How Technology has Changed the Construction, Repair & Remodeling Industries
But There is No Replacement for Professionalism
By Clint Lien
As history shows, technology has a way of making things faster, easier, and much more efficient, in most cases. However, it usually takes time to get these benefits to the masses.
If you look back a little way in history, for example, 40 years or so ago, you would rarely find a battery-operated drill in a home or on a construction site. But as they started to become more mass produced, less expensive, and easier to find, more contractors, handymen, and skilled laborers of all types began investing in them. They are much more portable and easier to use and require fewer ancillary tools or support to use them, such as electricity, cords, generators, etc. Now that battery technology has been around for a while and more manufacturers have jumped into the market, you can find almost any tool you may need or want that is battery operated and not nearly as many corded tools.
Technology and Materials
Now staying with that model of thinking, technology also affects the materials that are being used in today’s construction, repair & remodeling industries and you will see the same type of progression.
For example, when I first started working with my dad, there were basic flathead and Philips screws in all different sizes. There were several types of basic nails that required a hammer. They had different screws and nails for different applications, but they all only required basic tools to use them.
In today’s market you will see specialty fasteners for specialty types of materials, and this may require specialty tools to install those materials. This process can be very difficult to keep up with and have expensive start-up costs.
Some “old school” contractors are sometimes very weary of these new materials and will wait a while before investing in them and selling them to their clients. And in the short term this may save the contractor a little money and time, but this may also limit him, and he might be forced to upgrade regardless. But in the long term it can be very beneficial for the contractor by:
» making the job faster,
» providing his client with a superior product that may last longer or be recycled and more accessible, and
» providing a completely new look that the client desires.
There are new materials being developed daily and the true professionals invest and take advantage of these in every way they can and in turn they can make more money faster.
Technology and Labor
Let’s not forget how technology can affect the labor in this industry. With tools and materials continually improving, training methods and the way labor is tracked and estimated is being directly affected as well.
A worker who may have a particular skill set and is trained on a specific new tool may demand more money. With tracking through GPS on phones, vehicles, tools, etc., the contractor can refine his efficiencies much better and cut back on loss of time, workers wasting time by making unnecessary stops, or what route is the fastest to the job or why did it take so long for his crew to get to the job.
Also with computers, phones or tablets the contractor can understand, track and record how long a project may take, and when the same project comes up again, he may have that information waiting at the tip of his fingers. This can help the contractor to be much faster and eliminate the guess work while also allowing the contractor to bid on jobs with more confidence and be more competitive.
Technology and Estimates
Let’s not forget the software and AI developments that have occurred in the last few years. In the past, a contractor may have needed three things to write an estimate: a pen or pencil, paper and a measuring tape. But this typically meant the contractor would have to know in his mind how long the job would take, what are the needed materials and how much do they cost. He may have to spend time looking up materials or calling sub-contractors to validate his thoughts. This process can be very time-consuming and inaccurate, causing undue worry and stress for the contractor. Also, this may prolong the time for delivery of his estimates causing him to lose the job to someone else.
In today’s world we have many different estimating systems that are loaded with tools to make this process much more efficient, faster, easier and more repeatable than ever. With the use of cameras, laser measuring tools, blueprint readers, email, text, etc., everything moves at a much quicker pace, even receiving money from the client or paying workers.
In today’s world almost anything can be made faster, easier or cheaper using technology. And with how rapidly AI is advancing and the tools that are already being used to validate status, feasibility, times frames, quality, damage or condition simply by feeding photos into your system, the sky is the limit.
Understanding that technology has always been a driver of change in various industries, it is an even bigger driver in the construction industry today. As housing shortages and demands increase and as the market seems to be out of control in so many ways, the cost just to be able to have a roof over your head and live somewhat comfortably is increasing by the day and the cost of everything else goes up with it, such as your workers’ wages and his associated work expenses. The contractors’ costs also go up, so he can support his workers, family and his company’s growth.
In conclusion, though technology may help in many incredible ways with making things faster, easier and longer lasting, it does not mean that the cost savings are passed directly to the consumer. Furthermore, the demands on the contractor could not be higher.
With expectations rising due to more options and the average consumers access to much more information than ever before, contractors must keep up with technology or risk not being able to grow and expand the way they want, let alone survive. I find myself in the position of trying to help contractors understand that there are many ways to advantageously use technology to cut bottom line costs. However, there is no replacement for professionalism. Consumers want to know that they are going to be well taken care of and the job will be done right. They are realizing that cheaper is not always better.
One way to accomplish this is through effective communication. Send updates on exciting benchmarks and timelines. Follow up after the job is done and confirm they are still happy and going to use you again or refer you to someone else. Do your best to listen and absorb the message the best you can.
Although technology is forcing us to adapt at a faster and faster pace, one thing has not changed. We are all human and as long as we are fair, honest, transparent and do our best whether you are the contractor or consumer, technology cannot replace that part….. yet…..
