Many contractors have realized impressive productivity gains through the use of construction technology platforms, but how can companies ensure they’re choosing the right tool? Here are six things contractors should consider when looking at contech platforms:
- If using an application with AI, contractors should ensure two things. First, verify that there is a “toggle off” ability for the AI component, particularly if the company does government work, as many government contracts contain a “no AI” contract clause. Second, see that the application has appropriate governance measures to grant different access to individuals at different levels of the company.
- What can this new tool replace? Workers should be building, not doing manual data entry. Consider how many other tools or systems a new contech platform can replace, and ensure the net result is a productivity gain, not a loss.
- Consider how a platform supports collaboration between all stakeholders. Does it allow seamless communication? Is it built for a wide range of stakeholders? Does it have multi-lingual capabilities?
- Is the platform scalable and adaptable to company growth or for diverse project types? Can it handle multiple projects and large-scale operations across varied sectors? How does it adapt to variances in workflows?
- What integrations and compatibility does the platform offer? Does it support APIs for custom integrations?
- What is the cost structure and ROI for using the platform? Is pricing transparent? What metrics can be tracked to support ROI?
Technology solutions should add value for contractors and their clients. These questions and considerations will ensure that companies choose the right technology for their specific needs.
