With today’s rapidly increasing dependency on modernization, the construction industry’s future depends on technology. With the increase in demand for construction projects, companies that are currently short-staffed or with limited resources must find a way to keep up. Many construction technologies are available in the market that can provide businesses with many valuable tools and applications. But teaching your crew how to utilize them efficiently is the most challenging task.
However, many people have to agree to use and implement new technologies and processes. Your crew needs to be with you to get the most out of these technologies, ranging from construction project management software to web-based inventory systems. Whether your team includes long-time industry veterans or new hires coming out of craft or technical training, you can adopt specialized approaches to help them understand new technologies on-site.
So, how do you avoid backlash and resistance while introducing new software or devices to your team? This article outlined eight ways to assist your team to quickly adapting to new technology. But first, let us define what these construction technologies are.
What Are Construction Technologies?
Many construction businesses have steered away from the manual way of managing things and started digitizing processes in the past few years. Open communication and close collaboration are a big part of why companies adopt these technologies. Project managers aim to communicate efficiently with every stakeholder engaged and complete the project on budget, on schedule, and with the highest quality standard.
Listed below are just some of the emerging technologies that are being leveraged in the construction industry:
- Construction Management Software
- Building Information Modeling Systems
- Artificial Intelligence
- Internet of Things
- Virtual Reality and Wearables.
Not only can construction technology training aid with retention and skills development, but it provides opportunities for future growth potential. Another way to alleviate the significant labor shortage is to use new technology to recruit employees to the business potentially.
How Can Technology Revolutionize the Construction Industry?
Nothing has ever had the potential to change and improve the construction sector like technology. Due to labor shortages, delays, mismanagement, and limited resources, crews have never been a more critical time to adapt and change for the better. Your team can feel more empowered to explore new technology, strive for excellence and continuous learning, and help push the boundaries of the industry forward through comprehensive, engaging, and inclusive training.
Eight Strategies to Help Your Crew Adapt to Construction Technologies Quickly
Hiring new construction workers out of thin air is an impossible task. Still, you can use technology to help fill the gap and make up for the shortage of skilled labor. Because millions of new workers are unlikely to materialize overnight, contractors should rely on construction technologies to speed up their projects. This section lists eight strategies on how your crew can adapt to these emerging technologies that will revolutionize how you manage your projects.
1. Utilize a Hands-On and Personalized Training
When introducing a new technology or a new process, the first strategy is to provide proper training. However, it is critical to remember that establishing a construction training program makes it hands-on and personalized. It will surely go a long way toward keeping everyone involved and interested during the training process by providing them with something to do. Crew members will have to deal with new technology at some point and allowing them to do so from the start can enhance their efficacy and learning curve. Team leaders can also observe how employees grasp the gadget or program they are learning, allowing instructors to rectify errors before they occur in the field.
2. Provide Examples of Real-Life Applications
Putting new technologies in context is another important aspect of practical training. When it comes to adopting them, you may lack enthusiasm or incentive to adapt, especially in terms of the investment cost. Demonstrating how the technology can assist in day-to-day activities in the field will help to boost participation and interest throughout training.
Real-world examples of technology’s benefits are essential for presenting new efforts to stakeholders and other project leaders. It should show how technology enhances the working environment, budget, workflows, and project scheduling management.
3. Increase Inclusivity and Diversity in Training
Widespread familiarity with the new equipment or program is required to apply new technologies in construction successfully. Ensuring that as many team members as possible, from new site employees to senior managers and even interested project leaders, have the opportunity to participate in technology training is a vital step. Training should be inclusive in terms of age and experience, and gender. It will be easier to build a capable team if everyone feels like they are an essential part of the project and knows new technology.
4. Evaluate How Your Team Works
Employees are sometimes so focused on specialized duties that learning how to utilize new technology or even believing it exists is difficult. When this occurs, it is critical to convey the bigger picture: how will the new construction scheduler software or the new inventory app benefit them and the firm in the long run?
Evaluate how your team works and establish how these technologies can streamline and optimize your processes. This will save you time, money, and effort by avoiding an uphill battle against the latest technology.
5. Observe Your Team’s Work Ethics and Attitude
Get the people who are most likely to adopt it to work on it. This will also assist the group in better understanding the technology and providing practical assistance to the rest of the firm.
6. Implement a Culture for Learning
Your team should be that new technologies designed to improve performance, communication, and productivity will be introduced into their daily routine. Catch their interest in learning how the new software can make construction estimating easier or how an app can automate inventory tracking. They will feel valued and involved in all elements of your organization due to this.
7. Be Patient
It is important to note that it does not mean that the technology is ineffective when your crew is displaying some resistance to it. Usually, this can only be found in the initial stages of implementation. However, if your team has done everything possible to adapt to the new technology but still no results, maybe it is time to reevaluate and check for the source of the problem.
8. Get Some Feedback
Set up individual meetings, send surveys, or send private emails to get input from your team. Some people are introverts who have difficulty expressing themselves in public, making it challenging to interact openly. This can give you a clear view of how you can assist them in adapting to the technology.
Five Benefits to Equipping Your Crew with the Right Construction Technology
The world of construction is ever-changing. Each new innovation offers significant benefits: you will save money, time, and rework, and you will achieve your goals for the project.
In summary, having a holistic and cautious approach to implementing new construction technology before you begin can pay off nicely when the time comes. Here are some of the benefits you can realize when you equip your company and your crew with the proper construction technology.
Customized Construction Technology for Your Company’s Unique Demands
Like a construction project management software, choosing a construction technology can completely revamp the way you handle your projects. While many software differ in features and systems, these technologies offer you some flexibility in tweaking their processes to meet your unique demands and requirements. Adopting new technology may be a breeze with access to a wide selection of transparent, valuable tools, specialized assistance, and one-on-one support.
Improve Your Project’s Operational Efficiency
New construction technologies aim to make project completion more attainable and efficient while minimizing resource consumption. However, this new technology is only as good as its users, which is why thorough training is required.
It is essential to have patience and recognize that successfully implementing technology into your company’s systems will take some time. Implementing technology in construction may help you reach new heights in operational and financial success with the appropriate approach.
Get a Competitive Advantage
Adopting new technology provides a competitive advantage to firm management. This is true personally and professionally and in terms of their entire firm. An executive who can effectively understand and apply the latest technological advancements has an advantage over other executives.
Avoid Your Company’s Possible Downfall
Executives who do not urge their staff and company leaders to adapt to new technology risk their present position. While the company may not go out of business entirely, it might result in a market leader’s loss of profit and reputation. Companies that learn to adjust to breakthroughs and innovate to stay ahead of the competition are leaping ahead of the competition and staying ahead of the competition.
Eliminate The Risk of Financial Loss.
When a corporation fails to adapt to change, particularly technology, it risks going out of business. Those who keep themselves and their businesses on industry trends and technologies have the best chance of thriving and succeeding.
