10 years ago the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) identified productivity as a major concern to both clients and contractors. It commissioned a report to look at the views of key industry players and the findings identified that productivity in the UK was unsatisfactory.
There was a perception that costs were rising without improving productivity and that there were deeply rooted outdated practices and cultures hindering any potential for improvement.
More recently, 2013/14 key performance indicators (KPIs) for the UK construction industry suggest it has been left battered and bruised by the economic downturn while retaining a solid enough level of performance.
Carl Enser of Delta Comtech has a positive view of the possibilities. “There is room for improvement. If the construction industry is going to increase its productivity it will need to consider what ongoing improvements it can adopt to do so.”
“Construction software development and the increased adoption of IT in the industry are going to be drivers for change and improvement. The construction sector has been perceived as slow to adapt to new technology but I think this is set to change”
Productivity Benefits of IT
IT can offer immediate, tangible benefits for construction, including:
- improved communications through increased use of on-site mobile devices
- better project management tools through dedicated apps
- more efficient, and secure, sharing of information including digitalised plans, drawings and records
In conjunction with cloud computing, mobile devices can add a whole dimension of flexibility and security to construction industry practices and procedures.
The increased use of building information modelling (BIM) on major building projects means digital technology will make further inroads into the construction industry. As part of the bigger picture of an increased IT presence, it is a clear sign of which way the wind is blowing.
“The important thing is that we’re not simply talking about gadgets here,” concludes Carl. “Many of the new applications specifically designed to serve the construction industry are intuitive and responsive solutions that will bridge the old gap between field and office work. They will help to bring about improvements in efficiency, accuracy and, ultimately, productivity.”
To discover how technology could improve your business, please call Delta Comtech on 01625 443110.
