When you spend thousands of dollars in new technology, you want a payback. But having spent years working with construction firms on technology deployments, I can tell you that while most firms get a good return on investment, far fewer take full advantage of all the technology can do. Here are six tips to help you get more from your construction technology.
1. Choose the Right Technology Partner
Ensuring success with technology has as much to do with who you choose as your partner, as it does with the hardware and software itself. Training is crucial to get the most out of your investment. Ask your supplier to describe their training process. Is it centered around your workflow? Does it include both classroom and field training? Is there an easy way to onboard new employees to get them familiar with the technology? Does it cover intermediate and advanced tasks such as capturing data for as-built documentation and maximizing the use of data? Choose a technology manufacturer and dealer that will be with you every step of the way on your technology journey.
2. Get Your Team on the Same Software and Firmware
Leica regularly upgrades its technology through firmware or software updates, and those enhancements are critical to production improvements. When your team is all working on the same software and firmware, it’s like everyone is on the same sheet of music. People aren’t frustrated going from one system to another, and everything works perfectly together. You can manage your software upgrades or use a customer care package (CCPs) that bundles product care and customer care together to ensure you maximize the value from your investment. Verification at a Leica dealer or factory-authorized repair facility is recommended at least once a year to ensure accuracy.
3. Turn Inexperienced Operators Into Productive Operators
Experienced heavy equipment operators are in short supply, but with advanced machine technology you can maintain productivity levels even with less experienced operators. Now you can widen your potential talent pool, take on more work and grow your business.
4. Connect Your Jobsite to the Office
When your office is connected to the jobsite, you can make decisions faster, with real-time data. You can share your data with all your stakeholders easily. The latest files can be sent to your machines over the cloud, saving time and reducing errors. With the Leica ConX cloud-based collaboration tool, as-built information can be used to create 3D cut/fill maps that allow you to visualize project progress in real time. Volumetric changes are presented in an easy-to-read dashboard for reporting project productivity. Not only will ConX allow you to manage multiple projects, but you can quickly assess whether your equipment is where it needs to be. With a connected jobsite, your data becomes a valuable asset, easily used by multiple roles to improve productivity, refine your bids and win more projects.
5. Get a New Perspective on Safety
In construction, your safety record has a huge impact on the jobs you take on and the employees you can attract. With a Leica ConX Safety Awareness module, you can take a more proactive approach to safety. The software takes incident data collected from Leica iCON PA10, iCON PA80 and iCON CAS and feeds it into a dashboard for analysis. Areas of high risk on a jobsite are easily identified so you can make decisions that improve safety. Real-time alerts can also warn specific machine operators in case of potential incidents, such as blasting, demolitions or storms. When minutes matter, SOS alerts can be issued at the click of a button.
6. Depreciate Your Aftermarket Construction Technology Over More Years
Aftermarket technology often lasts longer than most companies keep their iron. That means it can be depreciated over more years than your construction equipment. When the technology is not integrated into the machine, your return on investment goes way up, and your cost of ownership goes way down. In my experience, construction equipment with integrated technology doesn’t demand the same premium at auction as it does when it comes from the manufacturer. Purchasing aftermarket construction technology offers a better return on the investment and offers a simplified solutions for mixed fleets.
There’s no question technology is a big investment. It’s likely already paying off, but maybe you could be getting even more out of it. If you have a question about how to make that happen, please reach out to one of our experts.
