AEC Business

In this special episode of the AEC Business Podcast, experts from the modular construction industry gather to discuss strategies for business success in modular construction, particularly for housing projects.

The panel includes Andrew Staniforth, CEO of Assembly; Guido Maciocci, Founder of AEC Foundry; Henry Salo, CEO of Flow Modules; and Renee Puusepp, Founder of Creatomus Solutions. I facilitate the workshop.

The experts share insights on building, operating, and growing a modular construction business, focusing on high-rise buildings in urban markets and software development for designing and costing modular buildings.

Download the mind map

I created a mind map of the discussion during the workshop. You can download a tidied-up version of it here:

The Modular AdvantageDownload

Watch a video version

https://youtu.be/BYXgJe3-fDQ?si=0JpiV8wxyUx2Pc2g

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In this episode of the AEC Business Podcast, host Aarni Heiskanen interviews Alexander Sidorov, the COO at Gamma Technologies, a company specializing in visualizing BIM models on construction sites. With a background in corporate finance, Alexander shares insights into his transition to construction technology. He discusses his experience working on various projects, from cryptocurrency exchanges to hotel restructurings, highlighting the industry's diverse challenges. Tune in for valuable perspectives on leveraging technology to enhance construction productivity!

Discussion topics

The topics of the interview include:

Alexander's transition from corporate finance to construction tech

The construction industry's biggest challenges

The value of ConTech in solving those challenges

Why AR is a key technology on-site

GAMMA AR as a solution

Customers' AR concerns and how to overcome them

Success stories

What sets GAMMA AR apart

What’s in the future

For more information on GAMMA AR, visit gamma-ar.com and connect with Alexander on LinkedIn.

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Eric Olson, CMO at Quickbase, is Aarni Heiskanen's guest in this episode of the AEC Business podcast discussing "Gray Work." It is the work done in ad-hoc solutions to make do and get by when your technology doesn't work for you. It is in systems that aren’t connected, built on the fly, and not conducive to strong collaboration. It impacts revenue, productivity, and employee frustration at scale. Quickbase, as a software company, aims to eliminate gray work in the construction industry.

The topics of the podcast include:

Eric's background and current role at Quickbase

Quickbase published the Gray Work Index - Our Productivity Gap in 2024 report in April. Why is this research topical, and who participated?

What is Gray Work?

How does it impact construction businesses, their employees, and collaborators?

What are the root causes of today’s situation?

What is Quickbase's strategy for solving the problem?

Success stories to share.

Eric's recommendations for businesses aiming to tackle the issue

You can download the Gray Work Index report. Also, check out how Quickbase can help construction sector companies become more productive.

Watch a video version of the podcast or listen to it.

https://youtu.be/IO4wYwyHocM?si=Ia7OlLaxxN7_NFTP

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In this episode of the AEC Business Podcast, Hanna Backman, the Chief Commercial Officer at Flow Modules, discussed the innovative Sitefactory concept with Aarni Heiskanen. By offering a comprehensive solution for residential construction projects, Flow Modules is paving the way for a more streamlined and effective home-building approach.

Prefabrication

Flow Modules is a Finnish industrialized construction company dedicated to enhancing productivity in residential construction projects. Hanna explains how the company aims to deliver high-quality residential builds cost-effectively and quickly by combining prefabricated elements with efficient assembly processes.

In prefabrication, Flow Modules primarily focuses on bathroom pods and other pre-assembled components. They are designed to streamline construction by eliminating waste, reducing lead times, and enhancing overall efficiency.

The Sitefactory concept

In the podcast, Hanna discusses Flow Modules' innovative Sitefactory concept extensively. This concept revolutionizes the traditional subcontracting model by utilizing Takt production with hourly workers and providing comprehensive support to site managers. The approach enhances productivity, shortens lead times, and fosters a collaborative and efficient work environment.

The concept involves standardizing work packages and training workers for specific tasks within these packages. This ensures that workers are well-equipped to carry out their assigned tasks efficiently.

Sitefactory extends beyond the construction site, requiring changes in procurement practices, material choices, and logistics planning to align with the principles of industrialized construction. Overall, Hanna emphasizes the importance of meticulous planning and coordination.

Podcast

Want to learn more about how Sitefactory is transforming the construction industry? Listen to the full episode here or on your favorite podcast platform!

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In this episode of the AEC Business Podcast, Aarni Heiskanen is joined by a team from Aiforsite: Founder and CEO Kari Hirvjärvi, COO Pyry Virrantaus, and CTO Sami Kalliokoski. They discuss Wendy AI, a newly launched cutting-edge AI assistant for construction professionals.

Established in 2016, Aiforsite aims to develop IoT solutions that improve industry productivity. It is now in the final phase of technology development with conversational AI technology.

The capabilities of Wendy AI

Wendy AI is a groundbreaking virtual assistant tailored for the construction industry. It offers features that cater to professionals' unique needs. This technology enhances productivity, project control, risk reduction, and cost savings, significantly improving lead time and project outcomes.

The chat functionality allows users to interact with Wendy conversationally, ask questions, and receive real-time insights related to their projects.

