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.

With the world becoming progressively more digitalized, it is now critically important that construction and AEC companies join that race too. The construction sector must recognize and understand the significance of implementing versatile construction technologies for business impact.

The construction industry is evolving every year, which implies that companies need innovative technology-based solutions that will assist them in adapting to the continually changing needs of their customers and to face up to the challenges of the new age. The business is competitive, economic conditions are inconsistent, cash flow is always tight, and profitability is constrained.

But even as the construction industry is considering embracing technology it is not exempt from the difficulties of adopting these new advanced digital technologies. To choose and adopt an advanced technology suitable for such traditional organizations is usually a long and rocky road. There’s a tricky balance to be maintained here. This post is about that balance.

As the complexity of construction projects increases, companies that are enhancing and incorporating these new technological advancements and digital tools into their organizations are setting themselves up for success in the future. Those that refuse to innovate and adapt and continue to work the same way; they are likely to struggle to keep pace.

Building Information Modelling and project management software, and the growing capabilities of mobile devices can help construction companies with scheduling, planning, and estimation. The coming together of these solutions can enhance communication and collaboration between teams. This can help construction companies deliver better quality projects, in a shorter time, and with optimized effort outlays. Better estimation can help reduce waste. Better communication and collaboration can reduce clashes and rework. All of this can lead to better effectiveness, greater efficiency, and higher profitability.

Drones and wearable can be used to monitor workers and ongoing work and keep people safe on construction sites. VR can be used to train workers in safe conditions. Robots and other equipment will allow workers to be more productive by easing some of the strenuous tasks. These technologies can help construction become safer, improve compliance with rules and regulations, and also be more green and sustainable.

The advantages of implementing innovative construction technology include:

· Avoid costly errors
· Increase in revenue
· Improve customer satisfaction
· Decrease liability issues
· Increase safety & security
· Stay up-to-date
· Flexible documentation
· Increase worker accountability
· Better communication

Clearly, companies that are embracing new tech stand to gain significant advantages.

Regardless of all the clichés about the reality of change, the truth is that it can be hard for people to acknowledge impactful alterations to the way they do things. This is especially true in the association we have with technology-based products because the change can be very fundamental. The result is that construction businesses continue to under-invest in innovations, even though there are significant benefits the technology can provide to their construction projects. The challenges are many.

1. The ability to diminish old or redundant frameworks and focus on high-value systems that will guarantee productivity and reduce cost is essential in the construction industry. But making this switch from legacy systems is hard and disruptive.
2. As more innovations penetrate the enterprise, organizations must have adequate IT specialists on their teams and access to a large digitally savvy workforce. The existing staff may need to gain an in-depth understanding of the technology. But is it easy for these companies to train their existing people? And is it even feasible for them to hire technology resources, engage, motivate, challenge, and retain them in the face of competition from technology-specific companies from centers like Silicon Valley? In fact, access to tech-savvy resources may be the single biggest barrier to the adoption of technology for small and mid-sized construction companies.
3. These companies need to invest time and resources, executive support, offer robust training, and create autonomy and adaptability to track and measure key metrics. Many of these areas call for a cultural change, revamped organizational workflows, and changes to the operational and performance metrics the organization has become used to. Such changes are excruciatingly hard to implement.

Despite the challenges, we are rapidly reaching the point where tech-driven innovation will become a critical component of all construction projects. At that point, the organizations that are early adopters and are implementing the changes into their workflows will have a noticeable advantage over those that don’t.

Picking, validating, and adopting technology is all about planning and executing correctly. The solution may be to start with planning and then move to implement innovative technology in stages. Defining priorities, achieving small wins, and driving incremental change that everyone can see, sense, and be a part of could help the new ways take root. Talent constraints can be addressed by finding a technology partner with the available bandwidth to help you kick off your own technology initiative. This kind of partnership will help your organization get started with the benefit of hand-holding from an expert who would have “been there, done that.”

The construction industry is on the cusp of a digital transformation that could lead to the downfall of companies that refuse to adapt to the advancements. Technology from drones to robots to Building Information Modelling (BIM) and big data is rapidly changing how the construction and development industry will design and build structures. It’s up to these companies to sort out their complicated relationship with technology to live long and prosper.

It is almost a year since the pandemic emerged and so much has changed. From the way of living to the method of working – everything has moved to the so-called “new normal”.

