Construction Today Volume 20 Issue 2 Volume 20 Issue 2 - March 2023 | Page 12

design information and having that accurately positioned out in the field via a 3D model .
“ It had a tremendous impact on the industry and continues to do so today . My career has proffered a valuable vantage point from which I can observe and understand how technology not only plays a part in the construction sector , but also how companies can benefit from its adoption .”
Transformative technology
Certain eras will undoubtedly represent a marked leap forward in technology , but progress often brings about its own set of challenges .
“ Sure , we ’ ve seen expansion over the last decade and a half ,” admits Lawrence , “ but in among all that , there has been the primary issue of manpower , which was undoubtedly exacerbated by the pandemic .
“ There is this new sense of pressure within construction , where many companies are struggling to build a workforce that can keep up with the demand ,” he reveals . “ At the same time , we ’ re also seeing older and more experienced tradespeople leaving construction for either health reasons or through retirement , itself brought forward by Covid-19 .
“ Every company that I have interacted with over the past few years shares this common concern : attaining and retaining skilled labor . Consequently , our Viewpoint product line has evolved , and we are helping firms rapidly onboard personnel so that they ’ re ready to go . Indeed , with Trimble ’ s support , construction businesses can now deploy tradespeople more efficiently , ensuring they ’ re sent to the right projects and in the right quantity .” In theory , adopting technology to mitigate labor shortages should happen without a hitch . But , as with most things , it ’ s not so straightforward . Supply chain chokeholds , such as restricted access to components , and high rates of inflation have delayed technology ’ s deployment and incurred additional industry challenges .
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