Emerging Digital Intervention In Construction Industry

The complexity with which construction projects are processed is incomparable to most of the business processes out there. This sector has always been prone to unexpected obstacles. Therefore, it requires the best management skills for efficient and effective execution.

Construction projects have such a complex hierarchy of work breakdown structures that not only is communication and collaboration difficult, but misunderstanding, in some cases, can be inevitable. Using traditional processes increases overall delays and inaccuracies, often leading to cost overruns and subsequent project termination.

For example, ineffective communication in the work hierarchy structure can delay the delivery of correct information and then inevitably delay the entire project in the end. But with the current trends in the construction industry of performing the management process digitally, all these setbacks can be left behind as troubles of the past.

Why was the construction industry not digitised until now?

Prior to the last decade, the digitisation of the construction industry was unimaginable for project managers and contractors. Delays were considered to be something avoidable, which couldn’t be reduced beyond a point, and digital space was still unknown to builders due to the lack of availability of digital solutions.

But now, affordable smartphones and low data costs have enabled everybody to have access to the internet, which has made data collection from sites possible. The last two years of COVID have aided the adoption of digital solutions, proving to the old-school construction industry that there is merit in going digital, resulting in timelines being met and costs being saved.

Disruptor in the Construction Industry

Construction site management was one of the major challenges faced during the pandemic since it was impossible to assess if the project was on track without being physically present on the project site. Abandoned construction sites became a nightmare for the stakeholders because they were unable to determine what was going on at the worksite from remote locations. Lack of site visibility and management came as a massive downturn for the construction industry as a whole.

With current developments in construction project management platforms that are equipped with digital apps, all the mentioned issues can be easily resolved. Construction project management apps have been developed to manage every construction operation digitally. From project site attendance to material management, monitor and manage everything by just swiping your fingers. Some of the features provided by these construction management softwares are:

● Work Progress Management: This can be done in real-time, which enhances project execution. Work is done as per the design schedule and regular updates can be shared using photos within the app.

● Material & Labor Management: It becomes seamless with the help of software. You have options to record and track, avoid shortage situations, and make timely payments within the planned budgets.

● Reports & Dashboards: All this data can be viewed in just a few minutes as all the information is present on the cloud, which would otherwise take hours to compile and analyse.

● Communication & Collaboration: Construction project management apps are purpose-built for collaborative communication. Interaction can happen more efficiently at each tier of the project team and among all relevant stakeholders, avoiding clutter and confusion.

All these features make the construction management process quite easy and, thus, digitally empower the construction industry to grow rapidly. Any developments in construction project management techniques bring about a drastic change in its growth curve.

Conclusion

The construction and infrastructure industry of India, which is labeled as traditional and inefficient, is showing a higher inclination towards the adoption of technology. This, coupled with the acceleration given by COVID and the availability of efficient solutions in the market, which were earlier non-existent, is a positive signal towards unleashing the full potential of the Indian economy.

(The given article includes inputs from Iesh Dixit, CEO & Co-founder, Powerplay  and has been created exclusively for BW Disrupt website)