged and to retain?

Truth be told, in centers away from Silicon Valley or New York, it’s hard for mid-sized construction companies to find technically-inclined people. Even the few that are there aren’t necessarily interested in building a career in construction. They want to work with peers who are equally tech-driven. They want access to the latest tools and to use their tech skills to make an impact. They seek opportunities to perform.

Organizations need to use powerful tactics to win the war for talent. Retention is driven by an understanding of what drives such top talent, such as:

• Providing opportunities for personal and professional growth.
• Leadership training programs.
• Providing opportunities and tools to enable them to perform up to their potential.
• Invest in diversity.
• Hands-on experience on up to date and cutting-edge technology.

Here’s how an organization can build a tech team, even in the face of such challenges:

1. Getting connected with tech-specialized partners: Technology is a network that extends far beyond the company or organization. Partnering with a skilled partner organization that has the experience will enable the construction company to gain insights into how technology works in their context. This will also give the tech staff within the company the opportunity to learn from industry experts. The staff of the partner firm can associate with the existing employees, including architects, designers, and project managers, and provide them hands-on exposure. This can contribute to improved methods and the opportunity for contextual learning. Allowing their tech staff to interface with the partner will help provide them opportunities to expand their high-performance horizons and allow them to feel associated with the latest technology.

2. Hiring a BIM partner: Turning to specific project delivery, hiring an expert BIM partner will offer the organization the opportunity to launch their own BIM initiative, even as they see an immediate impact from the power of BIM in live projects. The ideal BIM partner will be able to work on the BIM models and then handhold the internal team as the model gets rolled out, adopted, and modified on an ongoing basis. This high-touch engagement will allow the internal tech resources the opportunity to experience real-world issues and solutions. They can start building out the processes and workflows that would become necessary to adopt once the organization embraces BIM on a larger scale. The BIM partner’s experience of having “been there, done that” will help make that a bit easier. Of course, it becomes essential to consider the experience of the BIM partner. Also, if they can provide advice, technical knowledge, and standards documentation?

3. Foster continuous learning and career development: Organizations need to foster the aspects that matter to the tech generation like learning, training, and career development opportunities. Constant learning and development opportunities are essential in a radically changing work environment. Construction organizations should integrate continuous learning and development through academics, training sessions or workshops. Offering incentives and support to learning will attract more tech-focused people to the organization and induce the folks already there to stay on.

4. Company culture: The organization’s culture is one of the key “must-haves” for tech talent. Creating a fantastic company culture will help retain as well as attract people. Projecting vibrancy and positivity in the workplace is extremely critical to overcoming the perception that construction companies are hide-bound, boring, traditional, and backward-looking. By setting out a strong vision and creating a fearless culture, even construction organizations can appear modern and relevant.

The construction industry needs to implement a corporate culture that challenges its employees and embraces innovation. It is now incumbent on this industry to break down traditional methods and introduce new ways to resonate with young tech talents. It is also essential for these organizations to offer employees development opportunities and the room to experiment. This will enable the employee to realize their full potential and will, in turn, contribute towards the company’s growth. A potential employee should see the opportunity to boost their career and deliver up to their own expectations.

Organizations need to focus on the need to provide employees with new and exciting opportunities to learn and master their craft. Organizing and delivering practical training sessions will help the employees stay updated but they only go so far. In that context, aligning with an expert technology partner organization over the initial phases of kicking off the organization will help provide such a training context. Employees can learn while working. They can see the impact of the technology that is being rolled out. As that impact gets recognized by the rest of the organization, it also helps create the sense that the organization is willing to give tech a chance. This assures the newbie techie of the possibility of a meaningful future within the organization. That’s a powerful incentive to stay on.

Construction organizations could employ these practices to create empowering and enabling environments for their tech employees. That will help them grow a tech cadre that can drive their projects to faster and more profitable completion.

BIM or Building Information Modeling is rapidly becoming the “must-have” process for planning, designing, coordinating, constructing, and maintaining infrastructure around the world. As most here would know, BIM is an intelligent 3D modeling process that provides architects, designers and construction and development professionals with a tool to efficiently plan, design, and construct infrastructure.

