Technology

Voice Technology and the Construction Jobsite of the Future

Voice and conversational AI can transform construction industry, but it needs to be built, trained, iterated on and optimized to generate a real impact.
By Matt Maher
September 13, 2021
Topics
Technology

The jobsite of the future will be safer, have improved communication and be highly efficient, but to realize that future, companies need to adopt voice technology. Voice technology is already here in the form of Siri or Alexa, where users simply ask a question or request a task be performed.

As the only hands-free user interface with zero learning curve (no clicks, taps, swipes or zooms), voice and conversational artificial intelligence will fundamentally transform the enterprise, employee and jobsite experience. But like any great AI, it needs to be built, trained, iterated on and optimized to generate a real impact.

Why Voice is Critical to the JobSite of the Future

According to a report from FMI and Autodesk, 60% of general contractors see problems with coordination and communication, while 45% of workers report spending more time on non-optimal activities, costing the industry over $177BN in yearly labor costs.

Voice technology is a solution for these and many other issues.

The Benefits of Voice Technology on the Jobsite

There are three benefits of voice technology on the jobsite:

  1. Voice is Safer. Jobsite employees must look down at their smartphones or tablets to access relevant apps such as Power BI, make phone calls or pull up information. Voice technology integrated into a “hearable” (e.g., a custom headset or device) allows workers to accomplish all three of these tasks without taking their eyes off the potential hazards in front of them.
  2. Voice Unlocks Efficiencies. “First-Order Retrievability” is a core tenet of voice. This means a project manager can ask a complex question such as, “How many employees on-site have completed safety orientation?” and a well-trained voice assistant can source this information from five separate repositories and surface a single answer within seconds. It can even use real-time math and analytics to provide insights or generate a new data point.
  3. Voice is Growing at an Exponential Rate. Nearly 450 million voice searches are completed every day via millions of vocal devices such as Alexa Echo and Google Hub. There are more than 60,000 third-party products that are now “voice-enabled.” Voice technology is the only medium that has proven growth and usage across all four generations.

Areas Where Voice Can Supercharge a JobSite

Voice technology and its zero-learning curve offers an accessible assist in completing tasks, whether for new hires or a project executive nearing retirement. The question and challenge become where should a construction company utilize voice on a project?

  1. Memorialization of Information through Dictation. The project manager is the quarterback of each site so his or her ability to receive intel from workers and transcribe that information quickly and concisely is paramount in creating fluidity on a project. Voice technology allows hyper-accurate, voice-to-text transcription by using Natural Language Understanding to capture speech, memorializing information in real-time. This information can be instantly pushed to the cloud and synchronized with key stakeholders. Whether it’s providing daily reports, manpower counts or checking off punch lists, this is an invaluable tool that saves time and effort.
  2. Employee Access to FAQs, Reports and Training. Imagine updated safety protocols, relevant jobsite information or even training tutorials and FAQs all individually available to every jobsite employee in real-time via their “hearable.” Unlike other technologies that require expertise or are only available to senior-level employees, voice democratizes access to information and can empower jobsite employees.
  3. Status Updates on Materials and Deliveries. Plugging in the right APIs and schedules can give workers real-time updates on everything from a weather-affected concrete pour to the location of missing door hardware. This eliminates the need to make multiple phone calls, send additional emails or waste time disseminating information to all relevant parties.

While IoT and 5G may promise smart cities and fully connected jobsites, voice technology is the stop-gap that offers a version of this connected future, today. The burning question then becomes, which existing tech giant or voice solution should be deployed? Knowing there is a duopoly in the voice technology sector, is Amazon’s Alexa or Google Assistant the better solution? The answer may be neither.

Off-The-Shelf Voice Assistants Versus Purpose-Built Solutions

Zooming out on all construction-based technologies, there is an abundance of software and tech companies lasered in on this industry, offering quick fixes and productivity gains to anyone who will buy their product or service. Many of these technologies may be solutions looking for problems. The only way to effectively deploy voice (or any technology) in an impactful way is to first deeply understand the company’s pain points and problems that need to be solved.

Alexa and Google each handle millions of intents, or questions, from users. Their technology was built by smart developers and the underlying AI is powerful and expansive. In the built world, expansiveness isn’t as important as effectiveness. Other industries such as finance and automotive are similar in their need for specificity and accuracy. This is why the Bank of America created Erica and Mercedes-Benz released MBUX, their respective custom-built AI voice assistants.

Voice technology in the built world is still nascent, with initial traction coming from the partner side. Procore opened up its APIs to allow construction companies to build technologies like voice interaction with its software. Ironically, the initial call for voice was met with silence but that’s all about to change.

To date, there’s only been one company that has built a custom-voice solution for its workforce that also leverages the Procore API integration: Suffolk Construction. Their voice assistant “Louie,” named after the late American architect Louis Sullivan, is being piloted in Suffolk’s Boston headquarters. Given the job title of “Director of Intelligence,” Louie is able to pull up PowerBI dashboards on its data wall, showcase live video feeds from all jobsites, and can answer hundreds of construction and Suffolk-related questions to anyone who asks.

The Fastest Way to Success With Voice Technology: Start Slowly

Advanced technologies like voice seem to be a silver bullet for efficiency, but to extract true value and impact, companies need to take a strategic crawl, walk, run approach. As Abraham Lincoln said, “If I had eight hours to cut down a tree, I’d spend six sharpening my axe.” If voice technology can solve one or two small pain points, even in the form of simple, single query questions, that is the basis on which to build.

A key component to remember is that failure in voice tech is a step forward. What queries doesn’t the AI understand? How many times are these queries being asked? If it’s above a threshold, build the question and intent into the AI’s information repository. This type of iterative, circular design is how to turn a one-trick voice pony into the next Alexa.

by Matt Maher
Matt Maher guides brands and executive teams through the ever-changing media and technological landscapes - from AI and Voice technology to AR and VR. He formerly served as VP of Innovation at Assembly, AdAge’s 2018 Agency of the Year, and has given keynote presentations at CES, SXSW, industry panels and private client events. 

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