The BIM Explorer feature enhances project visualization and understanding, while the document management feature streamlines document-related tasks.

One of Wendy's key features is automating tasks like compiling and sharing daily site reports, freeing time for professionals to focus on critical project aspects. Additionally, Wendy offers innovative content search functionalities to easily access design files, tender documents, and project-related information.

Future prospects

Aiforsite has successfully implemented over 150 projects across nine countries, serving major contractors and industrial clients. The introduction of Wendi AI is set to amplify the company's already impressive benefits.

Wendy is a crucial product driving Aiforsite's international growth strategy. The scalable SaaS solution ensures that construction professionals globally can access and utilize Wendy in their native language.

For anyone interested in AI solutions in construction, Aiforsite's offerings represent a leap towards more integrated, efficient, and data-driven project management.

To learn more and start using Wendy AI, visit aiforsite.com/wendy-ai-en/.

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In this WDBE Talks episode hosted by Aarni Heiskanen, two WDBE 2024 keynote speakers, Olivier Lepinoy and Jaan Saar, discuss the significance of reimagining traditional business models within the construction sector.

Olivier is the visionary founder of HYPER Construction, and Jaan is the Chief Evangelist at Future Insight. Both thought leaders have experience innovating business models and share their insights in this podcast.

The discussion topics

Here are the main topics of the discussion:

Why has radical change most often failed so far?

The industry has seen several failed attempts to make radical and quick changes. Examples include companies trying to industrialize construction through modular construction or vertical integration. Trying to digitalize construction processes consistently has also not been a great success. Successes have mostly been local, temporary, and not scalable. Why is that?

What opportunities await those who pursue new business models?

What is a business model, and why are new business models the key to making this industry thrive? What are the most promising areas for business model innovation?

Isn’t gradual improvement enough?

Construction is a project-based people business that increasingly uses digital technologies to improve productivity. Why should we consider new business models if we could already make a dramatic change by rationalizing existing processes, empowering people, and using the technology we have?

How can a new business model be developed successfully?

What are the best ways to explore business models and manage risks while innovating?

Listen to the discussion and meet the speakers at WDBE 2024

Listen to the episode to hear the whole discussion, and subscribe to WDBE Talks on Apple’s and Spotify’s podcast platforms.

Meet the fantastic keynote speakers, Olivier and Jaan, at WDBE 2024 on October 3-4, 2024, in Helsinki and Tallinn. Get your tickets now!

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In this episode of the AEC Business podcast, Aarni Heiskanen interviews Will Synnott, Chief Customer Officer at Disperse, a construction management software company. Will discusses Disperse's turnkey site capture and tracking solution for large-scale construction projects and their operations worldwide.

With 14 years of construction experience, Will shares insights into working with general contractors and developers on significant projects.

Disperse's capture and tracking solution

Disperse offers a comprehensive site capture and tracking solution, especially for large-scale construction projects. The company's focus on automation and enhancing existing workflows sets it apart in the construction technology industry.

One key aspect of Disperse's solution is its ability to streamline the process of capturing site progress through 360-degree photos.

By utilizing a dedicated team to capture detailed images across the entire site, Disperse creates a visual twin of the building, providing a snapshot of the progress at any given time. This not only eliminates the need for manual photo-taking by project teams but also ensures a high level of accuracy and consistency in tracking progress.

Visual management

Disperse goes beyond just providing photos by offering data and insights derived from the captured images. This data is presented in a format that is easy for project teams to consume, enabling them to make informed decisions based on real-time information.

The solution does not rely heavily on BIM models, making it adaptable to projects that may not have advanced 3D modeling in place.

The company's approach of working with existing 2D drawings and integrating with document control systems showcases its flexibility in catering to a wide range of project needs.

Future technologies

The future of the construction industry is poised for significant advancements. One area of potential growth is 3D printing technology. Will mentiones that 3D printing could extend beyond building standard structures like three-bedroom houses to include more intricate components. This indicates a shift towards more innovative and efficient construction methods.

Additionally, Will highlights the importance of resolving short-term planning issues in the construction sector. He emphasizes the need for improved communication and coordination between different project phases to avoid disruptions caused by out-of-sequence work. Implementing lean philosophies like Last Planner or Takt planning could help streamline processes and enhance project efficiency.

Disperse will concentrate on nailing the capture and tracking solutions for large-scale construction because that is where they really excel.

For more information, visit disperse.io. Connect with Will on LinkedIn.

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In this episode of the AEC Business Podcast, host Aarni Heiskanen interviews Maret Thatcher, CEO of Argyle, a construction AR software company.

Maret shares her journey from being a lawyer to diving back into the construction industry with innovative technology. She discusses the excitement of working with various AEC professionals, including architects, engineers, general contractors, and tradespeople who find value in using Argyle's AR software.

Interest in Augmented Reality is growing

The construction industry's spatial nature, which involves working in 3D environments, makes AR technology particularly valuable. Visualizing projects in three dimensions can significantly enhance the planning, design, fabrication, and installation processes.

The release of Apple Vision Pro has sparked renewed interest in AR technology within the construction sector. This new device has caught the attention of major enterprises, leading them to consider how they can adopt and utilize AR in their projects.

