4 Key AEC Learnings from 2020

Anything goes in 2020! You thought you saw it all and then something even more shocking happened. From our kids, or cats, photobombing our Zoom calls, to the new work attire of sweatpants to hide our quarantine 15, we have truly seen, and experienced, it all. And, through the chaos, we have persevered.

In the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) world, there have been ups and downs. Whether firms pivoted, or hunkered down, they did what they needed to do to survive and thrive.

AEC leaders have stepped up to inspire and motivate teams under conditions never before experienced. “There’s certainly a different type of leadership needed during a period of uncertainly,” states Christine Taraska, CFO at Cube 3 Studio. Like Taraska, so many AEC leaders stepped up to successfully tackle the challenges of 2020. They pivoted and inspired.

Here’s four key AEC learnings from 2020:

1. Keep Up On Industry Trends

To keep a pulse on the industry and your firm performance, follow several reliable, external sources of information. Cube 3 Studio utilizes the Architectural Billing Index and monitors their Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) monthly against the Deltek Clarity Architecture and Engineering Report high performer benchmarks.
Read Cube 3’s benchmarking success story

2. Work Smarter

MEA Consulting Engineers utilize AIA MasterSpec®, developed exclusively by Deltek, to write specifications in less than 75% of the time that it would take to create them from scratch. “The value gained and time saved by using AIA MasterSpec as our master guide specification resource is invaluable to our firm and allows us to put that time saved towards pursuing new business opportunities,” says Michael Aitken, Vice President, MEA.
Read MEA’s time savings story

3. Maintain a Team Culture

Liza Smitherman, VP of Corporate Development, Jostin Construction, emphasizes the importance of maintaining your company culture. She explains, “…Maintain a team culture, especially during this time when we are living in a pandemic and interacting the way we are here today ─ on a computer screen. It's important that even if we do this remotely, that we continue to stay connected and protect our identity and who we are as a business. So how you do that? This can be done by connecting online occasionally or safely meeting while physically distant. It's important that you maintain the culture that you have established in your business.”
Learn how Jostin Construction powers project success

4. Connect Your Remote Employees

When A. Morton Thomas and Associates, Inc. (AMT) implemented the Deltek Cloud, they had no idea what was in store for their business in 2020, but through this cloud technology they were able to create a safe and secure working environment for remote employees across the country as they moved from 20 locations to 320 home offices.
Learn how AMT pivoted their processes

AEC firms and leaders – like these and so many more – inspire us every day. Thank you for pushing forward to drive innovation and success. We are so happy you are part of Deltek Project Nation! Cheers to you, and as we wrap up this year, we wish you continued success into 2021 and beyond.

Interested in sharing your AEC success story? Email the AEC Marketing Team at aec@deltek.com and you may be featured in a future blog.