Artificial intelligence (AI) offers exceptional potential for the construction industry. It can help construction companies make more informed decisions, improve efficiency, increase safety, minimize risk, reduce costs and many other valuable benefits.
Yet, although nearly two-thirds of construction managers believe that their industry is “keeping pace with tech awareness,” other studies show that 65% of them report that their companies are not currently using AI.
Where is the disconnect?
Traditionally, construction companies have been slow in embracing technology. Yet the current AI revolution has the potential to dramatically change the industry, leaving slow-adopters far behind.
To evolve, construction companies will need to view planning and operations from a new perspective, recognizing the pivotal impact and value artificial intelligence and other technologies will have in the future.
Even today, AI already is available to the construction industry for utilization in a broad range of applications. Key areas include project management, project design and updating, safety enhancement and prevention, and predictive monitoring of maintenance and quality. If the potential advantages from technology are so significant, what’s holding the construction industry back from adopting them?
Here are five initiatives construction companies can take right now to speed their technological adoption and evolution:
1. Add a dedicated technology expert to the executive team
Many construction companies don’t know what they don’t know because they don’t have a technology/AI expert as part of their executive leadership, with influence on planning, strategy and operations.
2. Make technology a priority in planning
Technology should be added to planning with an elevated priority. Together, with the above technology executive, management should craft a strategy for the company, from a new perspective, together with a plan for its implementation.
3. Prioritize budgeting for technology
The tech world is moving very quickly. Those that slowly embrace it will get left behind. Budgeting for technology must be elevated in priority because innovation is moving so quickly. While there is an investment needed to get things started, justifying the investment to the financial team can compare favorably with other budget considerations when one values the quantifiable reduced costs, increased efficiencies and prevention of future risk that technology can provide. As it is said, technology doesn’t cost, it pays.
4. Develop a goodwill campaign relating to technology adoption and leadership
Employees can be nervous about new things happening at work, like the adoption of technology. Getting one’s messaging ahead of implementation has the potential to instill pride and loyalty in employees, who become appreciative of their working for an advanced company. A company can also give employees added confidence by investing in training so they value how it will improve work experience and results.
5. Promote technology as a marketing competitive advantage
Customers and clients prefer doing business with companies that are on technology’s cutting edge. Create a marketing message, based on technological advantages, and promote it to create distance from the competition.
The construction world is at the early stages of artificial intelligence and the industry’s evolution into becoming more technologically prioritized. The leading construction companies of the future will be those that more quickly embrace technology and artificial intelligence today and make it a fundamental component of their operations going forward.”
James Gallagher, P.E., F.ASCE, is a construction dispute resolution thought leader and Principal at Resolution Management Consultants.
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