Design and the World of Technology
While the market has been collapsing for builders, developers, architects and designers, technology has marched forward. It is a safe statement that technology hasn't always been a friend to the construction industry. Many old school builders, developers, architects and designers have resisted technology like the plague. Some still do. But what worked before most likely will not work in the future.
Changing times bring about changing methods of survival. Technology will, in my opinion, be one of the deciding factors in the survival of those in the construction industry in this ever evolving world. It won't be an option, it will be a necessity. Why? Several reasons, but the primary are summed up in a few short, key points.
Efficiency, this was an issue before but ever moreso now. True, there are less people competing for survival now as we are watching competitors fall by the wayside at an ever increasing rate. Those that are still here are having to do things better and smarter. Thus, more efficiently. This involves everything from faster construction and design time to better utilization of materials complete through a more efficient implementation of money. There is no one step answer to this, but rather a combination of methods to help in this process.
Virtualization. Take companies into the virtual world. Websites, blogs, online schedules, online plan reviews. All of these are key components to virtualization. There are several things that virtualization accomplishes. The first and foremost is getting your name out to the rest of the world. Exposure is everything now. You MUST make your name as prevalent, and relevant, as possible in this new world. If you don't, you will miss the opportunity to not only connect with new customers but also improve your contact with existing.
Standardization. While expanding companies into the virtual world, there is a key point that must be maintained. The appearance of companies MUST remain uniform across all platforms. In that, all advertising, both print and electronic, must have the same appearances and styles across the applications. Without that, the company will appear fractured and unorganized. This, of course, looks unprofessional and amateurish. With the competition left in a small venue, this must be avoided at all costs. Any weakness can cost you a client.
Automation. Bring your systems up to speed and do it now. If your not trying to use electronics and computers in every way possible, you are setting yourself up for failure. Automation ties all of the concepts together. It allows you to speak and communicate with clients by phone, laptop, desktop, all electronic mediums while not only making you more available, but allowing better referencing of information and a back-up of information by getting as many communications as possible in writing. The greater of a record you can maintain electronically of information and contacts, the better you can manage your projects.
So the key message for today is to take advantage of every technology available for survival. Will it cost you? To an extent. But there are many, MANY areas you can utilize these technologies at minimal to no cost. You simply must investigate your options and ramp up to where you would like to be. Waiting isn't going to improve survival rates. Anything that can be done to survive must be done and done now.
Good luck.
Changing times bring about changing methods of survival. Technology will, in my opinion, be one of the deciding factors in the survival of those in the construction industry in this ever evolving world. It won't be an option, it will be a necessity. Why? Several reasons, but the primary are summed up in a few short, key points.
Efficiency, this was an issue before but ever moreso now. True, there are less people competing for survival now as we are watching competitors fall by the wayside at an ever increasing rate. Those that are still here are having to do things better and smarter. Thus, more efficiently. This involves everything from faster construction and design time to better utilization of materials complete through a more efficient implementation of money. There is no one step answer to this, but rather a combination of methods to help in this process.
Virtualization. Take companies into the virtual world. Websites, blogs, online schedules, online plan reviews. All of these are key components to virtualization. There are several things that virtualization accomplishes. The first and foremost is getting your name out to the rest of the world. Exposure is everything now. You MUST make your name as prevalent, and relevant, as possible in this new world. If you don't, you will miss the opportunity to not only connect with new customers but also improve your contact with existing.
Standardization. While expanding companies into the virtual world, there is a key point that must be maintained. The appearance of companies MUST remain uniform across all platforms. In that, all advertising, both print and electronic, must have the same appearances and styles across the applications. Without that, the company will appear fractured and unorganized. This, of course, looks unprofessional and amateurish. With the competition left in a small venue, this must be avoided at all costs. Any weakness can cost you a client.
Automation. Bring your systems up to speed and do it now. If your not trying to use electronics and computers in every way possible, you are setting yourself up for failure. Automation ties all of the concepts together. It allows you to speak and communicate with clients by phone, laptop, desktop, all electronic mediums while not only making you more available, but allowing better referencing of information and a back-up of information by getting as many communications as possible in writing. The greater of a record you can maintain electronically of information and contacts, the better you can manage your projects.
So the key message for today is to take advantage of every technology available for survival. Will it cost you? To an extent. But there are many, MANY areas you can utilize these technologies at minimal to no cost. You simply must investigate your options and ramp up to where you would like to be. Waiting isn't going to improve survival rates. Anything that can be done to survive must be done and done now.
Good luck.
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