by Angela Ash December 22, 2023

There are many approaches to boosting a construction team’s performance. Given the scope of the undertaking, the size of the construction business matters a lot.

Costs associated with modernizing the business and educating construction workers can be significant, so it is important to pick the ones that are absolutely necessary.

With the rise of new tech, there are many options to choose from. What matters is to stay informed, pick the right tools, and avoid the hype surrounding certain solutions.

Construction Is a Complex Process

Field service construction management is a complex process due to the nature of the work. There are 5 stages of project management for construction work: initiation, planning, execution, control, and closing.

During the initiation stage, the business needs to evaluate whether a project is worth the trouble. This is typically done by answering these questions:

• Is the value of the project worth your time?
• Are your company services a good fit for the project?
• Do you have enough time to dedicate to the project?
• Do you have the resources necessary to nail the project?
• If the answer to these questions is yes, then proceed to placing the bid.

Once the initiation phase has ended, the planning stage commences. Its main goals are to determine project profitability and customer- and employee satisfaction. Following the positive assessment, the business needs to establish a budget that includes all costs (hard costs, soft costs, and contingency allowances). This is where new tech can come in handy.

The execution stage is the construction phase of a project and is tightly linked with the control stage. The business needs to draft a checklist, which is to include the following:

• Keeping daily activity, work, and safety logs
• Monitoring and managing change orders
• Monitoring materials being used
• Monitoring the workforce on and off the site
• Monitoring equipment
• Monitoring costs and cash flow
• Ensuring payments and subs are on time
• Tracking expenses

Finally, the closing stage commences when the project is nearing its completion. A suitable checklist for this stage should include the following:

• Finishing punch list
• Final inspections
• Ensuring everything that has been agreed to in the contract has been met
• Reviewing customer satisfaction
• Obtaining a certificate of completion

Using AR and AI in Construction

AR and AI can help with certain aspects of construction, notably the Internet of Things (IoT). IoT sensors can help with a lot of things, including:

• Establishing baselines for asset performance indicators
• Determining upper and lower limits of asset performance
• Collecting utilization data
• Transmitting data to AI-empowered software

The IoT software compares current performance data with historical data, ensuring that assets are functioning properly and reporting to facility personnel.

Drones in Construction

Drones offer real-time data recording capability, which can improve project efficiency and streamline the workflow.

They can be specifically used to ensure personnel safety and provide topographic mapping and land surveys, remote monitoring and progress reports, equipment tracking, security surveillance, and structure inspection and photography.

Fixed-wing drones are perfect for surveying and mapping. However, they can only fly forward, so they’re not suitable for complex terrains with multiple obstacles.

Rotary drones can hover and are hence, a perfect solution for photography, aerial inspection, and structural scans.

Clear Communication and Planning

New tech aside, construction teams need to communicate clearly. Projects require meticulous planning, with the outcomes to be communicated fast and accurately.

Regular updates and progress reports are typical approaches but it’s also important to ensure that teams are well-aligned via other means as well.

Project schedules need to be detailed and risks need to be assessed rigorously to ensure flawless execution. Communication is the link that makes this process possible.

Team Training and Development

Needless to say, it is imperative for the business to invest in training the workforce. The construction industry is dynamic by definition; technology evolves all the time and there are safety protocols and best practices to consider as well.

In other words, construction teams need to be up to date with all this info, which is best done by ensuring continual education and training. Training programs should be tailored to the specific needs of both the industry and the team and should include certifications in safety standards, industry advancements, and company protocols.

Autonomy and Accountability

A culture of empowerment and accountability is certain to boost construction teams’ morale. It will also boost their performance and motivate the teams to go the extra mile.

When employees feel a profound sense of ownership over their work, they’ll be motivated to perform better. However, the sense of ownership and accountability should transcend task completion; a responsibility for the overall success of the project should also be weaved in.