Benefits of using BIM:

· Easy coordination and collaboration.

· Better choices are made earlier in the process.

· Projects progress can be tracked more comprehensively.

·Reduces construction site clashes and risks that may lead to delays during construction.

BIM or Building Information Modeling framework not only contains the design or structure of a building but also the information related to the properties of various components, its construction, and maintenance. Construction companies expect that BIM will transform how project teams work and it does just that. BIM works on the principles of – implement, enable, and execute:

1. Implement:

• Standards and procedures

• Technology

• Modeling content

2. Team enablement:

• Training and education

• Define and share objectives

3. Project execution:

• Program coordination

• Model administration

• Knowledge transfer

Steps to follow while building your  BIM infrastructure:

Step 1: Start at the ground level:

Get all the equipment in order. It is important to ensure that all the infrastructure and software are up to date and can support BIM. This includes the workflows and processes for gathering information on an ongoing basis and for disseminating insights regularly. The following questions could be taken into consideration:

• Can the systems handle the amount of data required to make the BIM software impactful?

• Is the computing infrastructure ready and available?

• Are the processes, workflows, and systems created keeping in mind the time it would take to capture data, process it, build the model, and distribute the information?

There are some practical considerations to factor in too. For instance, data storage for large projects could become a significant consideration. As BIM utilizes a large amount of information, it is important to ensure that all the information stays secure yet easy to access.

Step 2: Get to know BIM:

Assign a team of employees to learn and understand more about BIM. The focus should be, not only, on how BIM works but also on how it influences how a team works? It is essential to gain a contextual understanding of BIM, its methodologies, and its implementation.

Step 3: Assemble the right team:

Like most initiatives, it’s good to start the BIM journey with a limited scope pilot. And, like most initiatives, the success of the project depends on the right talent available. It is important to pick the right set of individuals to drive the pilot project. Here are a few qualities to look for in a candidate for the pilot BIM project:

• Experience in 3D design or has BIM exposure.

• Understands the traditional structural plan and construction management process.

• Acknowledges data and modeling techniques.

• Willing to learn new software and systems quickly.

• Able to coach other team members.

Step 4: Develop a management plan:

Adopting BIM calls for changes across various parts of the organization. Adopting a BIM strategy introduces complexity into areas beyond just the engineering drawing department. This has been called a cultural change by many. The new way of working is more transparent and well-documented. This calls for accountability and collaboration. So, the management plan to roll out BIM across the construction enterprise would have to consider several crucial questions like:

• How do the impacted teams envision BIM changing the established workflows?

• Who will require training, and when will the training be provided?

• How will the questions and issues of the employees be solved? What will be the hand-holding process? Who will be the BIM champion who inspires everyone else to come on board?

As you can see, ongoing support is the most significant item. Organizational change will happen faster and be all the more effective when the employees will adopt new approaches for working.

In that context, a significant challenge is, how to get the employees on-site to use the data and insights provided from the BIM models?  Management strategies to drive up adoption may become crucial to ensuring success.

Step 5: Document the progress:

Once the initial setup is over and processes defined, it’s crucial to capture the learnings and keep track of ongoing progress. Here are a couple of ideas to note down:

• Project data, including key contacts.

• Processes that develop to manage file exchanges, kick-off meetings, and quality control.

• The impact of BIM in defining the vision for site design and analysis.

• The impact of BIM on improving cost estimation for materials and operations.

Step 6: Get your team to speed:

The next step in the BIM transformation is leveraging the foundation already prepared. The most significant instrument of change will be the employees who have seen the magic. These BIM champions can advocate for adoption across the organization. Motivate them to provide support to the rest of the team. On-the-job training for the team members is crucial as they make the transition easy for the employees as they learn the new tool and collaboration techniques.

Step 7: Expand and innovate with BIM:

Then comes the continuous improvement phase. The aim here is to get more from the BIM strategy. Ask yourself how you can:

• Detect issues in construction and structure early and fix them beforehand.

• Demonstrate and optimize construction schedules with less material waste.

• Deliver projects on schedule and under budget.

