We’re not the first to say this, and we won’t be the last: The construction industry has lagged in most areas when it comes to incorporating digital technology into workflows and processes, especially in the field. Even hardware and software used in construction settings and high-hazard facilities weren’t updated to meet modern requirements until about 10 years ago.

Now, whether it’s a byproduct of general reticence or a matter of sticker shock at the up-front cost of investment, the fact remains: failure to leverage new technologies, techniques and tools leaves projects open to failures that will disrupt work, impact safety, and spend exponentially more time and money.

Although digital transformation enhances project performance and delivery at every phase, you’re most likely to encounter visible evidence of its absence in the construction phase. Through the lens of industrial work, we’ll elaborate: 

Engineering or design phase: Traditional front-end loading (which everyone does or is trying to do) involves planning efforts between the owner, design team, engineers and constructor chosen to perform the work. Essential at this stage is identifying risks, capturing and correcting any errors, and improving the design by incorporating insight from the constructor and subject matter experts early rather than waiting to involve them later. 

When done correctly (requiring effective communication of very detailed information, documents, etc.), it can boost efficiency, minimize downtime and increase confidence that a project will be delivered on time and on budget. 

Construction phase: If the project is transmitted to a constructor without robust communication (during front-end loading) and organized lessons learned, the value captured during design can break down. From document control to estimating, scheduling and execution planning, digital transformation mitigates (if not eliminates) issues we see too often. 

Here are a few examples:

• Communication: The connection between personnel in the field and personnel in the office cannot be overstated. Without some form of digital bridge between them, communication can sometimes come down to verbal conversations. Since we’ve all played (or at least heard of) the game “Telephone,” we probably don’t need to go into much detail as to why verbal communication alone is ineffective. 

Any digital incorporation — from more robust email communications to having software that allows stakeholders to provide insight and feedback even when not in proximity to one another — drastically improves communication, which impacts productivity and accuracy at every step.

• Document control: As we all know, every time a change or revision comes down the pipeline (pun intended), updates are required for dozens of paper master drawing sets. Field construction software offering real-time document control minimizes the possibility of revisions, changes, details or updates being missed or ineffectively communicated. 

A process as sensitive as this will be prone to mistakes, and without effective management, it can become cumbersome quickly. With all the software options available in today’s market, there is no reason for anyone to be without a digital solution to this critical area. 

• Rework: This is unacceptably commonplace. By incorporating better digital tools, improving communication and leveraging today’s technology, we make rework a thing of the past. In 2024, there is simply no reason to be watching as the wrong document, revision, change or information in general upends the ability to deliver on time and on budget. The tools exist, and we should make every effort to start using them industry-wide.

• Product and schedule loss: No matter how skilled or efficient our crews performing work in the field are, they cannot compensate for inefficiencies in document control and communication. Even the most remarkable people can only work to the level of resources and training provided to them when it’s time to start a project. 

Building off the wrong set of drawings is a major driver of production and schedule loss on projects, and as mentioned before, it is astonishingly easy to mitigate or even avoid. So, why isn’t it happening more often? 

Seek Security and Flexibility

We can’t speak to the experience of every contractor, but when we began our digital transformation journey, we partnered with a field construction software company that provides the right combination of security and flexibility. 

It provides a secure environment for the storage of sensitive information (one that meets rigorously high standards), and the system is flexible enough that it can apply to different projects and for different purposes, facilitating reliability and communication and adding to the effectiveness of our workflow. 

We’ve ensured that all field personnel, foreman and up, have their own tablets loaded with this software so they can reap the benefits of its use in real time. 

Those benefits? To name a few:

Improved communication (office and field, project team and office).

Reduce rework. 

Real-time document updates.

Increase productivity by reducing trips to the office.

Improve the physical percentage of complete tracking or status updates.

Software OCR makes the activities within our schedule more dynamic by hyperlinking to the construction drawings each activity applies to.

Requests for Information are embedded into the construction drawings they affect.

Always have the latest version of documents with the option to look at previous versions or overlay drawing comparisons.

Increased visibility gives owners access to our real-time project setup and tracking;.

Assign tasks to work groups and subs when steps are ready for them.

Better tracking of punch list items with the option to attach photos, descriptions and locations, and assign them to specific people.

Reduce risk overall.

Now, we’re speaking from the perspective of professionals in industrial work, but it doesn’t mean these practices won’t level up workflow, reliability and productivity industry-wide. To those companies still hesitant to embrace the digital world of tomorrow for whatever reason, we implore you: Find the time before time runs out. The way forward is through, and those who do not adapt are guaranteed only one thing: to be left behind. 

Steven Reyes is a senior project manager at Harris.