Technology in Construction: How it has Changed the Business

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A lot has changed in running a business nowadays, and a lot of that change is thanks to modern technology. There are a myriad of technologies out there that were unthinkable just a decade ago. That number is increasing every day. This explosion of management software and apps have enabled a business renaissance. One driven by up-to-the-minute data accessible anywhere, anytime, at the touch of a fingertip. The software revolution that started brewing in the mid 1990’s and which came to a rolling boil in the 2000’s is one of the reasons for a modern company’s success. Each industry differs from one another. Each has a suite of technological apps tailor made for their specific needs. The needs of an accountancy are wildly different than someone engaged in managing a fleet of trucks. You may or may not have heard of the term “construction technology”. Construction technology is the study of the methodology and equipment used to build structures and refers specifically to the collection of innovative tools, machinery, modifications, software, and electronics used during the construction phase of a project. This rigorous study of the construction industry allows for rapid advancement in field methods, including semi-automated and automated construction equipment.

There are many opportunities available to the modern construction business, from apps that track employees and expenses to advanced systems that automate construction work. The adoption and integration of software solutions is increasing each year by construction companies. Those that embrace technology streamline and find opportunities to maximize profit margins in an ever increasingly competitive marketplace. Those that refuse to adapt and evolve, merely get left behind. 

 

Changing Business through Construction Technology

 

6 Ways Construction Technology Has Transformed the Industry

  • The Internet

        • We cannot talk about technological growth without paying at least some homage to the Internet. It is ubiquitous. It has completely transformed how we design, build, and monitor construction projects, and has proved to be a basic foundation for many of today’s innovations. Managing a modern business without internet connectivity is rapidly becoming impossible. The majority of the apps and software suites available to the construction industry today rely on the internet for their functionality. 
  • Construction Management Software

        • Today, task management software is designed to increase productivity and keep everything on schedule, allowing construction companies to monitor progress and keep all members of a project fully informed, in real time, of actual progress versus scheduled goals.
  • Computer Aided Design

        • CAD has enabled construction to begin before a design being fully complete, allowing for fast-track construction and reduced interferences. Computer Aided Design improves procurement and performance systems, allowing a host of issues to be tackled before physical work begins, significantly reducing the risk of errors and thus reducing the risk of going off-budget or off-schedule.
  • Blueprint Apps

        • Gone are the days of offices on site overflowing with documents. Now, the main player is the application-ridden tablet. A device as useable in the field as in the office, these blueprint and planning apps have given us the ability to oversee plans and make changes digitally, no matter where the work takes you.
  • Drones

        • Companies using them have reported increased efficiency, helped in part by more accurate maps and data, allowing for a highly quantitative means of measuring progress versus schedule.
  • Health and Safety

        • Headsets, halo lights, safety glasses, and responsive clothing are but a few of the safety gadgets having undergone modernization, turning outdated and often un-adhered-to health and safety regulations into routine, standard on-site precautions.

 

Construction Management Software in Business

Construction management software helps companies manage all details right from materials takeoff and estimating to job costing and project management. In recent years, construction management apps went all the way from desirable to absolutely essential. Now, it is almost impossible to track progress and liaise with contractors without one.

The Main Benefits of Construction Management Software

  • Performance Management

      • Analyzing and tracking processes from pre-construction to post-construction requires software that takes detailed notes of the people in charge of tasks, dates of completion, project owners, etc. This way, when performance deteriorates, it is easier to pinpoint what went wrong and where the fault lies. Real-time tracking is now possible and this ability makes it easier to identify any missteps  in your process. A Construction Management software solution bridges the communication gap between customers, managers and your team, increasing the efficiency of performance. Incorporating this software in construction projects keeps track of any mid-project changes. That simplifies and encourages trouble-free management of processes. The tasks of bridging the gap between customers and teams, signing contracts, and closing deals become simple when every step of the way is digitized. And, because everything is stored in the cloud, easy data management is an added advantage.
  • Work Allocation

      • With Construction software, work allocation becomes a piece of cake. Assigning projects and tasks is just one click away as everything is under one location. Software not only alerts project owners when a process goes wrong, but it sends emails with the actual faults identified. This avoids confusion by pinpointing responsibility and is a faster approach than the old school method of having to remember who was assigned to what facet of the project. This smooths the road to project completion. Construction Software also solves issues faster than manual calculation. Delays routing back to equipment unavailability in the warehouse, material misplacement, miscommunication, etc. are solved far more rapidly with construction software than having to dig through file cabinets for the right piece of paper.
  • Organized Project

      • Falling short of a structured way to complete each task has its own dangers. When the project manager does not know the on-going process and is not updated about tasks completed, it is difficult to identify issues when they rise. An organized means of completing tasks by sending email alerts, notifying the person in charge and being aware of the to-do lists is a good start to completing a construction project. Keeping everyone on the same page and informed is quite a challenging task. In every construction project, there are architects, developers, contractors, builders, and numerous other individuals and entities involved. Throughout the entire construction process,  everyone involved in a project must be updated as to where they must go and what they must complete next. Multiply this by the number of concurrent projects a construction business has going at any given time, and personel and time management becomes a nightmare. Construction software takes the burden off of your shoulders. Every step, every individual, every resource is easily tracked, and easily tasked, in one software solution. Everything is under one roof. Being organized is never a loss, but a profit.
The best part of Construction Management Software is that data is stored in the cloud. There are no database management issues or security issues that can pose a problem. Records can be referred to any time as all information is permanently stored in the cloud and can be accessed from anywhere. For years, construction projects have done quite well without the need of technology taking over. What software does, is makes processes easier, faster, letting you stop managing paper, and go back to the core of a construction company: building.  The ability to filter, track, and assign tasks on a granular level makes jobs, from the simple to the complex, easier to complete.

The Future

Construction projects are constantly in demand. As our world grows and advances, that demand will only increase. With a multitude of features, construction software will help you will meet the future. Software has moved beyond the one-size-fits all realm and into the world of customization. Big or small, complex or simple, software solutions are now designed around the organization and the project, and built to fit budgets. With mobile platform compatibility now emerging, you will soon have construction management literally in your pockets. The days of spending time on fax machines and spreadsheets will now be abolished as construction software take away the pain of large project maintenance. With organized and more structured processing of construction projects, technology will pave the way. 

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