Why Are Construction IT Services Important?

Historically, many construction companies have been hesitant to adapt to new technologies. It’s understandable. The world of construction has usually relied on the integration of multiple niche, industry-built software platforms or proprietary software solutions. But as the cloud becomes more important, and companies are increasingly moving over to affordable, robust cloud-based solutions, many construction companies are seeing opportunities arise with construction IT.

Let’s look at why IT support for construction is important and why construction managed IT services can help.

Why is IT So Important to the Construction Industry?

Why is the construction industry going through an IT boom? Not only is the construction industry very competitive, but it’s very cost-conscious. IT solutions can help companies save money, perform better labor, track customer satisfaction and ultimately improve both efficiency and ROI. IT services aid construction companies in many ways.

• IoT devices. IoT solutions are being increasingly used throughout construction, from sensors to drones. This introduces opportunities, as construction companies can do things such as complete land surveys with drone technology. But it also introduces challenges; IoT solutions need to be properly secured or they can become potentially dangerous. A sensor that connects to a network, for instance, could become a hole in that network. But you can’t avoid IoT devices; they are becoming critical to operations.
• Costing and project management platforms. Many construction jobs have very lean budgets and tight margins. Modern IT solutions are able to more accurately cost jobs, through the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Being able to properly cost jobs can make it far easier for construction companies during their bidding and quoting processes and reduce the chances they could under-bid or over-bird.
• Communication and consolidation. It’s an always-on world. Even in construction, many clients and vendors expect to be able to connect to an organization immediately. IT makes it easier for construction companies to facilitate communications and collaboration.
• 3D solutions and industry tools. Construction companies can now load their entire projects into 3D solutions or even have virtual reality walkthroughs. Many programs have been developed specifically for construction companies, so they can better do their job and better serve their clientele. As more companies get this technology, clients will start to grow to expect it, and may not trust companies that don’t provide support.

In short, the world of construction is becoming extremely technological very quickly. As a consequence, many construction companies are being forced to upgrade their technology, improve their technology processes and increase their tech budgets. At the same time, many companies don’t want to have to build an internal IT department. Here’s where IT support for construction can help.

Why Are IT Services for Construction Growing?

Most construction companies aren’t going to want to create their own IT teams. But they need to be able to upgrade their systems; otherwise, they run the risk of being left behind. Construction IT services have become critical so that companies are able to get best-in-class IT without having to build their own best-in-class IT team. An IT service can help a construction company:

• Upgrade their legacy solutions. If an organization is running on solutions that are 10 years old, it’s going to take significant effort to upgrade them. An MSP can help the organization upgrade with as minimal disruption as possible, helping the company reduce any damage to its ROI.
• Identify any security issues or inefficiencies. Security issues can cost any company millions of dollars in lost time, reputation and data. An MSP will identify security issues as well as process inefficiencies, to make the system tighter and safer.
• Maintain and manage their systems. A construction company may not want to invest the time and money into training an IT team to keep their systems up and running. An MSP will be able to maintain and manage systems, performing tasks such as patches and backups.
• Transition and train their team. Often, the thing that’s most disruptive is training employees. An MSP can take on the role of a trainer, helping employees adjust to the new IT systems. Further, they can provide continued support to ensure that the company successfully transitions.

Ultimately, construction companies are able to get everything they need from a managed services provider without having to invest a significant amount of time and effort into it. Even better, an MSP can also identify areas in which the organization is able to save money, thereby paying for themselves.

Does your construction company need IT services? Contact us today to find out more.