How Tech is Transforming Construction Resource Management

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The fragmented nature of construction makes resource management a never-ending battle, even for the most seasoned professionals. 

Fortunately, technology is transforming the industry and providing much-needed relief.

See how tech solves the industry’s biggest resource management challenges and maximizes your organization for greater profitability. 

The fundamental challenge of resource management

Numerous people working across multiple disciplines must plan, schedule, and pull resources from various vendors and suppliers and then successfully coordinate those efforts to meet their crews’ needs in enough time to meet their project deadlines. 

Not a simple task.

And with that level of complexity, it’s easy to understand why so many projects fall behind schedule

What are the challenges of human resource management?

Skilled construction professionals are every organization’s lifeblood but also represent one of the industry’s biggest challenges.

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Traditional construction work is labor-intensive, and craft workers suffer a high rate of job-related injuries.

If that weren’t enough, the available labor pool is shrinking as fewer young people enter the industry while experienced construction pros reach retirement age.

How does technology help?

The next generation of construction professionals has grown up with technology.

This new breed is attracted to career opportunities that offer technology-based learning and growth.

That’s an opportunity for AEC companies of all sizes.

Additionally, the demand for greater productivity has prompted a new generation of construction hardware and software. 

This exciting technology is attracting a new generation of tech-savvy construction workers.

Exoskeletons, bionic attachments, drones, and construction robots make construction work safer, more productive, and less labor-intensive.

Construction companies can also leverage technology to communicate with their work crews, schedule work assignments, and train their workforce.

With powerful mobile apps in the palms of their hands, field personnel now have the power to document potential safety hazards and access safety training wherever they are.

These conveniences improve the workplace and make your organization more attractive to top talent. 

In addition, the software makes daily huddles and toolbox talks easier and more convenient for your field personnel for greater compliance and improved safety ratings. 

Improved safety ratings and fewer accidents lower your risk and improve your position with insurance carriers.  

Technology is empowering a new generation of construction professionals and attracting tech-savvy, innovative thinkers to the industry.

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The challenge of resource management for tools and equipment

To stay competitive, construction firms must supply their crews with the latest tools, trucks, and light and heavy equipment to stay productive. 

The problem is that tools, trucks, and equipment are expensive and require substantial investments to purchase, lease, operate, and maintain.

Companies can’t afford to let these resources sit idle, but they also can’t afford to let their crews wait for equipment to become available. 

It’s an ongoing struggle to balance the demand for these resources with their just-in-time availability. 

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Where does technology fit?

Using GPS tracking devices in conjunction with telematics, your resource managers can view all of their equipment and hard assets from one convenient dashboard. 

Resource managers can use this information to reduce idle time and improve asset utilization across their entire portfolio of projects. These systems also help them schedule maintenance more efficiently to avoid breakdowns and costly repairs. 

The technology ensures that work crews have the tools and equipment resources they need to be productive, and the asset investments are well maintained and used efficiently for the most significant effect. 

Material resources: 

Supply chain disruptions and soaring material costs have plagued the construction industry since the pandemic.

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Lead times for construction material deliveries have skyrocketed. 

The lead time for drywall is up by over 600%. Likewise, roofing material lead times have increased by over 800%

Even paint is hard to come by, with contractors on hold for nearly two weeks to buy this once readily available resource.

Almost every project suffers from delays caused by unavailable materials and stalled deliveries now, making resource management a hot topic for every stakeholder in the industry. 

The technological solution to material resource management

Resource management software gives construction executives insight and control over their entire operation.

From vendor management to resource allocations and daily payroll management, cloud-based information management solutions can provide a 6x ROI over outdated manual systems.

The future of material resource management

Gartner predicts significant disruptions on the near horizon to the way material providers and suppliers operate. And these disruptions will have an enormous impact on the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industries. 

Driven by heavy technological investments, suppliers will incorporate robotics, artificially intelligent (AI) systems, and embedded advanced analytics (AA) in their operations.

That technology, combined with building information modeling (BIM), means increased end-to-end visibility and communication throughout the supply chain and built environment.

Synchronized schedules will link multiple parties and supply chains across various locations (materials, equipment, supplies). Changes in the supply chain will be propagated across the schedule hierarchy (master, field, material, equipment, contractor) to adjust forecasts, procurement, and delivery. 

Visibility across the value chain will maintain control of materials, equipment, and supply milestones.  Stakeholders will have immediate insights into developing supply events so they can react quickly and decisively. 

Real-time reporting will lead to accurate, timely decision-making and foster collaborative adjustments for better project outcomes. 

To be successful in the future, AEC companies will need to prepare for and embrace these advanced supply-chain technologies, and the time to start is now.

Plan your company’s digital transformation with a trusted digital partner.

Financial resource management: 

The construction industry is highly susceptible to economic fluctuations.

Rising interest rates, inflation, political upheaval, and the Russia-Ukraine war have project owners and developers hedging against a possible recession

Preparing for potential slow-downs while pushing hard to land new projects is another delicate balance of resources for construction firms to navigate.

Legacy Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are expensive to set up and maintain. And integration with other business systems often takes more time and effort than some organizations can justify. 

As a result, many companies lack the agility, responsiveness, and efficiency that would otherwise give them a competitive edge.

The enterprise resource management (ERP) system of the future

But a new era of flexible, cloud-based ERP solutions is gaining traction and proving to be worth the investment.

Gartner calls these new systems “ERP’s Fourth Era – Enterprise Business Capabilities.”

In these ‘Composable Enterprise Solutions’, an ERP core is surrounded by a platform that extends the functionality of enterprise applications by enabling new apps to integrate and access data seamlessly.

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The cloud-based system costs substantially less than traditional on-premise solutions, and because the system is cloud-based, updates are automatic, and the system is readily accessible for upgrades.

In addition, each system is customized for and by the user with low-code technology making the system adaptable, more affordable, and easy to use.

Time and spatial resource management 

Time is the great equalizer and the only resource we cannot replenish. 

Every project is a race against the clock.

And with over twenty independent contractors jockeying for positions while coming and going on the job site, managing a limited workspace on a tight schedule can be challenging.

Tech for optimum schedule management  

Integrated construction management software gives AEC firms a competitive edge.

Collaborative project management systems combine process automation with innovative workflow tools to manage information handoffs between different teams, provide statistical analysis of bottlenecks, and even update work assignments and schedule changes in real-time.

That means that with minimal intervention, managers can reallocate their resources with complete confidence that their work crews will have the tools, equipment, and material resources they need to work safely, productively, and profitably.

Construction resource management built for construction

Get a free, custom demonstration of the Linarc resource management system today.

Linarc is a cloud-based project management system built solely for collaborative, data-driven construction management.

  • Seamless collaboration
  • Easy file sharing
  • Common communication platform 
  • Real-time updates on project progress
  • …and so much more

Connect with a Linarc representative and see what the power of technology can do to improve the productivity of your operation.

Connect – Build – Thrive with Linarc construction management software.