For all the talk about how AI will automate construction projects, we should realize that there will be a need to keep humans in the loop for some time. Without human insight and experience during a build, a project is at a higher risk of accidents, errors and delays.
The key to using AI on a construction project is knowing where to get started and which processes to automate. The way to understanding it is through a new role, the construction AI workflow consultant.
This role has three critical responsibilities.
- Define the requirements for the successful use of AI.
- Prepare the firm to introduce, manage and accelerate the use of AI.
- Automate repeatable processes to reduce, if not eliminate, reliance on the AI workflow consultant.
Let’s unpack each of these responsibilities.
Define the Requirement for the Successful Use of AI
Defining the requirements for the successful use of AI requires an understanding of where a firm stands today when it comes to using technology.
Start with the IT person or team to take an inventory of which technologies are in place, both in the office and on the jobsite, and how they are used.
This is where most firms learn they have far more technology than they need. This happens because of the ease of downloading apps, and the reality that different project teams tend to work with their favorite tools instead of a single, company-wide platform.
It turns out that construction companies typically rely on several project management solutions. A Quickbase survey of more than 400 construction professionals found that for 71%, having all those solutions prohibited them from easily sharing project information. For 75%, it prevents them from seeing all their project data in one place.
When data is hard to see and share, it creates an issue known as gray work. This is what happens when workers must comb through a variety of digital tools and platforms to get the information they need to do their jobs.
Whether it’s creating a project status report, bid, or a response to an RFP, hours spent on gray work add up. The survey found workers were spending 11 hours or more, on average, looking for information.
The more technology a company has, the lower the workforce productivity. This point is underscored by 77% of survey participants saying they have increased investments in technology for jobsites and the office. Yet 52% of workers say it is harder than ever to be productive.
When workers can’t easily find information and there are an overwhelming number of tools and apps to manage, the firm will struggle with applying AI to automate processes.
Defining the requirements for AI starts with understanding the technology that is currently in place, consolidating where necessary, and centralizing tools and information on a single platform.
Once the firm has a clear picture of the technology tools they have and what they need, they can start to identify where AI can step in to automate.
Accelerating the Use of AI
By centralizing information, the firm is prepared to introduce, manage and accelerate the use of AI. This stage requires an understanding of how work gets done, specifically how processes flow between the field and the office.
One of the biggest challenges in construction is an over reliance on outdated processes. For example, 91% of survey participants said paper forms are still used to some degree.
Further, the lack of real-time access to information from the field to the back office ranks among the biggest technology challenges today for construction firms managing complex projects. Information sharing time delays lead to project delays.
A related factor that impacts projects staying on time is the construction industry’s persistent labor shortage. With fewer workers entering the industry, and more experienced construction professionals retiring, delays seem inevitable.
This is why AI is ideal for automating processes, ensuring workers are not held back from building due to unnecessary admin. Here, the role of the AI workflow consultant is to map current processes and identify which ones can be quickly and easily automated.
Reduce Reliance on an AI Workflow Consultant
An AI workflow consultant cannot set up the firm for success if the rush to adopt AI supersedes the firm’s readiness.
The survey found that 70% of construction firms expect to increase their AI tools budget in the coming year. Yet 86% of workers have concerns around data security, compliance and privacy.
This says firms know they need to use AI to accelerate productivity, but the returns may not exist if information is not centralized and processes well understood. Once those are established and automated, and repeatable processes are introduced, workers will begin to identify additional processes where AI can take over. Soon, they’ll be able to do it themselves.
For example, these can include the creation of safety checklists or subcontractor compliance forms on a jobsite. Those forms should automatically flow into a centralized operations platform for visibility across the company.
At this point, having acted as a steady resource and trainer, the AI workflow consultant’s role will naturally decrease over time as workers gets more comfortable using the technology.
The construction industry sees the value of AI but may not be fully aware of the importance of having a workflow consultant guide them through a process to ensure their success. After all, humans should be overseeing AI, especially at its earliest stages.