• Control and streamline communication between all partners with one model.

• Manage and maintain facilities post-construction.

Each of these advantages will help you construct a better structure and increase profitability.

As BIM technology continues to advance and become more dominant, construction organizations know that they must prepare their teams to adapt to these changes. Change is never easy, and a step-by-step guid is the most likely approach to achieve success.

The repercussions of COVID-19 are being felt the most in the construction industry.

Some construction projects had to be delayed, while some got canceled due to the shortage of supplies such as structural steel and glass that usually comes from Asia.

Also, unlike other industries where the workforce can work remotely, construction projects required workers to work on-site.

Typically, construction companies do not rely heavily on digital tools as they are risk-averse and fragmented in nature. However, the pandemic has compelled them to leverage technology more. For example, McKinsey observed that designers and engineers are increasingly using Building Information Management (BIM) to manage projects and speed up project delivery.

With vaccines being delivered and the industry preparing for post-pandemic recovery, we foresee technology playing a central role.

Role Of Technology In Post-Pandemic Construction In The USA

1. Cloud-based collaboration tools

Due to social distancing, companies had to resort to using collaboration tools to exchange data and communicate in real-time. An integrated cloud platform enables all stakeholders to share data and information on one platform. It allows them to streamline processes and improve their productivity. The best part is the stakeholders can continue working from remote areas. They do not have to be present at the site. This saves their time and effort in completing the project. Considering that all the information is shared on a unified cloud-based platform, stakeholders can save time in to-and-fro communication and manage enterprise-wide project communications efficiently.

2. Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)

Contractors can address specific design and inspection tasks remotely by using AR and VR. To begin with, AR can be used to walk the contractors through the site to review it even if they are not present at the site. Onsite too, AR also helps contractors view the finer details of the project. All they have to do is hold a smartphone or tablet with the camera facing the site. They can see the scaled-up version of the site and see things that cannot be viewed through the naked eye. VR, on the other hand, helps contractors to remotely train workers even as they work on the site. Most importantly, AR and VR help companies to save money on costly mistakes by detecting errors ahead of time.

3. BIM The World Economic Forum praised BIM for its contribution to transforming the construction industry during COVID-19. Although BIM has been used by the industry for decades, its benefit became even more apparent during the lockdown. It enabled the stakeholders to continue progress even though they were working from remote areas. They were able to plan projects better, mitigate risks, and streamline operations and maintenance. All the information from the

field was updated in real-time into BIM models, making it easier for the stakeholders to monitor the project’s progress. We anticipate an uptick in the usage of BIM models for smarter planning and designing of the buildings.

4. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation

Like every industry, the construction industry also reported productivity concerns due to social distancing norms and lockdowns. Post-pandemic, the construction industry will be under immense pressure to improve its productivity. That’s where AI and automation will help. Companies can leverage AI to automate many of their processes such as scheduling tasks. So, the work can continue even without human intervention. The tasks will be completed on time without any error. AI can also be used to streamline process workflows, do safety inspections, and ensure the overall quality of the project. In a nutshell, AI can help improve the overall process management in the project. According to Accenture, AI can increase industry profits by 71% by 2035.

5. Data analytics

Data analytics empowers companies to gain a competitive advantage. It enables them to analyze historical data and current data and use it to predict important future outcomes. Using data analytics will help companies to anticipate issues and prepare for them to mitigate risks. Given the enormous losses faced by the industry during the pandemic, data analytics will be a perfect option to help companies streamline their processes and fix problems proactively to avoid further losses. It enables the stakeholders to take proactive decisions instead of reactive ones like they are accustomed to doing normally. Apart from that, data analytics helps stakeholders to determine better budgets and schedules aligned with the scope of the project.

Technology will reshape the way the construction industry functions. According to the United States Chamber of Commerce, 70% of contractors believe that using technology will help them improve productivity and the safety of workers. It will enable them to reduce costs, manage projects efficiently, streamline the construction process, and accelerate the speed of delivering the project. With the right choice of technology, support from an expert partner, and the commitment of the workers, construction companies will be more future-ready and better prepared to face situations like the pandemic. A digital transformation could be coming for a so-far traditional industry like construction.

