I’ve seen the construction industry advance immensely over the past few years. Technology has evolved drastically, allowing machinery to take on much of the work that used to require intense physical labor. Additionally, paperwork and manual record-keeping is now done by software applications that automate daily processes. This evolution, however, has been met with much resistance.
On the outside, looking in, it may seem counterintuitive for companies to experience apprehension about adopting an application that will, in the end, make their jobs easier while allowing their organization to level up and maximize ROI. Still, the reality is that many will not consider modernizing their business. Why? There is a multitude of reasons.
Many modern applications boast out-of-box solutions, one-size-fits-all, interoperability between modern and legacy systems at the push of a button, and so forth. These guarantees sound promising, and in the early days of software adoption, many construction companies were gung-ho and jumped in with both feet. But unfortunately, many of the early applications did not deliver on what they promised. Further, many platforms did not understand the nuance that the construction industry entails and did not offer seamless solutions.
Simply put, these platforms were not out-of-box. Instead, they required code and human expertise, which resulted in steep upfront costs to organizations.
What’s worse is that not only did these applications cost an arm and a leg; additionally, companies were forced to acquire more than one platform to perform different tasks. These multiple applications resulted in siloed data, leaving disparate systems and departments unable to communicate effectively with each other across the lifecycle of ongoing projects.
Consider this: how can an organization successfully track employee hours, work-in-progress reports, deliveries, and deadlines when critical information is inaccessible to the people that require it? It can’t.
That brings us to today. It’s no wonder that construction companies are apprehensive about modern software adoption. Most companies are asking these questions: Does modern software deliver on its promises? Will one application really provide all of the required features? Is interoperability between modern and legacy systems real? Will I have access to all of my data to make better business decisions regardless of which application the information originated from or currently resides? These are valid questions. And the answer is a resounding yes.
Modern applications can deliver on these promises. Software adoption, implementation, and interoperability can be simple, straightforward, and seamless. However, it’s not easy and cannot be done at the push of a button or by purchasing out-of-box solutions.
And so the million-dollar question becomes: Then how can it be done?
Your first step should be hiring the services of an Expert Technology Advisor (ETA). ETA’s understand the unique needs of organizations in the construction industry. Additionally, they know the ins and outs of modern technology. As a result, they can guide you in selecting the right new software for your company. Alternatively, they can help you get the most from your existing software applications. Moreover, they will configure your new application to fit your individual and organizational needs and create access to your data silos. The result is a dashboard allowing you access to all critical business information and data insights at your fingertips.
Interoperability isn’t a myth; you can make it your reality. Modernizing your business has become absolutely game-changing in recent years––there’s no longer any reason to fall behind your competitors. So what are you waiting for? Take your business to the next level.