Technology Tools for Your Startup Construction Business

Now is a great time to own a startup construction company. The industry is making great strides in safety and sustainability thanks to technological advances. Here are seven of the most influential technologies your business needs to get ahead of the competition and accelerate growth.

• 3D Printing

3D printing might just be the future of the construction industry. Although 3D printers are expensive investments, the potential ROI is unheard of in construction. They can print entire structures from scratch for just $4,000 apiece with far less energy and material usage than traditional building practices.

3D printing allows for the easy mass production of simple eco-friendly homes. You can even add custom sustainable features upon the homeowner’s request, such as draft-proof windows and solar shingles. There are many innovative printing companies you can collaborate with to establish connections and grow your resources.

• Building Information Modeling (BIM)

Building designs constantly get adjusted in preconstruction, making laborers’ jobs harder and potentially delaying the project. BIM offers a solution to this conflict, providing workers with complete digital plans they can mark up as needed. Imagine how much time your startup would save if everyone were on the same page about updates.

Although its completed design plans are easily adjustable, BIM’s modeling software requires skill and experience to use from scratch. Your startup might benefit from adding a BIM technician to the team.

• Cloud Documentation

While BIM works to address poor design management, cloud computing has all but solved the problem of poor document control. This new tech sector has an appropriate name, as its main function is to centralize an organization’s essential documents so employees can access them from any device, anywhere.

Cloud documentation can help your startup with many tasks, including payroll, employee training, safety procedures, and inventory management. Cloud computing is a no-brainer compared to the construction industry’s older documentation practices.

• Construction Wearables

You can add wearable monitoring systems to hard hats, vests, and other boots to promote worker safety and efficiency. They track metrics like location, heart rate, activity levels, and poor air quality. Some advanced wearables can even tell if someone is too overheated or fatigued to continue working — a problem that has plagued builders since the dawn of civilization.

Wearables also optimize a construction project’s day-to-day workflow, ensuring it gets completed on time without any setbacks. They take many small tasks off a manager’s shoulders, giving them more time to focus on the project’s logistics, such as material deliveries.

• Worksite Robots

Your startup can also invest in small robots for specific jobs, including arduous tasks like digging, drilling, and welding. Construction workers are some of the hardest workers around, but these bots are faster and more precise than humans. They focus on every detail down to the millimeter, optimizing the building’s infrastructure in the process.

These robots are also beneficial for the environment because they avoid logistical errors and limit wasteful practices. They generate fewer defective materials and use only as much as necessary for the job, saving precious time and effort your startup needs to keep growing.

• Risk Assessment Tools

Artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain technology have revolutionized high-risk fields like construction. So far, the most influential tool has been drone surveillance. AI security software can analyze drone footage and detect suspicious or unsafe activity around the worksite, helping managers implement more appropriate safety procedures.

Blockchain technology encrypts project data so only authorized people can access it. It also monitors all transactions, helping managers cut back on wasteful spending. Plus, since blockchain doesn’t operate on a central server, it can tackle projects of all sizes with consistent performance.

• Electric Vehicles

The construction industry is responsible for about 39% of carbon emissions worldwide. One remedy for this staggering statistic could be electric vehicles. They would also eliminate noise pollution, which creates a stressful work environment and can cause hearing loss.

EVs are better for indoor tasks, making them perfect for another progressive practice that’s gaining popularity: modular construction. Instead of doing everything on-site, some contractors build their structures in controlled warehouses and ship them to the site upon completion. This method can be up to 50% faster than traditional construction.

Electric bulldozers and lift trucks will be a big adjustment for bigger construction companies, but your startup has the advantage of a clean slate. You don’t have massive fleets of gas-powered equipment yet. You have a chance to build an all-electric fleet from the ground up.

Tech Tools For Your Startup Construction Business

Being a new face in the construction industry has many challenges, but one thing you don’t need to worry about is the availability of high-tech tools. Use them to successfully launch your startup and help build a smarter, safer world.

Of course, new technology can require capital investment. If you need help securing financing for your construction projects, learn more about your options!

For more insightful articles and actionable tips about finance and business, check out Capital for Business’ The Working Capital and Financing Blog.

Did you enjoy reading this article? Here’s more to read. How Can Debt Financing Help You Start Your Own Business

 

Author

Evelyn Long is a writer and editor focused on home building and construction. She is the co-founder of Renovated, a web magazine for the home industry.

 

 

 

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