Digital transformation has swept into the construction industry, with powerful solutions like BIM experiencing widespread adoption. Reports state the BIM market may grow at a CAGR of 15% in the next 4 years. In a sector where challenges across profitability, project management, worker safety, and risk management are rife, BIM opens up new ways of approaching the design and documentation of various types of building projects. By delivering an intelligent digital representation of the physical and functional characteristics of a facility, it empowers designers, installers, and cost consultants to take a comprehensive view of the actual elements of a construction project. This has long been known to help companies optimize material costs, plan (and deliver) projects better, and be more sustainable. This post isn’t about that though. It’s about how BIM can help them win more bids!

Read on to find out how!

Opening doors to a new way of project management

BIM is so much more than just a point technology system; it is a complex design and construction platform that provides architects, engineers, and construction professionals the insight and tools needed to plan, design, construct, and manage the infrastructure while creating innovative buildings of the future.

The numerous benefits BIM offers are well known, but bear repeating just the same for the impact they could have on bid preparation and economic success:

• Improves communication and collaboration between construction workers and managers while paving the way for greater efficiency making time estimates easier and more predictable.
• Enhances estimation across materials, shipping, labor, and more – making costs more predictable and manageable
• Eliminates on-site rework, saves time thereby keeping committed schedules on track, budgets in check, and maximizing ROI
• Streamlines the construction workflow while reducing the chances of human error, project delays, and costly repairs making it easier to bid with confidence
• Supports easy interoperability and flexibility, and facilitates customization for higher quality results thus increasing the transparency of progress monitoring and providing early warnings of things going off track and the reason for the delay
• Aids in the timely and successful execution of complex construction projects by improving communication between all the stakeholders and establishing a single frame of reference

Shorter project lifecycles = more opportunities to close

Of all the capabilities that modern BIM systems offer, the key promise of the solution in the context of making plans and estimates is the same: to shorten the construction project lifecycle and bring predictability to the process. This means many things:

• Better collaboration: BIM technology is key to bagging more projects in an increasingly competitive industry. Cloud-based BIM solutions allow designers and engineers to unlock efficiencies through a centralized project management system.   By always staying on the page, they can be updated about the latest timelines and budget, work together to resolve errors in real-time while avoiding costly mistakes and reducing rework. Fewer errors and rework can help construction companies project a more professional image and build customer trust that can lead to stronger ongoing relationships.
• A single source of truth: Since all relevant information, including models, estimates, and design notes are stored in a single repository, architects and engineers no longer have to engage in back-and-forth calls and emails to discuss issues and opportunities. They can refer to a single source of truth to make critical decisions and improve the speed and efficiency with which they bring projects to closure. Providing this degree of transparency about ongoing work to the project owners (developers, government agencies, etc.) can be a great differentiator.
• Standardized workflows: Through streamlined workflows, BIM helps in creating and managing all of the information on a project – before, during, and after construction. Such standardization eliminates the need for engineers to depend on manual or repetitive tasks to progress the project through its lifecycle, helping accelerate the speed and accuracy with which projects are completed. The project owners get access to the most complete and updated information at all times in an easy to visualize manner, showing you in the best possible light.
• Streamlined risk management: The ability to construct buildings based on the most up-to-date plans and workflow makes visualizing problems easier. Since BIM allows contractors to virtually construct projects, they are in a better position to identify roadblocks and plan for workarounds – before construction starts. You can not only predict potential construction hazards; they can also prevent them by adjusting the design. This is an obvious advantage for project delivery, but highlighting problems early in the cycle in such a transparent manner can also help the project owners make decisions on project expansions, future phases, etc., and open up new opportunities.
• Faster construction: Because BIM allows companies to create interactive models that clearly state how the project will look in the real world, it enables better visualizations and transparent project details. Because these models are a true reflection of the actual project, it helps in removing doubt while enabling faster decision-making. Companies can accelerate the design process while saving substantial time in construction. What’s more, finishing a project on time (or before time) speeds up eventual ROI as the structure can be used immediately. Your reputation improves, resources get freed up, and cash flows get unlocked, all of which can help in getting more business.

