Keeping projects in the black is, as we all know, the only thing that truly matters with regards to building profitable and successful businesses. This is critical in construction, where competition is fierce, the stakes are high and also the balance sheets are sizeable.
Construction is also an industry that has been slow to embrace technology – that is somewhat surprising considering the nature from the business. Insufficient new tech on sites shouldn't be confused with deficiencies in precision or due care, but it has certainly impacted on attempts to improve profitability.
According to research from McKinsey and Company, the construction sector is stuck in a time warp when it comes to productivity. In 2022, the averaged a yearly growth of only one per cent in productivity during the last two decades, over a growth of 3.6 per cent in manufacturing.
Technology in construction has vast possibility to improve not just productivity, but also quality of work and profitability, helping everyone in the site manager to the CFO visit a good result.
Why tech should be adopted
The construction market is, overall, very traditional in nature. That, coupled with a worldwide lack of skilled workers, creates an urgent need for modernisation. Technology and digitalisation are the clear route forward for this market if we're to satisfy global infrastructure demands and track of population growth – while remaining profitable and financially viable.
How tech can enhance the sector's performance
The main source of financial distress in construction can be traced back to deficiencies in accuracy. Inaccurate measurements, digging locations, material assembly and machine use can all cost big, often requiring a re-do of or area of the job. This is, unsurprisingly, enormously costly -not to mention the considerable reputational impact.
Technology has the power to prevent inaccuracies right where they are. Geopositioning solutions, for example, can pinpoint a construction place to within a millimeter, eradicating the risk of wrongly built foundations and making certain elevations are completely precise. Meanwhile, harnessing the strength of real-time, accurate information is key to creating a quality workflow and all the efficiencies this brings.
In harnessing the power of technology and digitalisation, construction businesses are in position to overhaul their processes, making them more efficient and more lucrative.
The technology that are changing construction
There are numerous technology at play whenever we talk about the adoption of tech in construction, each trying to drive efficiencies on site and ensure the highest quality build.
Some from the key Topcon systems being used today include:
- Machine control systems, accustomed to automate digging, paving and so forth, causeing this to be laborious process quicker and much more accurate. Not a alternative to real-life jobs, machine control is an help to help workers operate with precision.
- Construction verification solutions that minimise errors and ensure projects are executed correctly the first time, according to design, thus vastly lowering the risk of a re-do.
- Project and data management software which reinforces productivity by giving complete project workflows and enabling real-time communication of information between all stakeholders.
All three of those areas of automation have the potential to enhance turnover and profitability – and combined, they are formidable. Of course, the adoption of technology and increased digitalisation aren't restricted to construction; the foundations behind tech such as this does apply to countless industries. By using technology to work more precisely, businesses can enhance their productivity and, consequently, their bottom line.
Putting tech into practice
You don't need to be considered a fan of motorsport to understand the name Silverstone. This cornerstone of British car racing represents the pinnacle from the sport in the united kingdom – and it requires a superior quality road surface to provide on its reputation as the ultimate race circuit .
Lead contractor Tarmac and Italian racetrack specialist Dromo were appointed to provide an intricate resurfacing project to guarantee the track's road was of the most useful. Dealing with Topcon Positioning Group and its SmoothRide machine control technology, together they ensured that there would, quite literally, be no bumps along the road. The team also sought to change the camber of the road to optimise water run-off. SmoothRide 3D analysis hadn't previously been used on a racetrack, but it was deployed with your precision that the result was one of the smoothest milled surfaces ever to be seen on the circuit.
Tech can be found at construction sites around the world, from airports to highways, skyscrapers to hospitals – the key point now is to increase the adoption of technology to further aid commercial success. Tech is most effective if this spans multiple contractors; the ideal world has businesses working with just one digital scheme to provide the very best end result – in the project quality and their own balance sheets.
The future of construction
Technology similar to this can revolutionise the standard construction industry, saving huge amounts of time and expense on building and infrastructure projects. The widespread implementation of such technologies has enormous consequences for that pace and excellence of future global development.
Technology adoption brings by using it improvements in productivity, without loss of manpower or jobs. This is not about replacing real individuals with machines. Rather, it comes down to providing individuals with the best tools available to enable them to deliver an exceptional job and – crucially – develop a financially viable business.