New technologies are being adopted rapidly by new construction businesses to create a niche in a highly competitive industry. You might be hesitant to change your business practices to make use of new technologies if you have been contracting for a while. It doesn’t matter if it’s not broken.
It is normal to be reluctant to implement new technology in your business. People don’t like change and are more inclined to keep things the same. You could be wasting your time, losing money, and missing out on valuable opportunities for your clients if you don’t take advantage of the most up-to-date technologies that were created to make your job easier.
If you have heard of some new technologies but aren’t sure if they’re right in your case, continue reading to find out the latest and greatest areas for improvement.
BIM proves to reduce construction errors and project duration
Building Information Modeling (or BIM) is one of the most talked about new technologies in construction. BIM is a collection of techniques that can be used in order to create digital images of buildings. These images can be used to represent an existing building in a renovation or refurbishment plan, or they can be created from scratch for clients to see how a project design will look when it is complete.
According to a December 2015 research report by Dodge Data and Analytics, in partnership with Bentley Systems, 48% of contractors saw a minimum of 5% material savings when using BIM. A similar report indicated that more than half of contractors also experienced a 5% time savings.
Drones and laser imaging revolutionizing the project planning phase
BIM technology is advancing rapidly thanks to new imaging techniques that can be extremely precise and cost-effective. Leading BIM firms use laser scanners mounted on tripods for digital images of buildings from inside and outside. This allows for more accurate cost estimates, better scheduling, and a better user experience.
While less than half of the construction firms surveyed use BIM for their projects, more than 30% of those who do use it report at least a 25% increase of labour productivity. BIM technology can be implemented effectively and efficiently to save time, money, and both time and money.
File Sharing and Communication Software to Increase Profits
It’s almost certain that BIM can work with your current business model. A cloud-based document storage solution and sharing solution is available. Online file management systems that allow for web-based meetings are becoming a more popular option in the construction industry. These systems allow firms to store and track thousands of documents generated during a project, share information quickly between the job site, construction office, and facilitate online meetings with all stakeholders.
Seventy percent are currently using a cloud-based storage app. More than 80% plan to digitize their file storage and become paperless in the next two years. Digital devices on-site that can connect to important project documents result in significant time savings and reduced errors.
Digitalized Project Scheduling Keeps Everyone On Track
You could be missing out on opportunities to save time and money by digitizing and sharing your construction schedule. Digital construction management software allows you to track labour costs and expedite the company’s pa