In this hard time, the construction industry has emerged with strategic intent and resilience but with a raft of new challenges to face. It is also true that the construction industry is facing a volatile time. Home construction is up but commercial construction and infrastructure investments are lower. Construction sites have shut down or are working with reduced staff. Supply chains have been disrupted. And various operational restrictions have been imposed. All this has dramatically pushed the construction industry towards embracing change. The future has never been as close as it seems today!

Getting future-ready

According to the McKinsey Global Institute report, economic activities will only return to 2019 levels by 2023 at the earliest.

Construction companies are being forced to rethink business from the standpoint of being able to leverage technology to improve efficiency and effectiveness. They need to anticipate the changes and make the necessary upgrades. Here are a few ways companies can get future-ready in the new normal.

1. Powerful Technology

Technology is one of the primary components of change in nearly every industry, but the construction industry has been guilty of avoiding technical advancements for a long. However, of late the future of construction technology seems to be brighter than it has been for a while.

In the quest for safety, the construction industry is encouraging its employees to work remotely where possible. For example, engineers and designers are turning to digital tools like building information modeling (BIM), construction planning solutions, project management software, construction ERPs, etc. These solutions are allowing them to support on-site efforts and improve results.

Contractors and engineers are using 4D or 5D simulations to reoptimize schedules and construction plans. Additionally, contractors are seeking customized tools to monitor their employees’ health, managing scarce resources, and reducing on-site work. Today, numerous future construction technology-based solutions are being developed to improve the efficiency of the industry.

Construction companies are looking to build comprehensive technology adoption strategies that address several functional areas in an integrated and comprehensive manner for sustained impact.

2. Investment in Prefabrication and Modular Projects

The concept of prefabrication and modular construction has been popular for a few years now. These concepts deliver speed of delivery, energy efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. In a future that is likely to be resource as well as time-constrained, these are great benefits to aim for.

Of course, the effective implementation of prefabrication and modular construction places greater demands on the planning, documentation, and data accuracy practices of construction companies. It becomes mandatory to set in place technology-based systems that provide accurate, current, and comprehensive data about the construction sites.

3. Sustainable Construction

The construction industry is inevitably moving towards more sustainable construction as a moral imperative. Given the enormous impact of construction on the environment, it’s critical to course correct now. That apart, sustainable construction practices are also sound financially because they help reduce waste, attract new customers, and improve resource utilization.

Sustainable construction is a very broad topic, and various layers are interlinked in it. There are the design and construction of green buildings in which products that have ecological benefits are used to construct a building. There is also the opportunity to leverage technology to plan construction activities better so the process of construction can also be more resource-efficient. Using advanced technologies like data analytics can also play a role here by helping construction companies derive insights from the data at their disposal to become more conscious.

4. Shift in Jobs

The nature of jobs could change due to the increased adoption of technology. With more technology integration, intelligent systems, and smart automation coming into the picture, job roles will morph. Construction companies will require people who can understand technology and deliver outcomes with new-age digital tools. They will have to change business and work processes and hiring practices to incorporate the impact of this technology revolution.

5. Enhanced Safety Concerns

Construction isn’t the safest job in the world. The sector has an outsized share in workplace accidents and fatalities. This is not acceptable. In the future construction technology stack, technology to make sites safer will be prominent. Construction companies will have to adopt a strategic focus on worker safety. Process and practices will have to change. Technology can help here too as numerous apps, wearable devices, and other approaches come together to make a safe construction site for workers.

6. Dynamic Project Management

As construction becomes more complex, project management has to become more comprehensive and agile. Future projects will be delivered by multi-layered teams of specialists that interface with each other at specific points. Companies need to bake in various approaches based on which will benefit their projects before planning the strategy. Construction companies will need to invest in monitoring and tracking tools so that they can manage their project better. Platforms like BIM will become crucial as they provide a single pane of glass to enable a common understanding of the current stage and future scope of each project at all times.

The construction industry has been evolving for some time now, but with the pandemic, the pace of change has intensified. In the future, new technologies, job trends, managerial strategies, and construction methods look set to keep evolving. Construction companies will need to invest in technology to stay relevant in the new normal. Creating a technology strategy and a roadmap could well be the crucial next step construction companies will have to take to ensure the future is secure.

