Driving Strategic Technology Innovation in Civil Engineering and Construction

Technology leaders in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry have a unique opportunity to better leverage data and emerging technology to transform how we plan, design, and build the world around us. Implementing the right technology strategies can optimize operations, improve project delivery, and foster innovation across our firms. Here are some of my insights on effective ways to drive strategic technology vision and execution:

Lead with the Business Strategy, Not Technology

Technology for technology's sake does not create value. The most critical step is understanding the firm's business strategy and identifying how technology can enable those goals. Whether the focus is on expansion, efficiency, thought leadership, or talent retention, align tech goals to business goals; however, maintain an agile approach as strategies evolve.

Construct an Agile Technology Portfolio

Today's solutions are nimble, cloud-based, and focused on delivering rapid value. Constructing a portfolio of targeted solutions across operations, design, collaboration, and more creates quick wins while working toward the larger vision. Pro tip: look to partner with agile vendors willing to co-innovate on your needs.

Facilitate Collaboration and Communication

Breaking down silos is key to effective technology adoption. As such, it is important to forge a strong change management philosophy to bring team members into the process, ensuring solutions meet their needs. Collaboration tools and multi-disciplinary integration that enables the sharing/transfer of technology roadmaps across geographies/functions, enriches knowledge management practices, and gathers input and feedback will lead to better outcomes for all stakeholders.

Upskill for Digital Fluency

Future-proofing the organization requires an investment in digital skills development, so implementing capability development strategies such as training programs, lunch-and-learn sessions, mentorships, and on-site tech coaches build employee confidence and competency with new tools. Digital fluency enables teams to maximize the benefits of technology investments and leads to better recruitment and retention results.

Harness the Power of Data and Analytics

Data is undeniably a core asset. Collecting and centralizing project and business data provides a full view of performance, so it is vital to implement analytics and BI tools to turn data into actionable insights. Dashboards and data transparency make metrics visible on-demand and empowers fact-based decision making. AI and machine learning will further enhance predictive capabilities over time. Of course, this requires a great deal of energy and focus to ensure data is of high quality. Otherwise, decisions may become flawed.

Spark Innovation at All Levels

Carving out time for innovation beyond daily tasks taps into employee creativity and using a variety of activities such as innovation programs, hackathons, and intrapreneurships encourage out-of-the-box thinking. Integrating emerging technologies like AI/ML, AR/VR, geospatial analytics, IoT sensors, and drones can lead to transformative new processes. Pro tip: recognize top ideas and enable rapid experimentation.

By taking a strategic approach, investing in our people, and leveraging technology to maximize its benefits, we can deliver better outcomes to our stakeholders while future-proofing our firms. The opportunities for positive impact are tremendous. As a technology leader, I am excited to drive meaningful change. What are you seeing work well? Please share your perspectives and experiences in the comments!