In October, visitors to ForConstructionPros.com were focused on the shift to digital and tech solutions in construction. Battery power, working remotely, combating cyber threats, the latest software – all this and more was on the minds of readers as of late. These are the construction technology stories our readers were checking out the most in October:
10. Reality Capture Cameras Tracking Ryan Companies' Project Progress Slash Costs
In this episode, Mike Ernst, vice president of Insights & Innovation at Ryan Companies, shares how the company’s building division is using technologies such as StructionSite’s reality capture cameras to improve efficiencies and substantially reduce construction costs by enabling greater transparency into project progress and improving schedule performance.
Caterpillar Inc.
9. Is It Time to Go Remote? Ask Yourself These 4 Questions
Google the words “remote work” and you’ll get more than 1.5 billion search results. Most refer to jobs that people can do from anywhere sitting at a computer, but that’s not how the business of construction gets done. Or is it?
Remote control equipment operation is on the rise among contractors for three big reasons: First, it significantly reduces the chance of accidents and injuries on the job. Second, it can deliver big efficiency and productivity advantages. And third, it’s proving to be a smart way to address the ongoing operator shortage and skills gap.
@denphumi - stock.adobe.com
8. 11 Tips to Protect Your Construction Company From Cyber Threats
It’s increasingly in the headlines, nightly news and on media sites; cyber security breaches are on the uptick. Some of the largest breaches this year have involved Colonial Pipeline, Facebook, Bonobos, Kroger, Parler and T-Mobile. While construction companies weren’t at the top of the list of biggest breaches of 2021 so far, the number of construction-related cyber breaches experienced a 545% increase from 2019 to 2020, according to the 2021 Data Breach Outlook Study by Kroll, a risk consulting firm. In construction specifically, that increase was 800% from 2019 to 2020.
Zonar
7. Zonar ZFuel
ZFuel leverages high-density fleet data to reward drivers following best practices that save fuel and drive hard dollars to the bottom line. Each driver earns an individualized Driver Efficiency Score to quickly uncover performance areas in need of coaching across the entire fleet.
6. Oracle Textura Now Manages Payments for Construction Projects Valuing $1 Trillion
Oracle Textura Payment Management Cloud Service has now been used to manage subcontractor payments on construction projects valuing $1 trillion. This milestone represents work on more than 78,000 projects since Textura first launched in 2006. Today, the system is helping general contractors, owners, and subcontractors of all sizes improve efficiency and mitigate payment and compliance risk by processing approximately $9 billion in monthly payments. Since 2018 alone, the construction value managed on system has doubled from $500 billion to $1 trillion.
Sany
5. Texada Software Announces Partnership With SANY America
Texada Software, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Noble Iron Inc., has partnered with SANY America to become SANY’s recommended rental management and dealership software vendor. Texada’s software platform will manage equipment rental and sales operations, drive efficiency in service and logistics, provide e-commerce capabilities, and provide detailed analytics and reports.
Billd
4. Billd Unveils Pay App Advance – Same-Day Financing to Cash-Flow Labor
Billd, a provider of material financing for commercial subcontractors, has launched of a new product aimed at improving cash flow for subcontractors and facilitating more timely payments for labor, called Pay App Advance.
Pay App Advance is designed to combat rising labor costs in the construction industry and the impact it’s had on subcontractor cash flow and overall liquidity of commercial construction projects.
Trimble
3. Trimble Releases Turnkey Autonomous Robotic Scanning Solution for Boston Dynamics' Spot Robot
Trimble announces the release of the Trimble X7 3D laser scanner and FieldLink software fully integrated with Boston Dynamics' Spot robot. This turnkey solution from Trimble, jointly developed with Boston Dynamics, facilitates autonomous operation on construction sites and takes advantage of the robot's unique capabilities to navigate challenging, dynamic and potentially unsafe environments.
Autodesk
2. Study Suggests BIM is the Key to the AEC Industry's Shift to Digital
Architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) is increasingly becoming a data-driven industry, and a new study by Dodge Data & Analytics, conducted in partnership with Autodesk, demonstrates that building information modeling (BIM) is at the heart of that initiative. The findings are featured in the Accelerating Digital Transformation Through BIM SmartMarket Report, which provides a thorough overview of how architects, engineers and contractors are deploying BIM, and how they leverage the data from models and processes to improve decision-making and effectively power integrated digital workflows among project team members.
Dewalt
1. The DeWalt POWERSTACK 20V MAX Compact Battery
DEWALT's POWERSTACK 20V MAX Compact Battery is a next-generation lithium-ion battery that was designed to provide 50% more power enabling broad application capabilities and fast performance with cordless tools.
