Is the construction industry not adopting technology because companies and workers are just stubborn? Or is it a situation where the right value proposition or tools are not being offered? There is technology today that is being embraced widely, for instance smart phones and online virtual meetings. Mobile devices are popular, and there are applications that are being used on mobile devices. So it’s possible that, if you have the right value proposition, people in construction are capable and willing to embrace technology solutions.
Construction software leader Autodesk has made a commitment to making collaboration simple and helping architects, engineers and construction teams remain resilient. Connected construction is a critical part of that. Keeping data in sync across multiple teams is a challenge that technology can rise to meet. Workflows need to connect with each other.
A seamless data flow will result in a cohesive user experience that benefits from a central data hub. The possibilities include sophisticated things like automatic clash detection.
Using the cloud environment eliminates the need to duplicate efforts and manually synchronize designs. If the architect revises information, the changes can easily be transmitted back to the field, so the jobsite is always working from the latest information. Potential change orders can be sent to owners for approval and transmitted easily and seamlessly. The emphasis is on the entire workflow.
The historical methods of manually handling drawings and changes invariably led to things falling through the cracks when data got out of sync. The result was issues that required repairs or retrofits and caused cost overruns and schedule delays on nearly every construction project.
Because we don’t have the luxury of working from the same physical location in the current pandemic scenario, it’s even more imperative that we figure out a way to collaborate. There’s a premium on collaboration and knowing the data you’re working on is the right data.
Having access to the massive amount of data we now have on a construction project makes you a lot more intelligent and gives you insights into the project. As that data comes together, you can look at it from different angles. One good example is your ability to tap into it and study risk factors and cost factors. You can mitigate those risks before they become larger issues.
The data collected on a job can help you get smarter, better, faster, and more efficient on the next project. The question shouldn’t only be, Did we make a profit? There’s much more you can pull from the project details.
Although the amount of data may seem overwhelming, things can surface that are actionable. Implementing technology gives you a valuable competitive advantage and also allows you to be more resilient when disruptions – like this pandemic – happen. Around the world, companies are reconfiguring the way they conduct business. And it’s likely that it will never be the way it used to be.
Join me for episode 60 of Bridging the Gap podcast as I discuss technology with Sameer Merchant, Associate Vice-president of Products for Autodesk Construction Solutions. Sameer leads product development and delivery efforts for Autodesk’s site construction and preconstruction product portfolio, including BIM 360 and PlanGrid.
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