Obviously, there is no doubt about the fact that BIM delivers immense value to construction companies: right from improved quality and function of design, increased understanding of solutions, better collaboration and documentation, better planning, improved productivity, and more. BIM 3D models and real-world representations make it easy to visualize the project. These benefits help in eliminating the chances of construction issues, delays, and rework, and allowing companies to finish projects faster, but BIM also helps companies win more bids, and set themselves up for success.

COVID-19 has hit the US construction sector hard. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Marketing Index showed a steepest monthly decline among home builders in thirty years. But even as states open up and others designate construction as “essential” there are other problems looming.

According to the AGC survey, the construction sector is hit by a labor shortage. As it becomes necessary to ensure that the workers follow social distancing norms, it may become harder to staff project completely. Then, there is also a significant disruption in the supply chain that could impact projects.

In the face of such challenges, companies will have to think of ideas to compensate for the lost time and accelerate the speed of completing the projects. Construction companies would do well to turn to technology for help. But is there anything more they can do? Is there a solution out there that can add as a force multiplier for their efforts? Perhaps, yes.

Companies can leverage remote teams for work that does not require an on-site presence on the construction sites to ensure accelerated completion of work.

How Can Remote Teams Help In Accelerating Projects?

Remote working in the construction industry might seem like an unlikely setup. But with communication, collaboration, and project management tools at the company’s disposal, remote working has become a reality for construction companies. Here are a few things that construction companies can do to accelerate the completion of their projects while working with remote teams.

1.      Adopt the tele-building concept

Way before COVID-19 compelled construction companies to think of new ways to work, a company called OpenSpace used a photo-documentation solution to enable builders to walk through the construction site with a camera in hand. These photos are then uploaded and organized in a Google Street View type of a vista. That allows remote workers to view the construction site from anywhere. OpenSpace has also come up with a solution called tele-building, which is akin to telehealth where the inspectors, superintendents, and project managers can view the high-quality images of the site, thus reducing in-person visits and saving time and money for the company.

2.      Leverage BIM

BIM, as most know, is a digital representation of the physical and functional characteristics of a facility. It provides the designers, installers, and consultants with a comprehensive view of the project. It provides support with interoperability, flexibility, and customization, which can help companies to build better plans, organize the efforts of teams better, estimate material requirements more proactively, and drive more clearly aligned on-site delivery. This will help them save their time and lead to successful execution – an imperative in the current times. With BIM, companies can create comprehensive construction documentation, which can guide the designers, architects, and contractors to follow the sequences and ensure an error-free execution. And of course, the BIM models could be created by remote teams. For small and mid-sized construction companies, this is an even more significant benefit since they can access the top experts in the space without being constrained by location. In fact, this opens up promising collaborative avenues for such small and mid-sized construction companies. In areas like BIM, they can choose to ally with partners who have the expertise and experience to support them. This team can support the on-site construction remotely and amplify the overall impact.

3.      Use next-gen technologies

Rapid innovation is the order of the day, and technology is one enabler that can make it possible. Apart from BIM, construction companies must use next-gen technologies such as AR, VR, and Drones to stay ahead of the curve and to reduce the need for going onsite. Technologies such as AR and VR can help the offsite extended construction team to detect errors early on and resolve them before they become expensive mistakes. It also helps optimize the workforce as these technologies can create scaled virtual models of the site, which can be evaluated easily by the remote team.  Drones can fly around to monitor and deliver supplies. Some construction companies are also considering using robots to automate basic tasks at the site. As is the norm today, these high-tech devices can be operated and controlled extremely effectively from offsite locations.

4.      Comply with safety standards

While a lot of work can be done remotely, workers will always be needed on the site. Companies have to ensure that these workers are safe and that they comply with the safety guidelines laid down by the government. Companies can provide project managers and directors with access to software that can provide them with data on safety procedures followed in the site and maintain safety remotely based on the data received. On-site information could be gathered by smart wearables using the latest Internet of Things (IoT) technology that enables these remote managers to access the most current information to enable better monitoring, tracking, and compliance.