We all know that sites are vulnerable to fall risks, environmental hazards, and electricity mishaps among others. In fact, a survey by National Health Institutes (USA), shows that 15% of the total expenditure by companies, goes to cover the cost of construction injuries. The survey also suggests that the construction industry has almost 70% higher nonfatal injuries than any other industry. No wonder, safety assurance for workers, contractors, and other personnel, have always been critically important for Construction Companies.

But the recent pandemic has made the situation even worse. Along with the existing risks at construction sites, there’s now the fear of COVID infection. State and local governments are allowing construction companies to resume their projects. However, measures like social distancing, contact tracing, consistent risk assessments have become necessary. These add to the caution overhead. Therefore, construction companies need to be aware of the new safety mandates at construction sites.

First, let’s clarify that there have always been existing mandates for assuring safety at construction sites. Risk awareness, training for laborers and contractors, strategic communication, protective gear all fall under this umbrella. Technologies like BIM (Building Information Modelling) have been helping construction companies comply with these mandates by allowing them to plan, track and monitor, and record better. It is also true that with safer sites and better plans, companies are also able to finish projects faster.

Now, with a changed mandate at hand, it would be interesting to see how these tech solutions can continue to deliver value.

Let us take a look at these changes and understand how technology can be aligned with them.

• Social Distancing: Social Distancing has to be the topmost on this list. One can expect basic guidelines and norms to prevent physical proximity to already be in place. However, there will be some additional factors that the safety mandate will have to include. Managing surface transmission is one such example. The workers and contractors may come into indirect contact because of surface transmission from the tools and other goods that enter the site. Visits to the worksite will also have to be reduced. Even during an unavoidable visit, everyone involved should be mindful of the necessary safety measures. Any face-to-face contact might also need to be monitored as well as timed. Moreover, the work shifts will have to be planned such that the workforce can commute in off-peak hours. Fortunately, BIM allows various construction and design activities to be carried offsite. Experts can collaborate for such planning. BIM models will also help with pre-planning for the construction. This will help optimize resource requirements and help reduce the on-site crowd to the extent possible.

• Work Accident Risk: With changes in shifts, and additional social distancing measures, the work accident risk might increase. Therefore, it is construction and installation plans must be devised more thoughtfully. Automated safety logistic checks can be run beforehand. This will allow the companies to understand the changed on-site risks. The BIM models, powered with local and retained knowledge, can help the companies customize the construction processes as per the site limitations. Thus, even before the project is ready, the contractors and the workers would be aware of the workplace risks and be able to devise suitable safety measures. With each site having its own limitations, safety mandates can be implemented accordingly.

• Sanitization: This is an extension of the earlier point about surface transmission. The tools and surfaces will have to be regularly sanitized to avoid any such risks. Without a management and monitoring structure in place, this can lead to omissions and increased safety risks. The changed safety mandate would require the companies to devise a cost-effective sanitization plan. Regular deep cleaning might be needed. Provisions will have to be made so that every person or potentially infected surface entering the premises is properly sanitized. The construction companies can, potentially, integrate BIM with their existing decision support systems. This will help them understand and plan material arrivals and labor safety and sanitation measures (LSS). Knowing the number of resources that would need to be deployed in advance can also help companies plan sanitization effectively.

• Contract Tracing: Another big safety need would be to provide for contact tracing. This means, preventing transmission by tracing and assessing the areas and groups that could have been exposed to COVID. If a worker is tested positive, post joining the work, there might be other co-workers and their near ones who might be exposed to the virus. Applications are being developed to allow self-registration and better contact tracing of workers. This will help the companies to monitor their COVID-readiness. They can send suitable alerts in case of any exposure. Contact tracing protocols cannot be avoided especially at a high-risk place like a construction site. Technology can prove to be a big relief and allow construction companies to take more nuanced and targeted actions rather than close the entire site down.

• Team Communication: Improper communication has always been a problem in a high-stress environment like construction sites. With the COVID situation, the stress has escalated manifold. Therefore, it is mandatory for employee safety that the tasks and processes are clearly communicated. Workers that might already be a little anxious about infections, sanitizations, etc., would not want to add to their cognitive load. Proper communication will help ease that burden. BIM essentially condenses much of the stress and fuss related to the job plans, before the work begins. With the help of clear models, companies can better define the upcoming tasks for all the contractors and workers. Therefore, the workplace would be a less stressful place.

