Construction companies were on the frontline during the pandemic, with the urgent need for development of medical facilities and other essential infrastructure. But for an industry that relies heavily on manual labor and on-site workers, the sudden site closures, new safety measures, and need for more remote employees have presented significant challenges.

Research suggests that the global construction sector decreased by 3.1% in 2020, its worst decline since the 2008 global financial crisis, but the problems didn’t stop there. Today, projects have resumed, but many are being impacted by global supply chain disruptions, worker shortages, and skyrocketing material prices, particularly for lumber and steel. These issues are set to continue into the foreseeable future.

If there was ever a time for construction to embrace digital transformation, it would be now. As sites begin to reopen and projects ramp-up, emerging technologies will be key to the industry’s recovery. According to McKinsey research, the mandate for change and technological adoption in construction has never been stronger, with the pandemic “only serving to provide additional urgency to the pre-existing productivity and data-visibility issues facing construction companies.”

In particular, the digital innovations that have emerged from this crisis, such as the use of IoT sensors and robotic drones, will help companies improve health and safety measures, standardize modular construction, and create a more sustainable building environment.

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