These are strange times. But that will not prevent companies from starting construction work again. Companies have to adjust to the new normal and find ways to complete the projects. It’s now crucial to embrace digitization. But no one believes that this will be easy. We would recommend choosing collaboration tools that will help the architects, designers, engineers, and other important stakeholders to collaborate with each other while working remotely. Companies will also need to train employees to adapt to digital tools and learn to use them to their advantage. Considering that technology may well be the primary driver of productivity, bringing about a mindset change may become imperative to ensure the smooth functioning of routine tasks. Of course, this is hard to do without expert support. We, at Excelize Services, have been helping companies to embrace the power of BIM so that they can complete their projects on time in a cost-effective way. We offer a winning combination of onshore and offsite support to enable construction companies to adopt the best technology and kick off their own technology initiatives to achieve challenging business goals.

Technology has transformed the way industries and companies operate. The construction industry is one of the biggest sectors globally with an expected output of $12.7 trillion by 2022. As it happens, the sector is being hit by a new wave of technologies that could transform construction.

Yet, the sector has been somewhat slow to adapt to technological advancements. And this shows in the results too. Unfortunately, the construction industry has gained just 1% productivity in the previous 20 years. That’s compared to over 3% for other major sectors in the economy. The low growth in productivity could be attributed to the inability to adapt to technology. Don’t believe us?

A McKinsey report on reinventing construction says, “Productivity, or the total economic output per worker, has remained flat in construction. In comparison, productivity has grown by 1500 % in retail, manufacturing, and agriculture since 1945. One of the reasons for this is that construction is one of the most under-digitized industries in the world and is slow to adopt new technologies.”

So, why this reluctance to adopt technology? Some issues faced by the U.S. construction industry are:
• Shortage of labor
• Shortage of technology talent willing to work in construction
• Archaic processes that hinder collaboration, reporting, and analysis

Issues like these are making it hard for construction organizations to keep up with the technology wave. Here are three technology waves that will pass you by if you don’t address these issues in your organization:

1. Building Information Modeling (BIM)

Building Information Modeling (BIM) has revolutionized the way the construction industry executes projects. BIM is more than just 3D modeling. The 7D BIM caters to both physical and functional aspects of a structure along with considering the cost and schedule of the project. It also helps in streamlining and collaborating information and making it available in real-time for all the involved parties. The easy accessibility of the data – the blueprint, design, 3D model of the structure, as-built; helps in saving valuable resources during construction and in the maintenance phase too. Companies are saving big, delivering on time, and building better projects with implementing BIM. Owing to this, many countries like UK, Germany, and Norway have mandated the use of BIM for public infrastructure projects.

Implementing BIM successfully depends upon the ability to understand and leverage the technology. It would help if you had experts to work on the software and to give you maximum impact. The benefits of BIM could be lost to you if you are unable to build up a team of skilled professionals who are equipped with BIM knowledge.

1. Automation and Robotics

As the construction industry is slowly moving towards digitization, one cannot overlook the role of robotics and automation in this field. The U.S. construction industry reported over 200,000 unfulfilled construction job positions (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Companies are focusing their attention on robotics and automation to try to reduce the dependence on human workers.

Robotics and automation will help companies cut operational costs, increase efficiency in repetitive tasks, and improve output and productivity both on-site and off-site during a construction project.

Of course, automation and robotics demand a sound data framework for the construction site with comprehensive, accurate, and current data about what’s going on. Proactive planning becomes key. And many of these demand a stable and reliable model to function effectively.

1. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Artificial intelligence is the term coined for machines that mimic intelligence and human cognitive functions. Machine learning is a subset of artificial intelligence that uses statistical techniques to allow computers to learn from the data they are fed. There’s a humungous amount of data generated in a construction project, and the future success of such projects could depend upon the efficient utilization and execution of this data.

There’s a vast potential for machine learning and artificial intelligence in the construction industry. Machines can act as smart assistants that can analyze and scrutinize the copious amount of data and alert project managers about issues that need immediate attention, thereby saving time on on-site changes. AI can help drive better planning by factoring in an array of conditions that are difficult to build in manually. Resource mobilization, estimates, schedule planning, etc. are other areas that AI can play a key role in.

