Discover how the importance of construction software will be carried forward to the coming year.
At our Customer Summit in September 2014, Paul Wilkinson presented the current state of technology in the construction industry, the way it will change and the implications this will have. Focusing on his key points, we look at the current state of technology and how it is set to change in the coming year.
Moving on up
In the closing months of 2014, construction companies are not only clear of the recession but are now in greater need of better construction project management due to various investments made in the industry. From demands for more luxury homes in London to the government investing in house-building due to the Help-To-Buy Scheme, annual growth in output for the construction industry has reached 3.5%.
Those who survived the recession are the construction companies who updated their systems or changed their infrastructure to match new business needs and processes. In a time of business recovery, it was essential that companies could acquire new deals and have a system that managed data more successfully.
Increasing data needs
While updated ERP systems proved beneficial for refining data, as well as making construction companies run more efficiently, technology needs to change once again for those seeking success in 2015 and beyond. An increase in projects inevitably means an increase in data being collated by companies. Information and project data being acquired as a result of new clients, working with subcontractors, introductions of policies such as the Late Payment Charter and managing tax payments can only be managed successfully with the right construction software and modern technologies.
For some companies, data still remains siloed - reducing the efficiency and productivity of teams. The solution to this is adopting the right construction software and embracing modern technologies - mainly the Cloud. Many in the construction industry are concerned about the safety of placing data in the Cloud. However, worldwide information security spending has grown by nearly 8% in 2014 and is set for continual growth in 2015, so construction companies have no need to fear. By moving to the Cloud, companies will also be able to improve their mobile, information and social strategies. With the right construction software, companies can look to do more with their data.
Promote remote working
Not only will moving data online mean that a new infrastructure doesn’t need to be added every time a new project is started, it also means that the relevant people can have access to each project whenever and wherever they need it. By moving to the Cloud, construction companies will need to promote the use of mobile technologies so staff can access the data from mobiles, tablets and laptops whether working on-site or remotely.
By using the right construction software and combining it with modern technology, you will be able to do more with your data in the future, such as giving the whole business full visibility of all processes. Adopting Cloud and mobile technologies throughout the business will allow staff to work collaboratively with each other, as well as with clients, subcontractors and suppliers.
Progress in the construction industry no longer comes from working individually. Instead, the industry has to start working as a cohesive whole with data, modern technology and the right construction software at the heart of this collaboration. In order to develop your current technologies and software, you need to ensure that you have a financially viable supplier who can help you make the most of a mobile future within construction.
