A look at the world of Construction Technology – by Arnie Gess, publisher of Construction Links Network.

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Technology is transforming every aspect of the construction industry, from design and planning to project management and execution. As new tools and techniques continue to emerge, it’s more important than ever for professionals in the field to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and innovations. This blog series offers in-depth coverage of the most important developments in construction technology. Whether you’re interested in the latest software platforms, the newest building materials, or the cutting-edge research shaping the future of the industry, you’ll find it all here.

Trimble and Ferguson have partnered to enhance the construction supply chain by integrating Ferguson locations into the Trimble Supplier Xchange digital pricing and procurement network. This collaboration aims to improve efficiency and accuracy in various aspects of construction workflows, including estimating, procurement, purchasing, accounting, and project management. Trimble’s Supplier Xchange network facilitates thousands of digital connections between subcontractors and suppliers, handling a substantial number of quote requests with a significant average value. The integration allows contractors to access up-to-date pricing information and seamlessly generate purchase orders, reducing time and errors associated with manual entry. Ferguson’s involvement in the Supplier Xchange network addresses common pain points in contractors’ workflows and offers real-time customer-specific information, enhancing cost reduction and workflow efficiency. This announcement was made at Trimble Dimensions 2023, where the Supplier Xchange network was showcased, highlighting the commitment to digital connectivity and streamlined construction processes.

Global eTraining has introduced a groundbreaking AI-powered course creation feature, aiming to revolutionize how professionals in the architecture, engineering, construction, and manufacturing industries build and engage with training content. This innovation allows teams to quickly generate custom courses with exceptional flexibility, covering topic selection, complexity adjustment, language customization, table of contents generation, lecture creation, and content expansion. These features eliminate traditional challenges in custom content building, making what once took hours or days achievable in seconds. Steve Wenzel, CTO of Global eTraining, highlighted the significance of this advancement in the AEC industry and its role in streamlining comprehensive company and project-specific training. This AI-powered course creation tool is accessible to Global eTraining clients using The Generator course authoring technology.

OnSolve, a prominent critical event management provider, has issued its 2023 Government Risk Impact Brief, which highlights how government agencies can enhance resilience in a constantly changing threat landscape. The report presents four real-world instances illustrating the complexities agencies face due to physical threats and their adverse impacts on public safety, the economy, and emergency response. It discusses shifts in extreme weather events, the risks posed by aging infrastructure, rising rates of theft, and the increased threats associated with pending elections. OnSolve’s analysis is based on data from January to June 2023, emphasizing the importance of leveraging risk data, technology, and collaboration to address evolving risks effectively. The report also employs AI-powered technology to monitor various risk categories and information sources in real time.

COVAP, a plumbers’ purchasing cooperative in France, has chosen Infor CloudSuite Distribution Enterprise, a multi-tenant cloud-based ERP platform tailored for the distribution sector. This strategic move, initiated in 2022, aims to enhance COVAP’s service to its members and improve operational efficiency. By utilizing the public cloud, COVAP can benefit from automatic updates, eliminating the need for costly and time-consuming migration projects. This allows them to focus on their core business and standardize processes according to industry best practices. The cooperative, founded in 1982, serves over 530 plumbing artisans in nine regions and has taken this step to modernize its business management system, with support from Infor and partner Authentic, ensuring scalability, functionality, and alignment with market standards. Infor’s solution will replace existing software packages, providing a centralized system that covers various operations and interfaces with third-party solutions, facilitating warehouse mobility and omnichannel capabilities. This transition is expected to boost order processing speed, traceability, support, and after-sales service efficiency while enhancing financial transactions and supplier performance monitoring.

International technology company UBY is expanding its presence in North America with the appointment of Robert McMaster as Director of Business Development for the US and Canada. UBY, known for its AI-enabled monitoring solutions, has recently launched in Canada and is strategically building on its progress since establishing a permanent presence in the US market. Robert McMaster, with a background in construction technology and mining, brings his expertise to UBY. The company offers innovative monitoring solutions, powered by AI and patented software, with applications in construction, mining, energy, and manufacturing for environmental and geotechnical monitoring, worker safety, and more. UBY is currently involved in the Pawtucket Tunnel Project, demonstrating its ability to provide a wide range of solutions for monitoring within one platform. This expansion aligns with UBY’s global growth trajectory, supporting major projects worldwide.