• Accident Investigation: The companies will have to be ready for any unfortunate events despite the above-discussed measures. This is an essential mandate that cannot be taken lightly. Provisions to investigate accidents and safety failures will have to be placed at all costs. BIM can help with emergency measures to deal with on-site accidents. It can also provide comprehensive and near real-time data on the site that can assist with analyzing why the accident occurred in the first place.

Projects cannot remain stalled forever. However, construction companies can’t also proceed without adequate safety measures. With newer physical and mental health concerns, the safety mandates will also be refreshed. Technology like BIM can be a powerful ally in this regard. Ultimately, safe workers would construct safer buildings.

Back in June 2017, the US government released the 2018 infrastructure budget proposal. This plan included $200 billion of federal spending over the next decade and this would spur about $1.3 trillion in overall spending tied to the various infrastructure projects from cities, states, and private firms. 

There’s no doubt about the opportunities the sector has to offer. It’s also true that the USA leads the world when it comes to construction. This is a massive industry. But why are so many headlines dominated by news of delayed projects, missed deadlines, penalties, and poor financial performance? 

One of the reasons is the sector lags others in the adoption of technology. Software-driven solutions exist for streamlining planning, operations, project management, and maintenance. But adoption is lower than optimal.

BIM, a key technology used in the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) industry is a great example. The software is a proven enabler of better planning, collaboration, monitoring, resource estimation, and maintenance support. Some other leading construction markets have made the use of BIM mandatory for public infrastructure projects. Consulting powerhouse PwC estimates that the UK has seen savings of over 400 million Pounds per year since their BIM mandate. 

But qualified BIM resources are hard to find. Those that are available are expensive. This is an even bigger problem for small construction companies or companies located away from the traditional tech hotspots.

This is where working with BIM partners is rising up the popularity charts. Like the software sector, companies have often felt that the chief reason to work with a BIM partner was to leverage the cost advantage. But there are some other solid reasons why working with BIM partners makes sense:

Hub of talented professionals – As we mentioned, finding talented BIM professionals is a major obstacle for companies looking to kick off BIM for their projects Managment. This problem is easily solved by hiring a BIM partner. There is no need for the construction company to find, train or retain people. The partner brings the right skills to the table. They ensure that their experts are updated with the latest developments in technologies and construction methods. What the construction company gets is a reliable source of expert BIM talent.

The experience to learn from – All construction projects are complex. But adding the layer of technology like BIM, inevitably, brings in a major variation. This may need changes in other areas like communication, review patterns, and workflows. A BIM partner with the right credentials can make it easier for construction companies to make that change. They don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Instead, they can lean on the experience of the BIM partner who has “been there, done that”. The partner will communicate frequently and clearly and address any problems proactively. This will make it easier to increase the collaboration between the stakeholders. This could also, potentially, mitigate several other risks associated with the projects and reduce frustration and pitfalls in the long run. This enhances outcomes by improving efficiencies. 

Fast off the blocks – By hiring BIM partner agencies, construction firms can get an instant injection of expert BIM talent. The BIM partner would usually have larger BIM-specialist teams in place that they would have built up over many years. They would have a reputation as a BIM expert. This gives them the advantage of being able to hire fast when needed. For the construction company this means that if there’s a need to ramp up a team, this can be done right away. This is an important aspect for firms who want to get their projects started right away. Of course, the reverse also applies in that when the spike in work is done, the BIM partner can also scale back equally quickly. This ability to ramp up and scale back on-demand could become a massive competitive advantage for the construction company.

Consistent quality – The right BIM partner will have, both, breadth and depth of experience. Such partners would have worked on large, complex projects. They would have end-to-end experience of different types of construction projects. They would know the impact that BIM can deliver at each stage of such projects and what they have to do to deliver that impact. This will enable them to infuse those benefits into every stage of your projects too. Rather than the construction company having to “learn on the fly”, it can depend on high-quality BIM output from the very start. This will ensure consistency and quality across the entire project, irrespective of nature or scale.  

