To fully embrace digital technology and reap the benefits, construction must tackle technophobia, says Tony Mitchell of O’Brien Contractors.
One of the most expensive areas of the construction industry is people and their time, so automating and upskilling is key to driving advances in the sector. A survey conducted by PlanRadar revealed that more than 70% of global construction firms face issues when attempting to implement new technologies, leading to a significant drop in digitalisation across the industry.
Globally, the digital age has inspired and encouraged massive change, with new technologies and techniques shaping the way business is conducted. However, change in the construction industry has seen much slower.
People’s time is incredibly valuable, particularly with less fresh talent entering the industry. Therefore, it’s essential for construction firms to embrace the latest innovations, to free up capacity and ensure efficiency across the workforce. New technologies, such as the adoption of AI on site, are already freeing up time from mundane tasks for workers. Although we’re only just beginning to see how AI is shaping the industry, we can be sure the possibilities are endless once there is full adoption.
Tackling technophobia is no overnight feat – it will take careful consideration and planning to ensure full compliance at every level of a company. The key is to start small with the rollout of new technology. Until very recently, the whole industry, much like the rest of the world, ran primarily on paperwork and required workers to spend time filing, rather than out on site working. Now, tablets, computers and digital filing systems such as SharePoint are industry standard, not only streamlining jobs for workers, but also improving accessibility and collaboration.
Lack of communication
One of the main challenges fuelling the resistance to change is a lack of communication and training around any new technology rollout. People have a natural aversion to the unknown, so it is important to explain why new equipment or processes are needed and what benefits they will bring. For those looking to implement new processes in a team that may be more resistant to change, ensure sufficient time and care is taken throughout the transition period to ensure no employees feel unsupported.
For example, we introduced drone technology to assist our land surveying team, freeing up resources and supporting tender processes. Initially, there may have been scepticism, but by demonstrating the value and providing training on new equipment, the adoption of drones has become a success.
It’s not enough for leaders to simply roll out new processes and technology. Failure to engage with the workforce and listen to the people who are doing the job day in, day out will only cause frustrations in the long run. Instead, employees leading the digital revolution need to make time on site a core part of their research, speaking to those on the ground to get first-hand feedback and insight into what is and isn’t working. Opening up channels of communication allows all employees to feel heard and be a part of the decision-making process, which is critical to ensuring a content and efficient workforce.
Proper training
Automation will lead the future of the construction industry and with the rapid advancement of AI, robotics, drones and BIM, seamless integration is essential. As automation becomes more popular, there is a new requirement for workforce development and upskilling: workers need to be trained to operate and manage new technologies to account for the lack of new talent entering the sector. While this may have both a time and cost impact, proper training cannot be overlooked, because without it, companies risk wasting their newly implemented technologies.
There are already many examples of autonomous technology being used by construction firms, both on site and within their offices. For example, machine control provides accurate and automated position control on site to ensure accuracy during tasks and improve efficiency.
Meanwhile, quarrying operations are using driverless vehicles and plant is being used along with robotic machines to simultaneously increase efficiency and productivity, while improving the safety of those on site.
However, given that change is the very nature of a construction site, there will always be a need for workers to manage and operate this equipment to keep operations running smoothly and in line with health and safety requirements.
The construction industry is teetering on the edge of a huge technological boom. We are already seeing huge changes within the sector that are shaping the way we build. However, to fully unlock the benefits of emerging technologies, tackling internal resistance must be at the forefront of every firm’s change initiative.
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