A good practice of project management in construction is laying a plan that allows for efficient utilization of material, labor, and other resources. Better productivity for the cost should be a priority right next to successful completion of a structure. Being able to do that consistently can make your company very attractive to new clients.
Setting an accurate plan and carrying it out can be easier said than done. For a project to be successful, a lot of things have to come together, including all inspection and surveying, inventory procurement, custom parts fabrication, and more.
All these matters require careful attention and coordination to keep costs and delays from spiraling out of control. Labor and productivity are essential to ensuring a project stays on time and within budget but they can be much harder to plan for.
Even the most reliable team of professionals can still vary in their output, depending on many different factors that aren’t always in your control; you can tell how many flat washers for fastener assemblies you will need early on, but you can’t tell if a vital machinery operator may need to leave due to illness or if inclement weather will prevent outdoor work.
This is why contingency plans and flexible schedules are important, but there are new capabilities in the construction industry that make the unpredictable a little more manageable.
Technologies that allow for automated operations have been a game-changer for many industrial sectors, and construction is no exception. Surveying drones, robots that do the heavy lifting, and 3D rendering of job specifics are more than just impressive; these tech capabilities facilitate better project management and cost savings.
Companies that invest in this technology may have been taking a leap just a few years ago, but now it seems like a solid bet. Utilizing AI and automation is no longer a novel move; now companies that forego such tech capabilities may do so at their own peril.
When your competitor can provide officials and clients with software guided tours of progress, or reduced labor fees thanks to the help of automated equipment—while you’re still doing things the old way—you may find your opportunities slowly decreasing.
The benefits of construction technology exceed the ability to acquire more clients and contracts. With more automation, the planning of a job and execution is far more predictable. This is due in part because your capabilities are consistent and uncontrollable factors become less of an issue.
This doesn’t mean that every worker who must take leave could be replaced by a robot that’s able to work rain-or-shine, snow-or-sleet, and around the clock, but autonomous equipment is lightening the load in more ways and helping to fill in the gaps of a shrinking pool of job applicants.
They’re also speeding up inspection and surveying processes so that schedules can be more detailed and required budget or timeline adjustments can be more precise. This is happening on the job site and across the supply chain. It’s now easier to source, get quotes, and schedule delivery of components like standard flat washers and fastener assemblies and check off that task in your project management software with just a few taps on a screen.
As technology has moved from a concept to an accessible capability, now is the time for companies to evaluate and see where they can benefit. These assets are shifting from novel to necessity, and the last thing you’ll want to do is dismiss it all as a trend when it’s making or breaking major opportunities.