Hire a BIM Partner for Maximum ROI

The AEC, MEP, and construction industry is undergoing several changes and innovations. The companies that embrace this change are likely to stand out and make an impact. Working with an expert partner can make it easier for construction companies to adopt the challenging new technologies that can deliver transformative impact. It’s either that or stay rooted in the old ways and watch the construction world pass them while riding the technology wave

Construction and development have always been data-intensive; however, the quantity of data streams is multiplying. Integration implies the process of creating a whole from the sum of its parts. In construction, this spans the gamut of activities from collaborative working practices to how data from unique sources can be brought together for greater efficiency and effectiveness.

For contractors, bringing data about project plans together with cost and quantities is tricky enough, particularly in a profession subject to the unexpected in terms of weather extremes, economic shocks, and planning challenges. Helping clients to see ahead and plan their myriad “imagine a scenario in which” prospects effectively has always been important.

Thanks to BIM, integrating such information into a construction-ready model is now possible. In fact, it is often the starting plan framework. This is apparent to construction companies in the USA, including even the small and mid-sized companies in the space.

The goal of better designed, more sustainable, and lower cost “digital” buildings is praiseworthy. Yet, the expertise challenge this creates can be tough to overcome for small and medium construction companies in centers away from Silicon Valley and similar locations.

These companies are looking at working with partners to get their BIM initiatives off the ground. Of course, this is a model the software development industry has made popular. The way it works in that scenario is; the software development partner has the skills, the processes, and the ability to scale up or ramp down teams in accordance with the needs of the client.

Of course, this is also a great option for construction companies looking to leverage the power of BIM. However, before embarking on this path, it’s useful to know what could go wrong. That knowledge can help prevent your BIM initiative stalling when it encounters similar headwinds.

Here are 5 things that can go wrong while working with a BIM partner:

1.     Poor communication:

A large number of construction companies that have adopted BIM technology face a peculiar issue in creating an efficient communication channel between the various construction departments working simultaneously on the project. This becomes a key challenge with BIM-driven projects due to the transparency. There is no hiding place – no covering of late information and mistakes. Of course, this is a bigger challenge when the BIM model is coming from a partner, usually located at a remote location.

Therefore, it is necessary to provide a method of project communication that ensures a smooth flow of communication between the BIM provider and the various on-site teams. Seasoned BIM service providers are attuned to such collaborative working. They should help create an impactful communication model to support successful project outcomes needs to be implemented by the management

2.     Lack of end to end experience: 

BIM can impact various aspects of the construction project. It can deliver value in the planning, resource estimation, project management, ongoing monitoring, and, even, ongoing maintenance post-construction. That apart, the data the BIM model can help generate has tremendous value in itself. Clearly, when utilized to the fullest, BIM can help construction projects save significant amounts of time, money, and effort. But that kind of upside is possible only when the BIM partner has the end-to-end expertise to deliver across the entire project lifecycle. Without that experience, the BIM initiative could deliver sub-optimal impact, or, worse, no impact at all.

3.     Lack of experience in large projects:

Gauging the experience of your BIM partner is the most significant step while finalizing the deal. Ask yourself – Does your BIM partner have experience in complex projects? What makes the BIM partner stand apart? How many projects have they worked on? A BIM service provider with that experience will bring greater depth and breadth of expertise. A BIM partner with global experience will bring the best to the table in terms of construction practices, techniques, tools, and technology. A partner without that breadth of expertise will probably fall short when faced with the real-world challenges of construction projects.

4.     Lack of ability to scale:

Do your construction projects go through a smooth and linear growth? Probably not, right? It’s likely that the initial planning stage needs many more resources of a certain type. Once the design is done, those resources can scale back and a different set of resources need to take over. But there’s always the unexpected to plan for. Suppose your project needs a major change in the design you would need to quickly ramp up the resources for a short period of time. Working with a BIM partner can be a challenge if the partner cannot scale up or ramp back teams in sync with your needs. Projects are typically on tight deadlines, so that scaling needs to be quick and responsive. A BIM partner with the ability to scale can accelerate your project delivery and one without that ability can seriously hinder it.

5.     Lack of understanding of the American Construction Industry:

A key challenge in implementing and executing BIM with a partner is the partner’s understanding of the American Construction Industry. The BIM partner needs to stay abreast of the latest developments in construction materials & methods. The partner must have the latest updates about changing government rules & regulations on both state and central levels. A failure to bake that information into the model can have its own downside in terms of lost time.

