Tech-forward people and organizations live by five words: there's an app for that. As more and more tasks become digitized, we increasingly rely on software to get things done.
But while having all these apps can certainly make life easier, they can also create challenges around data transfer and system integration. This is especially pronounced in the construction industry, where projects span multiple teams, phases, and complex workflows.
It's no wonder many firms are turning to construction automation. By putting specific workflows on autopilot, teams can focus less on entering or searching for information, and instead dedicate their time to solving challenges and driving project success.
Here to talk about all things automation is David Purdon, Technical Director at NTI Diatec. As a seasoned expert in construction technology, David has seen firsthand how automation transforms operations and empowers teams to achieve more.
We discuss:
The role of automation in construction has evolved as the industry has progressed. Ten to fifteen years ago, when firms were just starting to digitize their workflows, teams turned to point solutions to streamline specific tasks. But as we've advanced and adopted more technology, we've encountered challenges in connecting these tools and creating cohesive systems.
David remarks, "We ended up with a lot of disparate pieces of technology. So, the key thing with automation is looking at all these separate processes and technology and asking, 'How can I get these things to talk?"
It doesn't stop there, though. Another essential piece is establishing clear processes for the flow of data.
"There has to be rules and governance about moving your data between different systems. And that's really where the automation comes in," he adds.
Automation isn't just about removing manual steps. At its core, automation is about the smooth transfer of data as it moves across different systems. Getting this right leads to better project outcomes, reduced risk, and a more successful business overall.
Consider the following.
Automation limits risks and variables
"If you look at the most successful businesses within our industry, one thing they have in common is they understood very early on that the data is a lifeblood of their success. Remember, we are in the business of mitigating risk."
How can firms minimize risk? Start by maintaining consistent processes and limiting variables brought about by human interaction or disparate tools.
David says, "With automation, we can minimize the impact of those things. We can move the information from A to B without worrying about what happens in the middle. At the end of it, it gives you an informed business and an informed business is a successful one."
Attracting the next generation
A byproduct of automation is creating an innovative and tech-forward workplace, which can attract younger generations to the industry.
"We have a tech-savvy generation coming into our industry. They're expecting these things. To hire the best people, you need the best processes and technology. It's as simple as that," says David.
"If you want to bring people onto a building site, it has to be a little bit sexier than just wearing a hard hat and boots."
Construction automation doesn't look the same for everyone. Depending on the firm, it can range from integrating existing tools to building custom solutions to meet unique needs. Here are some insights that David shared.
Construction automation tools
Let's start with the tools. According to David, each company's methods to integrate and automate their systems would depend on their existing tech stack.
"The tools vary depending on the circumstance, but the most common ones are predicated by the type of tools clients already have. So, we ask clients, 'What do you have in place, and what can we leverage to do the things that you need?"
David notes that while these tools cover a lot of ground, sometimes more tailored solutions are necessary.
"We're now looking at building things from scratch using web development, both front and backend."
Knowing your processes is key
David says that in many cases, the company's procedures would dictate the most effective automation solutions.
"Each client would look at their individual processes and scale that into what the business needs. You could take something as simple as moving data from platform A to platform B—then look at the rest of the business and figure out how to replicate and scale it. Depending on that need, you either go with backend automation or frontend web development."
Additionally, he emphasizes the importance of understanding your firm's processes thoroughly.
"The key thing is that the individuals within these organizations have to know their processes inside and out. At Diactec, our role is to understand the process and say, 'Well, I have everything you're doing from point A to point B. What can we automate in the middle to just free you up?'"
Not everybody wants to work in the same system
David brings up another important point: not all teams work the same way, nor should they be forced into a single system.
"You've got to understand, as a business, not everybody wants to work in that one system. Some people are comfortable working within Office 365 or SharePoint, but then you have the other part of the business delivering the project. Their native environment is the project delivery system."
According to him, teams must find ways to integrate systems while accommodating different workflows.
"It's about marrying those two things but respecting the autonomy of the information."
No conversation about data and automation would be complete without the topic of artificial intelligence. David sees immense value and potential in two areas: helping us prepare the next generation of builders and surfacing the right information for thoughtful decision-making.
Building a robust knowledge bank and workforce
"AI and machine learning should lean into the learnings and understandings of the people it serves. It should be about understanding successful practices and then bringing that intelligence in," says David.
"So, when those circumstances arise, you have that to fall back on and say, 'Well, that circumstance happened before, and here's how you dealt with it."
This type of intelligence is incredibly useful, especially as more people retire from the industry. AI can help capture and preserve institutional knowledge that would otherwise be lost.
As David puts it, "We have an aging workforce, and all that tacit knowledge and skill are locked into these individuals across the industry. And a lot of our clients are asking, 'How do I take that learning and that tacit knowledge and put it into a system where I can onboard the next generation of experts?'"
He continues, "If we use AI and machine learning within our tool sets, the technology can understand the behavior. You've now got that wealth of knowledge built up in the data bank that the AI's leaning on.
Surfacing meaningful insights for the right people
Of course, amassing data and analytics is one thing, but you also need to ensure that the right insights reach the right people. David's advice? Tailor your data presentation to fit the audience.
"You must have measurable data that you are capturing at source, and then you need a methodology to absorb that intelligence and format it for people to read at different levels."
He continues, "What a CEO wants to look at is entirely different from a project lead, but it's the same data. It's just about changing the lens to make it relevant to the people who need to see it."
Digital Builder is hosted by me, Eric Thomas. Remember, new episodes of Digital Builder go live every week.
