COVID drives uptake in construction technology
B.C. construction becoming a high-tech industry
October 15, 2021
Our Sustainable Future – Podcast
September 30, 2022
Following an article by Peter Caulfield in the Journal of Commerce, there is more to be said about the impact that COVID-19 and the various restrictions, limitations and shortages that have come have had on the rate at which Canada’s construction industry is “going digital” and the benefits that early adopters are reaping.
From our work supporting construction companies as they implement modern methods of construction for the first time, we have first-hand knowledge of the business preoccupations and experience of the practical issues. In all of the projects for which Scius manages the innovation implementation or research program (so far), the digital project delivery is driven by the general contractor or prefabrication specialist.
Most of the large companies we work with understand the benefits of supporting their operations with technology, but they are applying technology to improve traditional practices rather than to strategically develop new leaner business models that would improve overall client experience and project delivery. This means that inherent disfunctions are now hard wired into their digital strategies – as illustrated by the sophistication of tasks such as change order management.
While many of their smaller counterparts have been slower to catch on, this is not always because they are laggards. Each large general contracting company creates their own technology “gravitational field” into which sub-contractors get pulled and are then forced to “pick horses” in terms of technology investments.
No question, there is unprecedented interest in digital tools and – in our experience – it is driven by the smaller, nimbler companies that know they need to be efficient, reliable and productive, to be competitive and that digital technology will enable them to get there. In fact trades with a lot of complex co-ordination requirements are frequently driving the adoption of BIM. Not surprisingly, the specialist mass timber installers such as Structurecraft, Kinsol, Seagate and others are at the pointy end of virtual design and construction.
The right digital solutions for a company should be selected after it first understands its business needs and what processes its clients use. For the tech-hesitant, not a lot of time and money needs to be invested in expensive technology to improve their work processes. Most lean construction benefits are derived by clear communication and solid team management. However, COVID has forced the adoption of virtual project management platforms, scheduling systems and ZOOM onto pretty much everyone. For those that are willing to grasp the opportunity, COVID has provided many with the boost they need to go to the next step of digital adoption.