New platforms and software companies that have been developing AR solutions since the early days of HoloLens 1 have contributed to a robust ecosystem of innovative software tailored specifically for the construction industry.

AR serves several segments of the industry

The use of AR technology in construction allows for more efficient and accurate project execution, ultimately leading to improved outcomes and reduced costs.

As Maret mentions, interest in AR technology is not limited to just one segment of the industry. Architects, engineers, general contractors, tradespeople, and even union pipefitters and electricians are showing enthusiasm for incorporating AR into their workflows.

The hands-on nature of these trades makes them particularly well-suited for leveraging AR technology to enhance their daily tasks and improve project outcomes.

The secret sauce of Argyle

Argyle's AR software is specifically designed to address the challenge of aligning virtual models with reality in the construction industry. The alignment feature is crucial for tasks such as design verification, quality assurance, and installation processes.

Maret mentions that historically, model calibration or alignment has been one of the biggest challenges in construction augmented reality. This difficulty has hindered the widespread adoption of AR technology.

Argyle has tackled the problem by developing user-friendly tools that simplify the alignment process for field workers.

A tool for professionals

The episode emphasizes that Argyle's AR software is preferred when professional work is needed on the site. The technology is particularly useful for tasks like installation, where precision and accuracy are essential.

By leveraging AR technology, field workers can visualize and interact with virtual models in a way that enhances their workflow and decision-making processes.

The implementation of Argyle offers a minimal learning curve for field users. Maret mentions that using the software is akin to playing a video game for field workers, making it easy and intuitive for them to adopt.

To learn more about Argyle, visit www.argyle.build. Connect with Maret on LinkedIn.

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This episode of the AEC Business Podcast features Marty Cornish, CEO of Workpack, an AI-powered quantity take-off software company. Marty shares valuable insights into the innovative technology transforming the architecture, engineering, and construction industry.

Here are three key takeaways from our conversation:

1. AI-Powered Efficiency

Marty explains how Workpack's AI pre-construction software can automatically detect various elements in construction drawings, making quantity take-off up to 95% faster. By leveraging AI technology, estimators can streamline their workflow and significantly increase productivity. This highlights the immense potential of AI in enhancing efficiency within the AEC industry.

2. Collaborative Data Management

Workpack aims to create a collaborative environment where all stakeholders, from architects to subcontractors, can work from the same documents and data. This emphasis on transparency and data accessibility not only improves communication but also reduces the risk of errors and enhances project coordination.

Integrating AI with data management tools can revolutionize how construction projects are executed.

3. Future of Construction Technology

As the construction industry embraces AI and innovative technologies, Marty discusses the potential for AI tools to become essential across all software platforms.

The scalability and efficiency gains offered by AI have the power to transform traditional workflows and drive significant productivity improvements. By investing in AI-driven solutions, companies can stay competitive and adapt to the evolving landscape of construction technology.

If you want to learn more about Workpack and the impact of AI in the AEC industry, listen to the full podcast episode. You can find the episode on our website or your favorite podcast platform. Don't miss out on this insightful discussion with Marty Cornish!

Learn more about Workpack on their website.

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In this episode of the AEC Business Podcast, I welcomed Teemu Lehtinen, the CEO of KIRAHub, to discuss the latest innovation and technology within the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. It was Teemu's first time on the podcast since 2016, and we delved into the exciting developments at KIRAHub and the upcoming World of Digital Built Environment (WDBE) Summit.

KIRAHub accelerates sustainable digital transformation

KIRAHub, celebrating its fifth anniversary, operates as a non-profit association with a mission to accelerate sustainable digital transformation in the built environment sector.

Teemu highlighted the organization's role as a neutral facilitator, working with a diverse range of stakeholders, including cities, municipalities, government, corporations, startups, and the research sector. He also addressed the funding model of KIRAHub, which includes seed funding from founders, project-based funding, and a new collaboration membership for companies.

Teemu Lehtinen and Aarni Heiskanen

WDBE for innovators and game changers

The WDBE Summit, now in its seventh year, was born from the desire to share knowledge and invite international collaboration to Finland. The event has evolved over the years, adapting to challenges such as COVID-19, and has become a beacon for industry leaders.

This year's theme, "Reshaping Business Models for the Future," is particularly provocative and timely, as it addresses the need for systemic change in business models alongside digital transformation.

Teemu shared insights into the unique dual-location format of the WDBE Summit, which will take place in Helsinki and Tallinn, offering attendees an intimate and engaging experience. The summit will feature keynotes from industry thought leaders, community sessions, and opportunities for networking and partnership building.

Submit your presentation!

We also discussed the call for presentations, which is open until April 15th, inviting community members to share their work on a broad range of topics related to the digital built environment. Additionally, Teemu emphasized the value of partnership opportunities at the WDBE Summit for companies looking to build networks, raise awareness, and launch new products.

As we wrapped up the conversation, we encouraged our audience to take advantage of early bird pricing for the WDBE Summit, which will take place on October 3rd and 4th. It promises to be an event filled with innovation, collaboration, and transformative ideas for the AEC industry.

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