The construction industry is rapidly growing and evolving before our eyes. Construction that took months can now be completed in a few days thanks to improved technology. These changes will continue to develop as better technology enters the market, making it even easier to complete dream projects.
If you aren’t already using technology to make tasks easier, then it’s time to rethink your strategy. Here’s how technology is helping small construction businesses make giant strides:
Helping Businesses Avoid Compliance Issues
The Office of Federal Contract Compliance conducts regular audits of federal construction projects. Known for being stern, the organization collected over $23 million in 2017 from companies that did not meet regulations. It is believed that a large part of this amount was owed due to poor data collection and filing. In addition, construction companies can face fines from the EPA and OSHA.
Here’s how technology is helping in this department:
- AI tools are being used to perform tasks such as reviewing compliance risks and assigning risk levels to potential threats based on how likely they are to occur.
- Businesses are going paperless and securing important files, including permits and licenses on the cloud.
- Construction companies are using technology to keep an eye on workers to ensure they adhere to safety regulations and building codes.
- Companies like BILLD are helping small companies get project-based lines of credit without financial issues.
It is believed that inefficiency, negligence, and poor documentation tracking are some of the main causes of compliance-related issues that cost the industry over $177 billion a year.
With CRM Tools, You Can Keep Employees and Clients Happy
More than 90% of companies with 10+ employees use customer relationship management (CRM) tools. These systems allow businesses to store and utilize the personal data of consumers to improve customer relationships and serve them better. This data can be accessed by employees, thus helping them stay on top of client requests and respond to them promptly, resulting in happier clients.
With CRM tools, employees get a complete view of a client’s history, preferences, and needs, making it easier for them to provide personalized service. As a result, clients feel greater satisfaction while employees enjoy a smoother process.
These tools reduce the burden and are now an important part of managing a construction business. Moreover, some even come with additional features such as the ability to send emails to clients.
Messaging Apps Can Improve Collaboration and Save Time and Money
Still using text messages, emails, and phone calls to stay in touch with your workers? It’s time to make a shift.
Collaboration tools such as Slack and Zoom have proven to be highly effective and engaging. They allow workers to collaborate on projects in real time, replacing slower and less effective methods such as emails and phone calls.
The latest apps even allow file sharing, including photos and videos. With construction companies working on different projects at the same time, the need for a collaborative tool has only increased. Workers can use these platforms to quickly communicate with each other and perform tasks such as ordering material, requesting blueprints, etc.
They remove the need to travel and have in-person meetings while offering increased productivity and enhanced team building.
Tech Tools Can Be Used to Make Construction Safer
No matter how many safety measures are put in place, construction can be a dangerous industry to work in. About 150,000 construction related accidents are reported per year across the country. However, with technology, the industry is now safer than ever. In fact, technology is not only changing the job but also the job site, making it safer and more accessible thanks to drones and other similar technologies.
Businesses are investing in drones to monitor construction sites, inspect high-risk areas, and identify potential safety hazards. Likewise, the use of wearables such as safety vests and smart helmets has increased in the last few years. Moreover, it is now possible to operate autonomous heavy equipment, such as bulldozers and excavators, remotely, thus reducing the risk of accidents.
Simulated Reality Brings Your Projects to Life
Virtual reality (VR) is now a part of the growing construction industry making for some exciting marketing prospects for the industry.
Simulated reality can be used in the design and planning phases of a construction project to visualize the end product in a 3D environment. This can help identify potential design flaws or issues before construction begins, saving time and money.
Businesses are already using VR and simulated reality to showcase projects to clients, giving them a chance to experience the final product before it’s built. Many experts believe that this will be the next big break in the construction industry as simulated reality helps generate interest and can be used to win both big and small clients.
Help You Identify Potential Candidates and Fill Jobs Faster
Technology is already being used to improve the hiring process, but there’s an opportunity to go even further. The construction industry is going through a labor shortage and small businesses often bear the brunt of this burden. Fortunately, technology is being leveraged to give companies access to a larger pool of candidates and make it easier to pick top applicants.
Video calls, for example, can be used to evaluate potential employees instead of having to call candidates in for a face-to-face meeting. This helps save time and attracts more applicants. In addition, keywords and AI tools can be used to identify intriguing resumes. This is of huge importance because more than half of resumes received are not relevant, and hiring managers don’t always have the time needed to go through each individual candidate’s application. They can use scanners and search tools to find what they’re most interested in.
Matt DiBara, the owner of DiBara Masonry, is the founder of The Contractor Consultants. He’s the fourth generation of Italian immigrant-built masonry that is ranked five stars on Google, Yelp, and HomeAdvisor. He’s known as the “undercover contractor” who works with celebrity clients and everyday homeowners to provide advice and insight about how to manage construction projects. In fact, we at The Contractor Consultants, believe that it is not possible to hire efficiently in today’s environment without the aid of technology.
The Contractor Consultants is a technologically advanced firm known for offering a variety of services, including resume reviews, assessments, scheduling interviews, reference checks, and more. Get in touch with us to learn more about how we operate. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
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