Of course, AI and ML demand data. Comprehensive data is essential to train the models for ever-greater accuracy. Without that, the models could fall flat in the real world.

The construction industry has always sailed close to the wind. The overruns and rework during the construction phase have been robbing construction companies of their profits. But today, companies that are successfully adopting and implementing technological innovations are seeing improved productivity and profitability. Are you ready to adopt technology to improve your results too?

The USA construction industry is facing labor shortages. As per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 200,000 positions in the construction industry lie unfilled. This happened after the industry went through a cycle of shrinkage over the past decade. A report by Deloitte states that the labor shortages are reaching crisis proportions and are expected to continue through 2019 as well. Also, the productivity growth in the construction industry in the past two decades averaged just about 1%. This is 1/3^rd of the growth which the rest of the global economy averaged during the same period.

And that is not the only issue with the industry. A report from McKinsey & Co. finds that “While many U.S. sectors including agriculture and manufacturing have increased productivity ten to 15 times since the 1950s, the productivity of construction remains stuck at the same level as 80 years ago.”

In this scenario, construction firms run the risk of responding late to market needs, losing essential project bids, and being unable to innovate.

This is where BIM enters the stage. BIM offers a ready answer to make construction planning and execution more proactive and data-driven.

And yes, the use of BIM is on the rise in projects in the country. But given the lack of skilled resources companies in the USA are adopting an onsite + offshore model for successful BIM implementation. The BIM models are created offshore, and the onsite team consumes them as the project gets built. Feedback loops and regular communications ensure timely updates and always accurate models.

Here’s why it works:

1. Time-Saving – Going for an Onshore and Offshore Model for BIM projects helps provide quality work within the stipulated timeframe. This can be achieved by distributing the resources between the onshore and offshore teams and assigning them special subtasks in the project. Companies can save valuable time by assigning the work to offshore consultants instead of finding new resources and training them, which can take several weeks, months, or even years.

Moreover, the construction industry may take time to understand and adopt new technologies. Offshore teams would be well-versed with the latest technologies, accelerating startup time.

1. Cost-Effective – This one is a no-brainer. By outsourcing BIM projects to an offshore expert, the design and development costs can be reduced significantly. Think of it this way, companies don’t have to hire additional resources comprising of trained experts or, hire fresh talent and spend time and money to train them for bringing them up to speed. Moreover, the outsourcing firm will provide services and dedicated resources at a transparent rate. This helps construction firms budget well by taking other costs into consideration. Of course, there is also the benefit of scalability. Offshore teams typically have the capacity to add resources, if a project needs to be accelerated or if more work needs to be done. This team can be ramped down after that phase if accomplished. That’s much harder to do if the resources are in-house.

Another reason for going for an offshore team is to save on the purchase of expensive special-purpose software licenses. By partnering with leading BIM consulting firms, firms may be able to avoid investing in certain software/tools/technologies that are required for model creation.

1. More Expertise and Reduced Errors – Increasing complexities of projects can make construction design harder and more involved. Offshore firms that possess the relevant BIM expertise can cut through this complexity and create a comprehensive, transparent, and actionable model. This model can then become the basis for collaboration between a variety of teams onsite. This will help make construction more efficient, hand-offs smoother, collaboration more seamless, and improve overall safety.
2. Focus on Core Business – Next up, the onshore + offshore business model can help firms focus more on their execution strength. A construction project demands extreme degrees of project management capabilities and an evolved execution skills. This is where construction companies can get maximum bang for the buck. This is the area that has the greatest impact on project profitability and it makes sense for the construction company to focus on that.

With the global population predicted to hit 9 billion by 2050, two out of three people will be living in a city. It stands to reason that the demand for construction will always be high. Especially in evolved economies like the USA, the question is not whether there will be growth. The question for construction companies is, will that growth be manageable and profitable?

An onshore + offshore BIM model may be the way forward to achieve that. The model offers increased productivity, reduced costs, better collaboration, and access to expertise. This is the easiest way for construction companies in the USA to scale. And to thrive.