Every construction project involves a steep investment of cash and human resources. BIM can help you deliver projects more efficiently and effectively but it’s vital to zeroing in on a BIM partner who is the right fit for your organization. Such a partner can help you make the most of the power of BIM for your construction projects.

Innovative advancements in the construction industry, such as an improvement in contractor management software, project management software, building information modeling(BIM), drones, and aerial photography, are all helping the industry to develop.

Construction companies are looking to clear the roadblocks for smoother and quicker implementation of projects. Digitization of processes to bring more efficiency at each phase of a project’s construction, including upskilling the workforce with regular training are on the agenda of forward-looking companies. By leveraging advanced software, construction-centered solutions, and analytics, technology innovations are eliminating many of the issues that have been in the construction sector for quite a long time, including difficulties in compiling and sharing project data.

There is a sense of inevitability about the arrival of disruptive thinking and a fresh approach that will change the way we train, work and eventually build, and develop in construction. The construction industry is at the start of a new period, with a growing appreciation of the latest applications and tools that could change how companies design, plan and execute projects.

This reality suggests that the construction industry must become much better at taking advantage of the tech opportunities that emerge along the way. Only then, can the industry attract a young and tech-savvy workforce. Otherwise, the construction industry risks falling behind in the race for advancement.

Many companies have started incorporating new innovative technologies. Technologies like AI, BIM, and advanced communications and collaboration solutions are seen as being able to drive a more agile and collaborative design effort and a more interactive design process where everyone involved can add their input and advance the virtual blueprint and have a critical contribution to construction’s future.

But how can small and mid-size construction companies in the USA go about embracing technology?

1.     Creating a functioning digital strategy:

Organizations can take a reasoned and strategic approach to deal with the technology by building up a picture of their current performance pattern and benchmarking themselves to recognize the most critical areas for development. The organizations can consolidate an implementation plan that focuses on achieving key milestones in specific areas within a realistic timeline to remain on track as they keep moving forward. Organizations with strong digital skills have an advantage while implementing complex solutions across their organizations. But the first steps have to be small, manageable, and carefully considered. As the digital strategy starts kicking in across various sectors, more far-reaching and complex processes can be addressed.

2. Transforming the projects:

A project is an opportunity for every organization to test and refine new digital solutions in a kind of splendid isolation. Pick a project that is reasonably self-contained and a good test case and start embracing point technology solutions within it. This is easier to roll out and easier to see results in. To monitor results, project teams can set up key performance markers and share them periodically with the leaders. This will help overcome communication gaps and generate enthusiasm. The project experience will also provide data that will prove useful to address crucial obstacles faced and help address large-scale programs efficiently.

3.     Letting data lead the way: 

A large number of the best development innovation tools incorporate data from both past and ongoing projects. Collecting, processing, and analyzing this data must become an ongoing and strategic exercise. As the practice becomes more widespread, organizations can incorporate analytics into their daily workflows by embedding insights into them.

4.     Getting the skills in place:

Talent is a key challenge for mid-sized construction companies looking to ride the technology wave. In locations away from the tech centers and startup hubs, it’s hard for such companies to find, train, and retain the people with the right technology skills. Upskilling and training for the current employees are useful but only up to a point. To kick start the technology initiatives, it’s a good idea to work with an experienced and expert technology partner.  This will give them access to not only the technical skills they need but also bring added flexibility in resource deployment as projects ramp up and scale back.

5.     Implementing safety monitoring and quality control:

Safety has always been a primary concern for construction and development companies. And this is a high-impact area to start the technology drive with to get a meaningful impact. Numerous applications facilitate the tracking and reporting of safety incidents across job sites. Some new applications assist managers in investigating remote locations by providing pictures and image tags and also enable them to update and track their punch lists in real-time. Such solutions can help improve safety on construction sites. These real-time systems, combined with new technologies like GPS and building-information modeling (BIM) and artificial intelligence with other tools, can help bring about a massive, and much-needed, change in the construction industry.

Technology is the principal driver of change and it will surely have a ground-breaking impact on how organizations work in the building industry. Innovative technology provides hundreds of tools for use across the project life cycle, ranging from design management to scheduling to safety monitoring.

