Author: Peggy Smedley
There are big opportunities with generative AI (artificial intelligence). It has the potential to increase efficiencies and innovate in all industries unlike anything we have ever seen before. We keep saying and now we are even hearing it. It also has the potential to bring big risks: data leaks, deep fakes, and so much more that businesses need to be aware of. Another thing businesses need to be aware of: legislation related to AI is coming and, in some states, it is already here. Let’s consider a few examples today. The ELVIS ACT In January of this year, Tennessee Governor…
Who? What? When? Why? These are all important questions to ask when making big software decisions in a construction firm. As construction companies move forward with new technologies, these four questions and many others will be key before making a big investment. Let’s walk through the power these “Ws” today. Who Should Invest in Technology? This is a fundamental question all construction companies should be considering today. Who should be investing in technology? This question has multiple layers. The most obvious question is what companies should be investing in technology. The most obvious answer is all companies because the reality…
As with any technological advancement, quantum computers create both an opportunity and a threat. The danger is a real one that businesses need to prepare for because quantum could mean traditional encryption methods are ineffective, giving nefarious cybercriminals an easy way to expose sensitive data. But let’s back up for a minute. At its core, quantum computing uses quantum bits or qubits, which can store more information than traditional computers, and can be helpful in industries such as automotive, healthcare, consumer electronics, just to name a few. Here’s the risk: While quantum computers have yet to outsmart today’s encryption, it…
Perhaps one of the biggest questions of this century is how we encourage young people to consider careers in industries such as construction, manufacturing, and more. Certainly, the answer is myriad. We can’t simply take one approach to this conundrum. The reality is we need to come at the worker shortage in construction from multiple angles, which is something I have discussed here on this blog, but a new survey has some interesting insights about how to attract the younger generation of construction workers to the industry. DEWALT and WorldSkills Intl., conducted a survey of young trade professionals across 69…
At IMTS last week, in Chicago, Ill., Sharon Cobb, associate program manager, NASA, shared in her ELEVATE breakfast keynote that innovation in manufacturing is going to put us back on the moon—but there is another component in addition to innovations that will also be key: people. It was in 1972 that Apollo 17 astronaut Eugene Cernan said, “… as I step off at the surface at Taurus-Littrow, we’d like to dedicate the first step of Apollo 17 to all those who made it possible.” He was crediting the team who got him there, says Cobb. “NASA’s voyage to the unknown…
Gartner forecasts information security spending in India to grow 17% in 2025.
Five ways to improve your PM strategies today. Project managers have their hands full these days. With labor shortages impacting nearly every construction company, projects becoming more complex, and new regulations to consider, project managers have a lot of balls in the air—and a lot of responsibility too. Many project managers are responsible for projects worth millions—and often billions—of dollars. Let’s explore a few tips today for how to make these jobs a little bit easier, ensuring projects are completed on time and on budget. View the full article here.
Can smart homes help you be more profitable in your homebuilding business? This is the million-dollar question we have been studying here at Constructech for years—ever since the industry collectively called it AHT (automated home technology). Much has changed and much has stayed the same in the past decade, but there are key trends homebuilders should keep a close eye on. For one, it is important to note that some growth is still imminent. Next Move Strategy Consulting suggests the global home automation market was valued at $103.34 billion in 2023 and is predicted to reach $210.53 billion by 2030.…
Gen AI (artificial intelligence) offers incredible advantages for businesses. But even before anything can truly happen, there’s some heavy lifting that needs to be undertaken to unlock AI’s full potential. One especially hefty assignment is the collaboration among tech companies. This is perhaps the first step in delivering the required compute power. The good news is tech companies are coming together to deliver this in a timely fashion. At the end of August, IBM and Intel announced a global collaboration to deploy Intel Guadi 3 AI accelerators as a service on IBM Cloud. IBM Cloud with Guadi 3 will be…
A company’s data is among its most valuable assets. Here’s how to leverage it. Every day you work with a diverse set of documents as you plan, sell, and build your projects, including a diverse range of documents throughout the lifecycle of any project. As part of any major development, construction firms create contracts, blueprints, renderings, photographs, and virtual walk-throughs. Business is more than just work, it’s about valuable data. View the full article here.