The construction industry is in the midst of a significant technology transformation as contractors adopt the latest cloud technologies to help enhance operations, automate workflows, streamline data into single streams and extend collaboration beyond the walls of the office.
Yet, for an industry that has historically struggled with change, many contractors who have yet to modernize may not know where to start—or how to integrate and maximize their technology investments to get the most out of new solutions put in place.
Most contractors realize they need to update the technology running their organizations in order to stay competitive. But replacing multiple, disconnected systems with slightly more modern versions of those same systems doesn’t help them arrive at the gains that a true software solution suite—with cohesive data—can net their business outcomes.
To both take full advantage of current technology advancements and scale for the future, contractors should look to upgrade to a construction-specific, integrated and cloud-based software suite. An integrated software suite standardizes construction data between the field, office and extended project teams, providing a single, accurate data set to base business decisions on, while cloud-based solutions allow that data to be gathered and analyzed in real time.
Meanwhile, software designed specifically for construction provides contractors with the right fields, common reports and proper industry terminology needed to make data relevant to different stakeholders.
None of that matters, though, if the software is not easy to understand and operate for end users. Intuitive user interfaces, automated workflows that reduce manual tasks and mobile-friendly formats make adoption much easier for contractors’ teams. Here are some other things to consider:
A Continual Technology Commitment
New software and technology implementations often occur—especially across the construction industry when an end user is trying to solve a specific need, but that’s simply a point solution. Today’s leading contractors are taking a different approach—developing corporate-led, ongoing technology strategies to ensure their businesses are getting full value from their investments.
A key part of these strategies is to routinely examine software use and technology processes to gauge:
In the construction industry, these questions have historically been left to IT professionals or a CFO. But as technology has evolved and more and more contractors are moving from on-premise software to cloud-based solutions, that dynamic is changing. The construction professionals that use software every day are becoming more tech savvy and thus, much more open to exploring functionality beyond traditional silos.
Leading contractors are empowering these users to help their organizations better leverage technology investments to squeeze every bit of relevant functionality possible. Many have created dedicated teams committed to improving internal processes, planning, internal innovation and staying informed on the latest technology advancements to ensure that software is used to its full potential.
Whether an entire team or one dedicated person, a commitment to maximizing technology investments can drive bigger margins, lower risk and increase company-wide efficiencies. Here are five key things to consider putting into action right away:
With the right software solutions in place and a commitment to consistently look for new ways in which technology can help improve processes, contractors can work smarter, realize more productivity and achieve larger profit margins. Leadership support and metrics for measuring technology success internally are a critical piece of ensuring ongoing ROI and better business outcomes.
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