Construction Industry's Digital Adoption: What Other Industries Can Teach Us

Digital transformation has been less beneficial to the construction than to any other in the last two decades. Compared with all other industries, it has only seen an average labor productivity improvement of one percent per year in that period.

In order to understand why the construction industry lagged behind other industries, we need to understand what other industries can learn from those that have benefited so much from digital technology in the last two decades.

In the next ten years, digital technology will provide tremendous benefits to the construction industry. By 2026, construction companies could save $1.8 trillion by adopting technology.

The industry of construction can drastically change in the coming years in aspects in fields such as cost reduction, better collaboration higher levels of productivity, and the overall growth of the construction business with the incorporation of the digital construction technology.

Proper Utilization and Adoption of Digital Construction

Digital transformation cannot be achieved without the regular use of technology that generates significant returns on investment. Some technology solutions have been resistant to adoption by trade contractors in the past. This resistance has also been faced by every other industry.

Adoption Tips for new technology in construction

There is no such thing as an easy change. However, there are a few methods that can help ensure that the newly introduced technology is properly used and returns on investment due to how many industries and organizations have already begun their digital transformation.

1. Proper Communication

It is very important that the intended users are clearly informed before any new technology is adopted. Ensure that they clearly understand the purpose of using the tool as well as the goals you have for their usage.

Employees tend to push back, ignore, or work around technology when they are confronted with it without understanding why it is happening, especially when they do not know why. It is important to get everyone on the same page as soon as possible.

2. Experience of the user

The solutions you choose should be tailored to your users and your business type to ensure that they will be the most effective for you.

The majority of companies try to get their employees to use solutions that were designed for other types of companies or that were generically designed for a wide range of industries in order to boost productivity and efficiency.

Therefore, it is very difficult for employees to incorporate the technology into their daily work without being faced with many challenges on a regular basis as a result of this.

3. Exhibiting the merits

The technology must be outlined in terms of how it will benefit both the company and the user. A powerful message like how the tool is going to make the workflow more and make the work easier" is one that will resonate with people. Make sure they see it.

4. Proper Training

Provide training on how to use the tool so users can do their work effectively. Always try to find ways to facilitate training so that it can be accessed on-demand according to the schedule of the participants.

Therefore, something like a software or tool that offers a library of on demand training videos and webinars can play a powerful role in allowing your employees to fully embrace your digital transformation through training videos and webinars.

Allow your employees to learn at their own pace by giving them a choice of learning methods.

5. Make the tool, technology, or software mandatory for everyone to use

It is important that the work process is built into the system once it is up to speed. The team will have a much easier time accepting the change if it has been well communicated and managed so that it is seen as an integral part of what they do as a whole.

6. Make people accountable for their actions

Ensure that you have a clear process for tracking and managing the adoption and utilization of the service, as well as holding people accountable to the expectations that you set for them and making adjustments accordingly.

Champion your investments and lead the charge.

Using technology to show your company as a company that values its new workers and its new technology is an effective way to overcome the heavy obstacle of skilled talent shortages. Connecting teams and promoting collaboration is easier with tools that make the job easier.

To learn more, watch the following video tutorial.

Video Source: Athlone Institute of Technology

Most importantly, with the right technology partners, you really are not alone and you can get help with a lot of important decisions.