Building the Future: A New Era of Construction Innovation

Historically, the construction industry has been hesitant to adopt innovative technologies, largely due to high costs and perceived risks. However, a transformation is underway. Today, we’re witnessing the immense value these innovations bring, and it’s exciting to see contractors eagerly embracing them.

This journey to digital transformation is all about modernizing traditional building methods and making them more efficient and cost-effective. As we continue to integrate digital technologies, the tools and systems will only get better. And by moving from generic accounting systems that require extensive manual input to an industry-specific solution like Deltek ComputerEase, contractors can evolve their business operations to meet the demands of a fast-paced, tech-driven world.

Innovative Technology Enhancements

Technology has truly revolutionized the construction industry, especially in how we communicate between the field and the office. Remember the days of weekly, handwritten time sheets? Those are becoming a thing of the past for most construction companies. Now, many contractors enter time daily on mobile devices—whether it’s a phone, tablet, or iPad—in real time. The adoption of technology not only saves time but also cuts costs for contractors of all sizes.

What excites me most is how technology will continue to evolve and transform how we go to work each day. We’re flipping the script from being slightly behind the times to becoming leaders in technological innovation, and we’re already starting to see that shift in the following ways:

Mobile

Mobile technology has emerged as a powerful tool to enhance construction field mobility. The ability to communicate in real-time on our mobile phone means we can pull reports instantly, review change orders, scan receipts, fill out daily timecards, field reports and more. Gone are the days of paper-based tasks or emailing Word documents and Excel spreadsheets. Management, project managers and field superintendents now have real-time visibility into project progress, eliminating the delays they used to face.

Cloud

The transition to cloud-hosted solutions is one of the most significant changes we’ve experienced in the last decade. Long before we even referred to it as “the cloud,” we were hosting contractors’ applications on secure servers in data centers. The term cloud might sound mysterious to some, but in reality, it simply means your accounting and job costing solutions are hosted in a secure, off-site facility rather than on a server in a dusty office closet.

Cloud technology offers top-notch security and automated backups and provides unparalleled flexibility and accessibility, allowing teams in the field and the office to collaborate seamlessly from anywhere. Leveraging a cloud-based solution enhances productivity and ensures that everyone has access to the latest data and tools, fostering a more integrated and efficient workflow.

Industry Automation

Automation has completely transformed how we operate, especially in terms of communication between teams. I’ve been in this industry long enough to remember when we had to physically transport documents like time sheets and material order lists. Now, we can do all that directly on our mobile devices in the field. With automation technologies, like drones for site surveys and robotic machinery for repetitive tasks, contractors can reduce labor costs, improve productivity and enhance safety by minimizing hazardous duties.

In addition, automation has streamlined the process of managing essential reports and wage compliance. Contractors no longer have to manually calculate prevailing wage rates or prepare critical reports like WIP and certified payroll. This saves significant time and reduces errors. The ability to access real-time information transforms how the industry operates, allowing contractors to make intelligent, proactive decisions. Instead of spending countless hours compiling data, they can use that information immediately to make informed decisions that impact projects.

Artificial Intelligence

We’ve been using forms of artificial intelligence (AI) long before it became a buzzword. Analyzing data and generating reports through construction accounting and enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions is essentially AI at work. These systems take raw data, analyze it and present it in a way that tells a story about what’s happening and what might happen next. Artificial intelligence will continue playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of our industry by providing insights and predictions, helping us make informed decisions quickly.

The term AI can be intimidating, but when we focus on its practical applications—like automatic data analysis and report generation—it becomes much more relatable. By simplifying the conversation and highlighting what AI does, we can help contractors understand and embrace these advancements.

ICR

Technologies like Intelligent Character Recognition (ICR) are revolutionizing the construction industry. For example, the ability to take a picture of a receipt and have an app automatically read and populate the necessary fields represents a significant advancement. This technology not only eliminates the need to save and manually process receipts, which were often damaged, missing or illegible but also enhances efficiency and accuracy.

Now, with a quick photo in the field, the office is updated in real-time about the purchase. This real-time data integration streamlines administrative tasks, reduces errors and improves financial tracking and decision-making. By leveraging ICR, contractors can focus more on their core activities and less on tedious paperwork.

Robotics

Robotic process automation (RPA) is also becoming increasingly common in the field, offering numerous benefits beyond just efficiency. While skilled workers will always be essential, innovative technology can assist with labor-intensive and physically demanding tasks, creating a safer working environment. For example, bridge builders can use RPA to tie rebar, a traditionally manual and back-breaking process. Operated by a person, the machine not only boosts productivity and efficiency but also reduces the risk of injury by eliminating strenuous labor. This safer work environment helps in attracting and retaining workers, while boosting employee morale, as they can focus on more complex and rewarding tasks. By minimizing the physical toll on workers, companies can improve job satisfaction and foster a healthier, more motivated workforce.

Overcoming Challenges with Technology

One of the biggest challenges we face today in the construction industry is the labor shortage. This isn’t a new issue; we’ve been dealing with it for some time now. Our specialized workforce is aging, and more people are retiring than entering the field. Fortunately, technology is stepping in to help us address this challenge in several impactful ways.

Innovative technology can help construction firms perform tasks that used to require manual labor. Supplementing operations doesn’t replace the human workers, but allows them to accomplish more. This kind of technology helps bridge the labor shortage gap by enabling construction companies to do more with fewer people.

To attract young talent, businesses must provide them with the technology tools they expect. Imagine asking a young worker to join the construction industry and manually fill out timesheets or daily field reports—it just won’t cut it. They want to do these tasks on their phones. By integrating modern technology, we not only attract new talent but also make our companies more appealing to work for. In addition, we need to demonstrate that we’re a forward-thinking, modern industry.

Today’s workforce values efficiency, flexibility and the ability to leverage digital tools. Real-time information empowers us to make better decisions, giving contractors the best chance for success on their jobs. By adopting mobile apps, cloud-based solutions and automated systems, we create a work environment that meets the expectations of modern workers, making our industry more appealing and competitive. 

The Future of Construction

Looking to the future, I’m particularly excited about the potential of productivity tracking. Historically, contractors have tracked productivity, but it was neither real-time nor easy. With today’s technology—AI, drones and more—we can monitor progress in real-time without cumbersome manual data entry. This means we can measure the amount of work done with minimal effort from the field.

Many contractors may not realize the value of these technologies because they assume they’re too expensive or not meant for them. However, today’s technology makes these solutions accessible to everyone. It’s our job as industry leaders to help explain what these tools are, what they can achieve and to show contractors of all sizes how easy they are to implement.