Digital Transformation: Empowering the Four Pillars of the Construction Industry
Food, clothing and shelter are the basic needs of mankind. As civilisation evolved, humans enhanced their basic needs which birthed many industries. Although the construction industry’s exact birth year is yet to be identified, living examples like the Egyptian Pyramid, Babylon’s marvellously paved roads, the ancient temples of Greece and the imperial palaces of China prove that the construction industry started thousands of years ago. With changing times, humans built permanent structures to live, work, gather and travel.
With the scientific advancements made during the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, the construction industry grew tremendously. Many world-famous structures were built during these periods including the Eiffel Tower, Panama Canal, Three Gorges Dam, etc. Skyscrapers like the Burj Khalifa are now predominant in the 21st century. It is obvious that the construction industry is playing a crucial role in the functioning of modern economies by developing an environment for health care, transport and other sectors. As the world’s population increases by the year, the construction industry will be forced to cater to larger demands with limited supply and time.
The Four Pillars of the Construction Industry
The construction industry carries out a wide range of activities, from designing and planning to constructing and maintaining (post-construction). Like any other industry, this industry relies on four essential pillars – Man, Material, Machinery and Money – to complete projects successfully.
Let us delve deeper into each of these pillars and understand their significance in the construction industry.
Man:
The human workforce works independently and in teams to bring structures from drawing to life. A holistic and skilled workforce includes Architects, Engineers, Project Managers, Construction Workers, and Specialised Workers. They are responsible for executing construction tasks, interpreting blueprints, ensuring safety standards and implementing sustainable practices. The training, experience and continuous professional development of the workforce are crucial for delivering successful outcomes.
Material:
Essential materials like concrete, steel, wood, glass, bricks, etc., are a major factor influencing a building’s durability, safety and aesthetics. Effective material management including selection, handling, storing, transportation and delivery at the right time and in the right quantities has a significant impact on the construction process and cost.
Machinery:
To enhance productivity, reduce dependency on the workforce, increase precision in activities and reduce construction time, the industry has adopted all sorts of machinery from small tools like drills and mixers to heavy machinery like excavators and cranes. Operating and maintaining these types of machinery efficiently and safely during construction time is a difficult and crucial task.
Money:
Constructing the buildings within the stipulated time comes with a stringent budget, proper financial planning and managing the same is highly critical to ensure the profitability and sustainability of the company. Tracking project sales, cash flow and profitability promptly will help the companies to correct their course of action.
Digital Transformation in the Construction Industry
The construction industry, which is often called the ‘brick and mortar’ industry, relies heavily on manual processes. Though many technologies have revolutionised other industries ahead of time, the construction industry realised the importance of technology only at a later stage. With changing customer demands, growing competition and environmental sustainability, construction companies are now involving themselves in the ‘Digital Transformation Journey’.
Digital Transformation is the process of using digital technologies to create new or modify existing business processes, culture and customer experiences. These technologies encompass a wide range including the Internet of Things (IoT), Building Information Modelling (BIM), Cloud Computing, Construction Management Cloud Software, Drones, Wearables, Prefabrication and Modular Construction, Mobile Apps, 3D Printing, Digital Twin, Robotics, Augmented and Virtual Reality, Artificial Intelligence, etc.
How Digital Transformation Empowers the Four Pillars of the Construction Industry
Let us look at how digital transformation is empowering the four pillars of the construction industry.
Man:
- Workforce Management: With custom-made web applications, companies can capture the entire profile of resources with detailed skill profiles and can efficiently manage resource requirements and deployment across various projects or locations. Face-recognition-based devices help the project team in monitoring the workmen who report to the project site at various shifts in real-time. With RFID (Radio Frequency IDentidication)-based sensors, the number of workmen working in a particular location can be monitored to achieve better productivity.
- Collaboration and Communication: Tools like MS Teams and WhatsApp facilitate real-time collaboration and communication among team members irrespective of their site location. In-house or external cloud-based solutions like Autodesk Construction Cloud, ensure the availability of the right information to all stakeholders.
- Safety: Wearable technologies and Internet of Things (IoT) devices monitor worker safety and the well-being of workmen within construction sites. These devices can track vital signs, detect hazards and provide real-time alerts, ensuring a safer working environment. With VR-based training solutions, workmen can be trained to follow safety protocols and reduce the occurrence of alarming incidents.
- Skill Enhancement: Web-based solutions like Coursera, Udemy and In-house Learning & Development Portals provide the workforce with access to upskill themselves anywhere anytime. Interactive and gamified platforms have increased engagement and prepared the workforce to acquire new competencies in a shorter duration.
