Despite all the technological advances, construction workers still have to make many important saudi arabia phone number decisions based on manual processes that are subject to human error. These same workers constantly rely on paper documentation that needs to be regularly reprinted, redistributed, etc. It is obvious that these traditional processes are neither efficient nor effective. Therefore, companies need to understand the full range of advantages and possible disadvantages that the adaptation of new technologies provides: increased efficiency, reduced environmental impact, etc.
Replacing paper with email is a good solution, but it is not enough. Emails are only a small part of the information transfer process that occurs throughout the life cycle of a project. The timeliness and accuracy of the information transferred can significantly affect the profitability of a project. But the construction industry as a whole is reluctant to implement modern technology, and this has held it back for a long time. Fortunately, times are changing.
Stage #1. Adaptation
Things didn’t change overnight. In 2014, some companies that were far apart started using simple cloud services and mobile devices in their projects. At that time, many changes were happening at the company level as a whole. New software products and processes became widespread: information modeling technologies (BIM), customer relationship management (CRM), field data collection, and much more.
Then, international guidelines and standards began to emerge in the construction industry. In 2016, the UK mandated that contractors on all major public projects use Beau-Richards Maturity Level 2 models, which accelerated the adoption of the technology. The experience gained by contractors in implementing public contracts eventually led to an increase in the adoption of BIM technologies among private owners of facilities. It is safe to say that the UK government has started the process of implementing the technology, making BIM a routine stage of project implementation in a relatively short time.
Unfortunately, there are still many companies (and industry leaders) that are not using technology to its full potential. While many are adopting new approaches and tools, they often fail to consider updates to older methods. Take BIM, for example. A company may be using the right software, but fail to consider new document capabilities that can replace traditional processes (Word documents, email chains, Excel spreadsheets) and maximize the value of BIM. This may be the biggest barrier to adopting new technologies in the construction industry, especially since document or drawing collaboration platforms are widespread but not yet an industry standard.
Many companies still rely on email as their primary communication tool, and use simple cloud solutions like Dropbox for file sharing. Audit trail management and file versioning are unnecessarily complicated by these communication methods.
Stage #2. Trust as a path to efficiency
The second major factor that has led to the late adoption of technology in the construction industry is the reluctance of companies to invest in smart devices for employees. Smart devices are quite expensive, so companies must trust their employees immensely when giving them a tablet or smartphone. And training employees to properly use the devices and software can take a lot of time and effort. However, more and more companies are getting their investment back by not just trusting their employees with expensive equipment, but also by continually training them in new skills and techniques to make the most of the tools they are given.