The industry is ready to change. innovative advancements are already taking over the industry and changing the way we work, design, and develop. What mid-sized construction companies in the USA need is the expertise to harness the power of technology and ride the tech wave.

Building Information Modeling. (BIM) is getting rapidly established as an innovative method to design virtually and manage structures. An AGC survey revealed that nearly 1 in 3 organizations see technology as an appropriate response to address the growing labor shortage by driving up productivity and improving planning.

A growing number of construction organizations have made initial investments and are adopting the practice of including BIM in their projects. For those that came in late, Building Information Modelling or BIM is a method of working in the construction industry that helps firms plan better, execute faster, and manage resources optimally. The key benefits of BIM include:

· Faster and more effective processes
· Better design
· Better production quality
· Automated assembly

While adoption is growing, it’s, perhaps, fair to say that the rise of BIM has been slower than it should be.

Even as the crescendo builds around the benefits of BIM, it is still proving difficult for some organizations to quantify the value of the benefits it brings. Many organizations have implemented pilot projects with BIM. Quite a few have seen benefits too. But they have stopped short of rolling out the initiative across the organizations.

1. Shortage of skilled tech talent

It’s no secret that the construction industry suffers severe worker shortages. In many ways, the situation is even direr for specialized skills like technology. The number of qualified tech people is quite low to start with. To add to that, attracting these folks to the construction business is proving hard in the face of more glamorous options in the tech sector. The problem is even more severe for the small and mid-sized tech companies located in the smaller towns and locations away from the major tech hubs. What’s the scalability of an enterprise-wide BIM initiative if you don’t have the people to make it run seamlessly for a sustained duration?

This is a challenge that can be addressed by partnering with a company that has the BIM expertise and the people available to scale up a BIM initiative. But is that enough?

1. Cultural changes in the construction industry

The lack of experience of BIM within an industry as traditional as construction creates hindrances in the proper utilization of the software. This is not a comment on their inability to use the software properly. It’s more a commentary on the rigidity of current processes and ways of working. The introduction of advanced technologies and ideas in the workplace can be a daunting change. The implementation of BIM can benefit the company in the long run. However, such solutions increase demands for transparency, accountability, collaboration, and communications. In adopting these changes, employees may face problems. They may find it difficult to change their way of working. They may be apprehensive about the impact on their jobs. They may also worry about their ability to learn new solutions and be confused about how to utilize the BIM models in the context of their specific roles. Organizations and project managers need to consider the possible mitigation strategies to address these challenges before implementing BIM to overcome the hurdles. While introducing BIM to the employees, issues such as experience, culture, support, training, and education need to be clearly addressed. Therefore, companies must educate their employees and provide effective training to ensure everyone is on board.

So, apart from pulling in the BIM experts, what a construction company needs is hand-holding as the BIM adoption challenges work themselves out. The people in these companies need the ear and hand of someone who has “been there, done that” with BIM to show them the way and to drive home the positive impact BIM could deliver to their own performance. But what next?

1. Return on Investment calculations

Adopting BIM can show a positive impact at all stages of the construction lifecycle from design and construction to maintenance. However, the perception of ROI is always shifting. Some impact is quite easily provable. For instance, the savings that can accrue because of better material estimates that the BIM model provides can be enumerated quite easily when compared to previous gut-feel estimates. But organizations that are unused to the technology sometimes struggle to quantify the impact in broader terms. For instance, schedule adherence may result but how much of that is down to BIM and how much just better execution?

It’s true that many organizations that incorporated BIM in their projects reported a positive ROI. Organizations that invest more in training and in the full adoption of BIM also see a positive effect. It seems that BIM helps organizations to construct better structures and increase profitability. But how can that be measured for the CFO? An organization implementing BIM could find it difficult to define the financial models that show the impact BIM is having. Many of these assessments are driven by the experience. At such times, turning to a partner who has that experience could help drive more reasoned assessments of the ROI.

It’s in situations like this that small and mid-sized construction firms across the USA partner with Excelize. We are BIM specialists with an unbeatable mix of modeling and demonstrating expertise and knowledge of building codes and standards. Our experienced consultants have knowledge of BIM and have seen a large number of BIM-driven projects, including some of the largest and most complex projects out there. Being located in the USA helps them provide better support to organizations too as they look to kick off their own BIM initiatives. That may be the easiest way for you to get the most out of your own BIM initiative.