How is technology transforming the construction industry?

Over the past few decades, technology has fundamentally changed the way many of us live our lives – and the way we work. But how could construction companies benefit from going digital?

Construction is such a hands-on, practical industry that the effects of the digital revolution may not yet have had such an impact on this sector as it has on others – but as technology evolves, this is likely to change. New digital solutions to the challenges construction companies face are emerging every day, and savvy businesses are increasingly finding new tech products and services to improve the way they work.

Is your organisation already seeking new solutions, or are you yet to realise the potential of new technologies? Wherever you are on your digital journey, here are three key areas in which tech could boost your business…

Facilitating collaboration

Whether you’re already using it within your organisation or not, you’re likely to have some understanding of the Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology that has infiltrated the construction industry in recent years. BIM is the process of creating and managing information on a project throughout its duration, which is used to create a building information model that contains data on every aspect of the construction.

Many construction companies will have already benefited from BIM, which has been mandatory on all government projects since 2016. For contractors, the main benefit is likely to be the way that BIM enables sharing, collaborating and versioning throughout the project’s lifecycle, so everyone involved can access real-time data on the project. This makes collaboration with other suppliers so much simpler, as having access to this information minimises the risk of mistakes and can boost efficiency.

Improving health and safety

As the construction industry has one of the worst track records for health and safety in the UK, it’s encouraging to see technology being used to improve the safety and protect the wellbeing of construction workers.

Virtual reality (VR) is being used to expose workers to the risks of poor health and safety practices within a safe environment. Some companies have already incorporated VR into their induction process, enabling new workers or contractors to experience the dangers that different sites can pose without putting them at risk.

When they’re on site, you can also protect your workers by placing sensors in different areas, to ensure that the site is safe for them to work on. Sensors can collect and monitor a wide range of data, from noise levels and ultraviolet rays to airborne particles. With sensors constantly analysing this data and alerting to any potential risks, you can rest assured that your workers are safe.

Connecting high quality companies

As our world becomes increasingly digital, we are more connected than ever before – and with many project tenders now being carried out online, it’s easier for buyers and suppliers to build relationships and work on projects further afield.

The Constructionline platform, for example, connects over 4,000 buying organisations with around 45,000 PAS91 compliant suppliers.

If you’re a buyer, you can post your projects onto our opportunities noticeboard, giving our supplier members easy access to your live projects. All of our supplier members are pre-qualified, so you can see which suppliers meet their needs at a glance, enabling you to build relationships with those that are aligned with your high standards.