As digital transformation continues to deliver unprecedented change, this is an exciting time to be in the construction industry.
- Technological advancement is creating the opportunity for the construction sector to evolve.
- Leading organisations are integrating digital technologies into their corporate strategy and are breaking down barriers to adoption.
- These organisations are improving efficiencies, winning new clients, new work, creating new business models and growth.
- The best talent is hungry for opportunity and to be in an exciting, inspiring environment.
WHY IS DIGITAL SO EXCITING?
It’s definitely not about the technology. It’s about the energy and potential in the companies that realise the advantages of digital transformation. The best are changing mindsets, organisational culture and inspiring employees with opportunities to develop digital skills and influence the future of the business.
It’s also exciting because of the wide range of opportunities digital is creating. The list below is by no means complete – the next generation of Digital Engineers will make sure of that – and this is why the future so exciting:
THE VARIETY OF DIGITAL OPPORTUNITIES
Digital construction transforms how we design, build and operate buildings and infrastructure by improving collaboration, productivity, quality and safety, reducing environmental impact, changing business models, and even creating new job roles.
Collaboration: The cloud connects people and workflows throughout the supply chain. Good collaboration can defeat inefficient processes to increase productivity and deliver more predictable projects.
Productivity: BIM workflows are being adopted across the supply chain, evolving from a tool that has historically been used to drive efficiency within design, into one that connects design to the build process, and from there to facilities management.
Data and its effective collection, analysis, communication and management are central to digital transformation. Patterns in the data generated by building information modelling (BIM) for example, can identify possible problems in the project or across the supply chain.
Using AR and VR will allow any mistakes to be spotted first in the digital world.
Pre- and digital fabrication could allow the industry to unlock manufacturing-style standardisation and productivity levels and accelerate end-to-end project delivery by minimising the number of on-site physical “touches” and waste.
Safety: Site-surveying drones provide an easier, more comprehensive and safer way to perform surveys, scans and inspections, and harness real-world data to improve speed and quality.
Machine learning – a type of AI – could play a significant role in mitigating risk in project management at the construction site. For example, it could automatically assign priority to issues, or “risk scores” to subcontractors.
Environmental impact: Sensors and systems linked by the IoT will allow better use of information to make the asset more responsive to the needs of its owners and occupants, inform future work pipelines, and improve the built environment.
What else?
The Blockchain: This technology could add transparency to every type of agreement and transaction. For example, contractors could automatically be paid following successful inspections, wherever they are in the supply chain.
Social and mobile computing: Consider the benefits of digital marketplaces where contractors can “crowdsource” problem-solving or access, on demand, the best skills at the right time, in the right place.
What else can the construction industry learn from manufacturing, with its high productivity and its lean, systematic method for waste minimisation?
What next? What new solutions, markets, business models and roles can innovative minds create when given the opportunity?
HOW TO MAXIMISE YOUR DIGITAL CAREER POTENTIAL
Successful individuals are those who proactively drive their own career development to build the vision, plot their roadmap and “just do it”.
We continue to develop tools to help you assess where you are now, where you want to go and the experience you need to get there.
We will also be promoting the industry leaders too – those exciting visionary companies that have embraced digital and are allowing employees to take part and influence the future of the business. Like Willow, who are at the forefront of Digital Twin technology and expanding around the globe:
Read more about Willow
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