How Construction Management Software is Meeting the Evolving Expectations of a Tech-Savvy Workforce
The technological advances of the past 30 years, especially in the areas of mobile technology and specialized software, have revolutionized the world of business. From allowing employees to work remotely to improving communication and efficiency, it’s hard to deny these technologies have made it much easier for companies to do business.
In the construction industry, however, companies have been slow to embrace digital technologies. Whether they’re used to the way things are or they’re worried about older workers’ ability to adapt, construction companies are among the least digitized and continue using outdated and inefficient paper processes despite the negative impact on productivity.
As comfortable as it may be to stick with what’s familiar, outdated workflows are holding too many construction companies back from reaching their full potential–especially as projects continue to get more complex and larger in scale.
Here are three of the most important reasons why construction companies shouldn’t be afraid to digitize.
Younger Workers Want Technological Solutions
Recruiting and retaining the next generation of employees is a constant struggle for the construction sector.
Young workers today have grown up with the Internet, and it should hardly be a surprise that they would expect to use advanced software and applications at work too. This younger generation of workers, often termed “millennials”, represent the future of work, and they’re now the largest generation in the U.S. labor force. As such, companies who ignore the needs and desires of younger workers risk losing them to other companies or being unable to attract them in the first place.
Overall, the younger workforce is well-educated, computer-savvy and open to new ideas and solutions—all traits that lend themselves well to utilizing a digital workflow. As these workers make their way up the corporate ladder, more of them will be in positions to make decisions about technology in their workplaces, which means that eventually, even more companies will undoubtedly move to the cutting edge of construction management software.
Older Generations Learn Technologies Quickly
It’s not just a younger generation that’s quick to adopt new technologies. Despite some managers’ hesitations to the contrary, older workers–or non-tech-savvy employees–are perfectly capable of picking up new software and digital processes, especially when they’re educated as to the benefits of doing so. Many construction companies that are hesitant to adopt specialized software for this reason end up being surprised by the acceptance among the older workforce. As with any dedicated employee, older employees will generally embrace tools–including software–that allow them to do their jobs better and more easily.
For example, consider how quickly smartphones have been adopted in the span of a few short years. According to a Pew Research Center survey, 64 percent of people in the U.S. owned a smartphone in 2015, including 54 percent of people between 50 and 64. Once the advantages of smartphones became clear, even the most hardened Luddites were soon carrying a smartphone around in their pockets.
The best modern construction software is also easier to learn and use than systems available just a few years ago. Heavy civil construction management software uses logical, intuitive interfaces that respond to how workers actually work–not how accountants or software developers think they should work.
Complacency threatens profitability
Technological change is like a swift river. Although it may be intimidating to step into at first, companies that avoid change risk staying in the same place as they watch their competitors flow past them. Failing to embrace mobile and specialized software can result in difficulties recruiting and retaining a competent workforce and with maximizing the productivity and job satisfaction of the workforce.
Companies who insist on using dated solutions for their workflows could be missing out on valuable employment opportunities. Many prospective hires could be turned off by this antiquated attitude, choosing to leave for a more forward-thinking jobsite.
Although it’s important to consider the potential ramifications of new workplace technologies, too many organizations remain paralyzed by fear and hesitation. Instead, businesses should trust in their employees’ ability to change and adapt. Additionally, when companies support software adoption with appropriate training for different learning styles, they empower older, non-technical workers to excel in their positions.
New workflow solutions can vastly improve efficiency and project outcomes, allowing companies to win more projects and streamline the jobsite to complete them on time and within budget.
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