Material:
- Supply Chain Management: ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning)-based digital platforms facilitate seamless integration and communication among suppliers, manufacturers and construction companies. These platforms help them to manage their orders, deliveries, logistics and payments. This increases transparency and reduces delays and errors. By leveraging data analytics, construction companies can make informed decisions about environmentally friendly materials, track their carbon footprint and implement recycling and waste reduction initiatives.
- Inventory Management: Real-time visibility and monitoring of inventory at the project site or warehouse through ERP solutions helps reduce project time and working capital, and procure materials through data-driven alerts. When RFID sensors are tagged with materials, identification and retrieval of materials, time can be reduced to a greater extent. With QR or Bar code-based tagging and tracking solutions, the entire material lifecycle can be monitored and appropriate actions can be taken to manage the same.
- Material Management: Concrete and steel are two major materials consumed in the construction industry. Custom-made mobile or web applications help the project team monitor the demand and supply of materials. This monitoring system helps the team to identify wastage areas and provides suggestions to optimise the current consumption as well.
- Alternative Methodologies: 3D printers can create complex geometries with minimal waste. This reduces the need for excessive material quantities, leading to significant material savings. Prefabrication and Modular Construction help to reduce material consumption, optimise resource utilisation and improve sustainability.
Machinery:
- Asset Management: With web or mobile-based solutions, assets can be audited on a predefined checklist at pre-defined intervals to arrive at a health card for assets. It enables continuous monitoring and trend analysis of asset health, ensuring the mobilisation of healthy assets and tracking the performance of assets at assembly and sub-assembly levels.
- Internet of Things: IoT sensors embedded in construction machinery collect real-time data on equipment performance, usage patterns and maintenance needs. By deploying sensors and connected devices, companies can monitor the consumption of resources such as water, energy and fuel. Telematics systems enable remote monitoring, predictive maintenance and better equipment utilisation, leading to reduced downtime and increased productivity.
- Automation and Robotics: By taking over repetitive and time-consuming tasks, such as bricklaying, concrete pouring and material handling, robots can significantly speed up construction processes. With their precision and speed, robots can complete tasks faster and more accurately than manual labour, leading to substantial time and cost savings.
- Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR): AR overlays digital information onto the physical environment, providing operators with real-time data, instructions and visualisations. VR allows operators to simulate and practice complex tasks and scenarios in a virtual environment. AR and VR enhance machinery operation, training and maintenance, improving productivity and reducing errors.
Money:
- Cost Estimation, Budgeting and Management: Cloud-based platforms provide a centralised and secure environment for managing financial data, budgets, expenses and invoices. They offer real-time visibility and collaboration, streamlining financial processes and facilitating efficient financial management. ERP systems integrate various business functions, including finance, accounting, project management and procurement.
- Data Analytics and Predictive Modeling: Digital transformation enables the collection and analysis of large volumes of project data. Artificial Intelligence power advanced analytics and predictive modeling to provide insights for cost-saving opportunities, risk assessment and optimisation of financial outcomes.
- Real-Time Financial Monitoring: Digital technologies enable real-time financial monitoring and reporting, providing construction companies with up-to-date insights into project costs, revenue and profitability. This empowers decision-makers to make timely adjustments and ensure financial success.
- Automation and Transparency: Robotic Process Automation (RPA) automates repetitive and rule-based financial tasks, such as data entry, invoice processing and payroll calculations. RPA improves accuracy, reduces errors and saves time, freeing up resources for more strategic financial activities. Blockchain offers secure and transparent financial transactions by creating a decentralised ledger. It can facilitate digital contracts, payment tracking and supply chain finance, enhancing financial transparency and trust among stakeholders.
Conclusion
Digital transformation is revolutionising the construction industry by empowering its four pillars: Man, Material, Machinery and Money. Digital technologies are enhancing workforce productivity, optimising material resources, improving equipment utilisation, enabling data-driven decision-making and seamless collaboration, and driving cost efficiency and profitability. Embracing digital transformation is no longer an option but a necessity for construction companies to stay competitive, deliver successful projects and thrive in a rapidly evolving industry.
Dhinesh Kumar G
Author
Author Bio
Dhinesh is a results-oriented Civil Engineer with a passion for construction and a penchant for driving digital transformation. With a solid 9-year track record in the industry, he has navigated various roles including Site Engineer, Planning Engineer, Business Analyst, Internal Product Manager and Digital Transformation Specialist. Over the past 6.5 years, he has led the development and implementation of numerous solutions related to Safety, Quality, P&M, Planning and Resource Management.
Dhinesh has designed, developed and deployed 15+ Business Intelligence Dashboards specific to Workforce, Cash Flow, Inventory, Employee and Procurement Analytics. All solutions have significantly enhanced efficiency, communication and collaboration across teams, resulting in substantial cost savings and elevated project outcomes. His unique ability is to bridge the gap between business and technology, effectively communicating complex ideas to diverse stakeholders and aligning organisational goals with technological advancements.
