The Future of the Connected Jobsite

Marcum’s Chuck Schwartz highlights the benefits and challenges of connected construction jobsites

So, getting new technologies to better connect the field and the office in an effort to improve collaboration becomes paramount. But it isn’t about shiny new technology, it has to be about real-use adoption so that the technology can transform business operations, improving an organization’s practices and efficiencies. A big return on investment can be seen, he says, with full and proper implementation.

“The ones who are successful have done their homework and standardized the tools they are using,” Schwartz says. “They are doing it differently.”

The use of technology — now and in the future — starts from the top, with management investing the time and resources to implement fresh ideas with the full understanding of those using them. Maybe that means taking an entire day to train superintendents on how to use a connected tablet and then giving them a dedicated support person for future questions.

“I believe a big part starts with establishing the commitment to use the available technology and creating an open and transparent discussion with staff on how they are going to use it,” he says. “Once communicated and people understand, it is establishing policies, guidelines and standardization and then furnishing the tools to establish buy-in and create a win-win.”

The first step in getting to a technology-filled future, he says, is integration. And the lowest-hanging fruit can be in construction payroll. Instead of antiquated ways of sending in timecards — he’s seen site managers turn in time information via a 2x4 board — organizations can cut a massive amount of time by using connected devices that send payroll information to a central database.

From there, it becomes much easier to step up to the next big wins in terms of materials, production wins and losses, equipment used and job costs. “To capture this information quickly and easily and get it back to the office is only going to create a win for the organization,” Schwartz says. “It will help you have better projections and better visibility on what it is really costing you do to work. You know where you have gaps, issues and where you are performing well. It makes for a more profitable business.”

The ROI advantage exists for businesses able to attract the best construction talent.

The construction industry has already proven the fastest-growing commercial adopter of drone use, skyrocketing use over 200 percent in the last year as a way to collect real-time data to track jobs, create accurate estimation and help with preconstruction and site planning.

Robotics is the next step, he says, as contractors now use robotics to improve and replace conventional layout tools to reduce the number of people and time needed to measure distances. Using almost completely automated site layout processes not only vastly cuts time spent in the process, but also feeds information into a single database to help inform the project moving forward.

The future of the connected jobsite, Schwartz says, embraces integration. As contractors adopt new technology, it must work to assist every area of the organization, with departments working together for the good of creating crucial advantages. A well-connected jobsite provides advantages for the now and positions itself for easy change in the future.

For more information on how construction software can help your organization create connected jobsites, please contact us. We are happy to share how our software can help you and your unique needs.