In this ebook, The Access Group looks at whether there is a financial crisis in construction and how integrated, cloud-based construction software solutions can help alleviate the economic pressures experienced by many in the industry
Construction is an industry under stress. Pressure has been building for some time and, for many, the breaking point is uncomfortably close.
For many firms, the pressures the pandemic brought to bear on the economy and society as a whole have been piled on top of longstanding, industry-wide problems that meant there was already little breathing room.
Low productivity, skills shortages, strained supply chains and tight margins have become all too familiar themes.
Digitalisation and Modern Methods of Construction can certainly offer a wealth of opportunities to boost efficiency and productivity – but they are not, on their own, a silver bullet for all of the industry’s ills.
The problem of age-old Silo working
For far too long, construction has been guilty of “silo” working – and thinking – both within and between organisations.
Silo working can result in wasted time and effort on needlessly duplicated work, teams relying on incomplete or out-of-date information and a lack of clear lines of communication and responsibility. It also means inefficient or flawed processes persist because there is no opportunity for a fresh pair of eyes to spot where changes can be made.
Silos are an age-old problem with no overnight solution but, with construction companies folding at such alarming rates, it is arguably more important than ever that the industry makes the effort to break down barriers holding back change, allowing businesses to win projects and build faster, on time and to budget.
Much of the change will be cultural, with buy-in from the top, to promote communication and collaboration, the sharing of information to realise the value of data, and an emphasis on investment, learning and development.
How can integrated, cloud-based software solutions help with the financial crisis in construction?
Technology also has a role to play. Integrated, cloud-based construction software solutions, from companies like The Access Group, allow companies to budget, track, tender, project manage and manage staff both on site and in the back office via mobile apps from a single dashboard.
This makes for easier communication and collaboration between teams and the client, ensuring the right people have access to the right information, ultimately enabling project teams to leverage data to design more intelligently and deliver buildings more efficiently and sustainably.
