Author: Peggy Smedley
Perhaps this goes without saying, but the industry most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftereffects—and most in need of digital transformation—is healthcare and its supply chain. This conversation will beseech a greater discussion on how the backlogs are creating a shortage of healthcare professionals and products depending on the regions impacted. A look at the government numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 ACS (American Community Survey) shows there were 22 million workers in the healthcare industry, which is one of the largest and fastest-growing sectors in the United States and accounts for 14% of all U.S. workers—and…
For 2022, I want to explore topics close to home: sustainable living, green homes, connected homes, and so much more. So, for this column, let’s talk about connected homes. However, before we dive into this topic in any depth, we need to acknowledge that before we can have a positive impact on the environment, we have to understand our role in its destruction. Research claims homeowners are unaware of the impact that their homes have on the climate. I personally do not agree with that sentiment, which is why I am here today to change all that. The Living Lab…
There are two really important questions the commercial construction industry needs to answer right now: where exactly are we today and where are we headed in the future? A few reports answer the former, and I will address the latter. At the end of last year, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce suggested commercial construction recovery has stalled—due to not being able to find workers or materials, all amid rising costs. The Commercial Construction Index is down one point in the final quarter of last year. Here is what a bit scary: Contractors’ revenue expectations fell for the first time since…
The next generation of tool intelligence is here. A new, cordless battery platform offers more flexibility, doubles the performance, tackles health and safety challenges, and helps construction professionals manage their business in a more connected way—all while being more sustainable and circular in the process. Let me take a few minutes to share with you what I have learned about this exciting, new IoT (Internet of Things) journey. Today, Hilti Group announced the launch of Nuron, a powerful 22V cordless battery platform. The Nuron products are now on sale to U.S. and Canadian customers and shipments will begin in March.…
What will the future of work look like in 2022 and beyond? The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly changed a lot. It accelerated workplace trends like digitization and the need for greater flexibility around remote and hybrid work options. Some estimates say it has speed things up by five or more years. Meanwhile, there are still currently five generations in the workforce—as I have been saying for the past year. We need a new approach for how we work—even in construction—and how we transfer inter-generational knowledge in the next decade. Perhaps the solution comes in the form of technology. One thing…
Imagine this: In a manufacturing plant, workers can do picks without getting off their vehicles. They have a forklift they are driving, and they can get the next picking instruction while still driving because they can scan the barcode from a distance. Or what about this: Wind turbine workers can climb up and down and leave the laptop on the ground. At the same time, technology is self-documenting, and the reports are creating themselves. This is what the future of work will look like with the help of assisted-reality wearables for frontline workers. Assisted reality is a non-immersive experience and…