Working faster, safer and more efficiently are key goals for any general contractor and many are realizing the role that data can play in helping them achieve these goals. Contractors today have made great progress in collecting different types of data on the jobsite, yet they are still in the beginning stages of figuring out how to best leverage it.
Over the past few years, construction firms have begun to capture more of their data and digitize it. Although much of the data is still collected manually, e.g., by walking around the jobsite to count the workforce. Some forward-thinking firms are beginning to automatically collect this information passively through IoT and software. This not only frees up time for managers so they can focus on other tasks, but it also ensures better, more accurate data.
So how can firms begin leveraging the data they are collecting for business benefit in 2020 and beyond? Following are four best practices to help get them started:
In the coming year, many companies will be implementing these best practices to varying degrees. But 2020 isn’t just the start of a new year, it’s also the start of a new decade. After addressing more immediate business issues, such as the budget needed to complete a project, contractors will be able to more effectively tackle difficult challenges in the future, such as the worker shortage. For example, they will increasingly leverage data to avoid incidents and days off for injuries and improve productivity, enabling projects to be completed more safely and efficiently despite the worker shortage.
Data from all sources will be integrated and different parties, such as contractors and their subcontractors, project owners and insurance carriers and brokers, will interact with the data more collaboratively. The data will become integral to operations, and as companies continue to see value from their data, they will focus on continuous improvement, honing their processes based on data insights.
While some of these practices may be years away, it’s clear that in 2020, contractors will be further along on the path to digitalization. They will be focusing on the best ways to use their data for business benefit, which will go a long way in making jobsites safer, more productive and more profitable.
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