Opportunities for Improvement With Technology - Articles

As we stride toward the middle of summer when so many contractors are diligently working to ensure a profitable year, this issue of CFMA Building Profits provides another glimpse into the technologies that are evolving and impacting the construction ecosystem. After many years of lagging behind other industries, contractors are seeing how the use of well-integrated technological changes can lead to a stronger bottom line.

Investing in the latest innovations is no longer the purview of larger contractors. The past decade has seen rapid growth in reasonably priced technology improvements that are ensuring that even relatively small companies are nimbler in their bidding and execution of projects. Technology has moved from just being in our offices to assisting with our bidding, documentation of project plans, and schedules, as well as taking data out to wherever we are working.

One of the other great areas of improvement that we have now include utilizing technology to provide safer work environments as well as recognizing and reporting problems quicker than ever before. I hope that we can continue to strive toward greater improvement in our work through our ability to adapt and grow.

We have seen remarkable changes over the years — from the days of installing modem boards in PCs so that companies could transmit data back and forth to the field offices to now, when a phone can not only call, but also text and use apps to communicate and share data.

I’m hoping that you find the articles in this issue of CFMA Building Profits to be useful for your companies. These pages are filled with the expertise of many thought leaders in the industry.

In order to make sure you and your company are ready to advance and grow, I’d encourage you to read and even reread some of these articles. Make sure to also share them with others in your organization, and never miss an opportunity to grow and improve.

I’d also like to encourage you to consider the article about having a more inclusive technology culture for all generations. While those in our companies may be resistant to adoption and find it more difficult to adapt to new ways of operating, I believe that people can be better prepared to accept the new when we meet them where they are. Finding ways to encourage greater engagement will benefit everyone in your company.

I hope you have a wonderful summer and find some nuggets of wisdom and knowledge that you may be able to employ to help you be better, find more valuable ways to spend your time and energy, and bring a greater return to your companies.