A Viewpoint On Construction

In this episode of A Viewpoint on Construction, we explore the intricacies of big data and the role that business intelligence is — and will be — playing in the construction industry. Joining us is Bassem Hamdy, a 20-year-plus veteran of construction technology and co-founder and CEO of Briq — a new business intelligence software company. Hamdy shares how business intelligence and data collection processes have evolved over the years, why business intelligence is still messy and misunderstood and why technologies like robotics, machine learning and predictive automation are the cutting edge of tomorrow’s intelligence strategies. Hear why it’s important for contractors to both trust and use the data they glean from projects in order to achieve the sought-after ROI.

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In this episode of A Viewpoint on Construction, Chuck Schwartz, Director of Business Development with Marcum LLC, discusses the benefits and challenges of connected jobsite and of getting accurate, real-time data to and from the field. “We’ve all heard the saying the money is made in the field, and it’s true,” Schwartz said. “Money is made and lost in the field.”

Now is the time, Schwartz notes, to implement new technologies that will better connect the field and the office to achieve better collaboration. These technologies and integrated software systems are readily available, but there still a challenge in getting adoption among contractors. But as technology transforms business and industry in general, contractors who don’t adapt will be hurting themselves. Hear Schwartz talk about how successful companies standardize on the technologies they’re using, they’ve invested in training and education for the end users and have created policies and rules around using these technologies and data.

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Anirban Basu, chairman and CEO at the Sage Policy Group, Inc., joins the podcast and discusses the economic trends and leading indicators that contractors need to watch in order to be successful. Basu, who serves as the chief economist for the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) and the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA) notes that while the short-term outlook for the construction industry remains solid, overall indicators point to a potential slowdown over the next couple of years. Effective cash flow management is critical to enduring a recession, and Basu points to new technologies that maximize efficiencies, boost productivity and replace traditional processes. Hear why he doesn’t see a traditional way out of the skilled labor shortage and why a technological revolution is necessary to fill the gaps and keep contractors productive.

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Season 2 of A Viewpoint on Construction kicks off with an insightful discussion about cybersecurity. Bryce Austin, a cybersecurity expert and principal with TCE Strategy breaks down the threats that have permeated the world of business and leisure conducted via the internet. In 2018, $1.5 trillion was lost to online breaches, cybersecurity fixes or lost productivity. Austin talks steps companies and experts have taken, and those they still need to take, like implementing multi-factor authentication, to ensure data remains safe as cloud computing becomes the new norm.

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Technology is booming in the construction industry, but not all contractors are prepared for the rapid-fire pace at which technology is being implemented, nor how to put it to good use. In this episode of A Viewpoint on Construction, we welcome Andrea Wright, CEO and founder of CTP Solutions, LLC. Wright. Already with a proven track record of helping contractors achieve their technology identities and plan out successful technology strategies, Wright recently formed CTP to help the industry as a whole. In this podcast, Wright discusses how to best shift through the technology minutiae, overcome hesitation and resistance and build out a successful technology strategy. Hear why having a realistic approach to change management is key and why it’s important to show all generations of users the benefits of change.

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A little more than a year ago, after hearing an inappropriate comment made during an industry event, Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA) leaders Kevin Booth and Pam Hummel asked themselves why statements and actions like this were still taking place in 2018. In this episode of A Viewpoint on Construction, Booth and Hummel share their insights on why the construction industry needs to embrace diversity and inclusion to create safe and rewarding work environments for everyone. Construction is still a male-dominated industry, with women only comprising 9 percent of the workforce and less than 2 percent in the field. This has contributed to a culture of machismo that has often let instances of abuse and harassment slide. While the industry is striving to change that, many people today still don’t have a clear understanding of what constitutes sexual harassment. Booth and Hummel note that sexual harassment lawsuits and fines cost contractors millions of dollars each year. But far beyond financial impacts, hear why proactively engaging and educating construction workforces and driving culture changes are important to building uniform respect in the workplace.

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In this episode of A Viewpoint on Construction, Robert Kruse with MDU Construction Services Group follows up on our previous podcast on getting the most out of software investments. Kruse, the director of financial software systems for MDU, talks from the contractor perspective about the rigid planning and research that goes into both making a software decision and implementing that software. From security of the solutions to company needs and pain points to features and functionality of the solutions to getting user adoptions and training, there are a host of areas where forward-thinking contractors should have a solid game plan to ensure long-term success.

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In this episode of A Viewpoint on Construction, Tim McNally, a principal with Tilson Technology Management talks about why many technology users do not take full advantage of the software and technology tools they have at hand. Contractors can do a number of things to maximize their software solution investments – from committing to deeper research and exploration at the purchasing stage to collaboratively working to improve buy-in and usage across the entire organization. McNally discusses some of the latest technology advancements, how they’re best implemented and what companies should be thinking about to ensure smooth transitions.

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Maintaining proper licensing, permits and compliance measures is the bitter pill that every above-board contractor needs to take. This can be a daunting challenge as confusion about different state and local rules, complex filing and reporting procedures and more can easily make contractors’ heads spin. John Beck, director of market strategy at Harbor Compliance joins this episode of A Viewpoint on Construction to discuss the compliance landscape, highlight what contractors — big and small — need to look for and what penalties organizations can face for lack of compliance. Compliance is an absolute must to protect the public from fly-by-night outfits and shoddy work but navigating compliance issues requires due diligence and attention. Beck provides food for thought on how to best approach compliance management.

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