Technology is at the forefront of everything we do these days; from the moment we wake up and scroll through our social media feed, to the app we use while booking a ride home after a long day.

Now, digital advances are bleeding into the construction industry faster than ever before. If you’re ready to grow your business and take your career to the next level, here are 5 technology trends you’ve got to know about:

-1- Prefabrication

Prefabrication is when parts or all of a building are created off-site and then transported to the building site. The upside of using this method is many and varied, it can save you time and projects can be completed up to 65x faster as compared to earlier methods. What exactly does this mean for your team? That a prerequisite before adopting prefabrication is to have accurate data, specifications and measurements. For those concerned about accuracy, jump to #3 on this list. You’ll thank us later!

-2- BIM 4D/ 5D/ 6D

Simply viewing BIM is becoming a thing of the past. Now, more and more construction companies are moving ahead to enhance models with 4D, 5D, and even 6D BIM information. 4D BIM creates a visual representation of the construction program while 5D BIM connects cost data and 6D BIM for operation and maintenance data. 6D BIM also takes into consideration standard design parameters as well as specifications including geometrics, aesthetics, and acoustic features. These new versions of BIM can help Estimators and Quantity Surveyors maximise their ROI and professional contribution. 

-3- Usage of Digital Construction Software

Let’s face it - Estimators and Quantity Surveyors have one main goal, to ensure profit for all parties. But winning tenders and forming packages takes a lot of time and effort. There’s back and forth between measurements and the complexity behind keeping track of drawings that are constantly changing. Many professionals in the industry also face having to work overtime to make up for wasted effort on tracing human errors. More and more construction companies are making the smart move and adopting digital construction software such as Cubicost into their daily processes. These cutting-edge platforms not only give their teams an edge over competitors, but they are also able to complete tasks with greater ease, higher efficiency, and with greater accuracy.

-4- Internet of things (IoT)

Next up, we have the Internet of Things. Just as smart in-home assistants like the Google Assistant, Alexa, are making our homes run smoother, IoT products are also making processes more convenient for Installers and Modelers. For example, cloud-based apps use up-to-date information and allow users to enjoy the flexibility of receiving ready-to-order products directly at the building site.

-5- Augmented Reality (AR) & Virtual Reality (VR) Reality

If you’ve ever watched a movie in 3D, you’ve already experienced Virtual Reality. Using VR would be impressive when showing clients what their completed project would look like. Virtual reality could not only help pitch new architectural ideas to clients, but also help potential property owners to make better buying decisions based on a virtual walk through. Digital platforms such as MagiCAD are already making strides in the realm of 3D modeling to best suit the needs of the rapidly changing construction industry.

While not as popular as VR, AR is an up-and-coming training tool for managing on-site clashes. It will enhance virtual collaboration, allowing users to work beyond borders and easily manage construction projects remotely.

-6- Green Has Always Been the New Black

Globally, people have become more conscious of their environmental footprint, and now it's trickling its way into the AEC industry. By using the right technology platform, resources and materials can be accurately taken into account throughout the entire design phase, leading to nominal waste. Automating tedious processes also helps projects to be built with higher energy efficiency. Companies using these platforms also experience massive savings on their energy costs, which in turn boosts profits and affects the bottom line.

Experience the latest construction technology trends with us today!

• Complete quantity take-off faster and win more tenders with Cubicost
• Ensure calculation accuracy, smoother collaboration, and seamless scheduling with BIM5D<
• Transform boring 2D images into realistic 3D models with MagiCAD

Contact us for a demo to find out if you qualify for a free product trial.