My Journey Implementing Autodesk Construction Cloud Tridel: Navigating Challenges, Driving Growth, and Achieving Transformative Outcomes

Over the past year, I had the privilege of leading the implementation of Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) across more than ten Tridel and Deltera projects. This transformative journey has been filled with both challenges and remarkable successes, shaping my professional growth and the way our teams approach project management.

Navigating the Challenges

The initial implementation of ACC was not without its hurdles. Onboarding over 500 active members, including consultants, project management teams, site teams, and subcontractors, required a significant investment of time and effort to ensure seamless adoption. One of the key challenges was overcoming the resistance to change that often accompanies the introduction of new technology. Many team members were accustomed to their existing, traditional project management practices and were hesitant to embrace the new platform. Integrating ACC with other departmental workflows, systems, and platforms also posed (and still poses) a significant challenge, as we have to ensure a smooth transition without disrupting ongoing operations. To address these challenges, we had to rethink our approach to change management. Instead of imposing a comprehensive implementation plan, we adopted a more agile and adaptive strategy. We focused on understanding the corporate culture and traditional workflows, and worked to gradually integrate ACC into the existing processes, rather than attempting to overhaul everything at once. This approach proved to be more effective, as it allowed us to address the concerns of low-adopters from some consultants, PM and jobsite teams, by tailoring the implementation to their specific needs and concerns. We also invested heavily in communication, training, and user engagement to build trust and foster a sense of ownership among the teams.

Professional and Personal Growth

This implementation journey has been a transformative experience, both professionally and personally. By immersing myself in the intricacies of how other departments, beyond project management and construction, operate, I'm gaining a deeper understanding of the business as a whole. Developing my soft skills, such as communication, influence, and leadership, has been a crucial aspect of this experience. Navigating the diverse perspectives and needs of stakeholders, from the executive board to the jobsite teams, has honed my ability to tailor my approach and effectively convey the value of the new technology implementation. Additionally, the high level of trust and independence granted to me by my director Luke Johnson has fostered a sense of dynamism and adaptability. I've learned to let go of strategies or tools that are not working and quickly pivot to new approaches, ensuring the continued progress of the implementation. My professional network has also expanded significantly, as I've collaborated with a wide range of individuals and teams across the organization, and outside of it. Furthermore, I've developed a deeper understanding of the IT industry, including its technical vocabulary, processes, and system integrations, which has broadened my skillset.

Expected and Unexpected Outcomes

While the implementation of ACC has been primarily focused on improving project management and collaboration, we encountered several unexpected benefits that have had a profound impact on our teams and the overall project outcomes. One of the most notable outcomes was the enhanced sense of transparency and accountability across the projects. With all project information and communication centralized in ACC, team members were more engaged, and issues were addressed more efficiently. This fosters a culture of trust and collaboration, where project management teams feel empowered to use the system independently and even explore new tools and workflows on their own. Another unexpected outcome was the enthusiastic adoption of the ACC mobile features by surprisingly early adopters on jobsite teams and subcontractor teams. These team members found the real-time access to project information and the ability to collaborate with office-based teams invaluable, leading to increased efficiency, reliability, and satisfaction.

Lessons Learned

Throughout this journey, I've gained several valuable lessons that will shape my approach to future technology implementations and project management initiatives. One key lesson is that not every project requires a comprehensive, detailed implementation plan. In our case, we were able to achieve great results by adapting to the changing landscape and taking a more agile, iterative approach. I've also learned that corporate culture and traditional workflows exist for a reason and need to be thoroughly understood before attempting to make changes or improvements. The effort and resistance to break down existing structures and build new ones can be significantly higher than adapting the existing ones. Finally, I've come to appreciate that technology implementation is a constantly evolving process, and the goal post is always moving faster than we can keep up. Maintaining a forward-looking mindset while firmly grounded in the present, taking one step at a time, is essential for success.

A Transformative Journey

The implementation of Autodesk Construction Cloud at Tridel has been a transformative journey, filled with challenges, lessons, and remarkable outcomes. By navigating the complexities of change management, leveraging my professional and personal growth, and adapting to unexpected developments, I've gained invaluable insights that will continue to shape my approach to project management and technology implementation. As we move forward, I'm excited to build upon these experiences and drive further innovation and success within our organization.