Trunk Tools, a construction-focused startup, has unveiled TrunkText, a revolutionary text message-based AI tool designed to streamline how construction professionals access crucial project information. This patent-pending tool saves workers significant time, contributing to Trunk Tools’ goal of addressing the skilled labor shortage. TrunkText, used in conjunction with TrunkPerform, enhances project outcomes by motivating workers to meet project goals. The construction industry faces challenges in accessing and sifting through extensive project documents, specifications, and change orders, causing delays and rework costs. TrunkText addresses this by providing rapid and accurate responses to construction-related queries, reducing work hours and saving construction costs. It centralizes construction data and offers a one-stop-shop for reliable project information. This innovation is poised to transform construction efficiency, with current use in projects valued at over $2.4 billion.

Welcome Homes, a tech startup, is enhancing its homebuilding platform with two new products: Make-an-Offer and AI-powered Land Vetting. These additions aim to simplify and accelerate the process of building new customized homes online. With mortgage rates rising and the cost of existing and new homes converging, Welcome Homes is adapting to meet the demand for new construction. The company’s CEO, Alec Hartman, notes that the residential construction industry lacks collaboration among stakeholders, and technology can bridge this gap. Make-an-Offer streamlines the land purchase process, while AI-powered Land Vetting uses predictive models to assess property suitability and estimated build costs rapidly, vastly improving efficiency. Welcome Homes now boasts a substantial inventory of buildable properties and plans to expand further using AI technology.

Pamlico Capital has made a strategic growth investment in Beck Technology, a leading preconstruction platform for contractors. Norbert Orth, a seasoned software executive, will become the CEO of Beck Technology. The company’s management team, including President Stewart Carroll and CTO Mike Boren, will retain ownership and continue daily operations. Beck Technology, based in Dallas, Texas, serves over 200 customers, offering a modern and efficient preconstruction platform built by contractors for contractors. The investment is aimed at accelerating growth and enhancing the preconstruction process for better project outcomes. Norbert Orth’s experience, especially as a former CEO of Dexter & Chaney, a leading ERP platform for commercial contractors, is expected to bring valuable expertise to Beck Technology’s team. Pamlico Capital is partnering with Beck Technology to expand and create an integrated preconstruction solution, building on the company’s unique position in the field. Shea & Company served as the exclusive financial advisor to Beck Technology.

Buildr, the construction industry’s innovative all-in-one CRM and workforce planning solution, has introduced new features to enhance its collaborative preconstruction platform for general contractors. These updates address the skilled labor shortage in construction and provide workforce forecasting, allowing contractors to prospectively staff jobs before winning them, improving decision-making. A Map view aids logistical workforce planning, considering employee commutes, while an updated dashboard and increased workforce visibility enable contractors to optimize utilization. Buildr’s mobile app and offline functionality ensure data logging from job sites, and New Workforce Certifications help maintain team certifications. This comprehensive approach fosters collaboration and efficient communication within construction teams, enhancing preconstruction processes and decisions.

Scott William Wilson, the owner of Reel Vision Studios and a seasoned timelapse expert, has shared professional tips for enhancing long-term construction timelapse photography. His expertise lies in condensing months or even years of construction progress into dynamic 4K timelapses, serving as both a visual record of development and powerful marketing and documentary material. Wilson’s approach aligns the relentless pace of construction with cinematic finesse. Key recommendations include using cutting-edge 4K timelapse cameras for high-resolution imagery, strategic camera positioning for comprehensive coverage, environmental adaptability with solar technology, preventative maintenance to avoid obstructions, and weather protection. Scheduled intervals, remote monitoring, professional post-production, equipment reliability, legal compliance, and robust data management are emphasized. These timelapses also hold educational and archival value for future generations, making Reel Vision Studios a cornerstone of timelapse excellence in construction documentation.

Trimble has introduced an Automatic Invoicing capability to its construction enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, Viewpoint Spectrum® and Viewpoint Vista™, incorporating Azure AI Document Intelligence. This integration automates the conversion of paper and PDF invoices into validated, unapproved entries within the software, expediting payment processing and reducing errors. The automation not only increases efficiency but also minimizes errors in financial processes, critical for construction projects. By leveraging Azure AI, Trimble aims to streamline and enhance accounting operations, ensuring accuracy and saving valuable time. The integration is particularly beneficial in an industry where precision and time management are crucial for profitability and project success.