Market-leading Construction Group
Construction
Digital Strategy,
Experience Design,
Digital & AI Use Case Exploration,
Service Design,
UX & UI Design,
Digital Prototyping,
Custom Software Development,
Operations & Continuous Improvement,
Business Analytics,
Data Consulting,
DevOps Consulting
Construction is a hands-on business. Even in our digital world, the planning that goes into building buildings is done manually. Often done on-site, on paper and by hand. The success of each project relies on the expertise and judgement of foremen and the perfect execution of thousands of specific tasks by workers of varying skill levels.
“Sclable dove into the topic at an exceptional speed and they guided us through the innovation process to develop a game-changing concept. With implementation from prototypes to a solid software architecture, our idea was brought to life.“
Processes are analog, siloed, unautomated and volatile. In these times of rapid urbanization and drastic affordable housing shortages, the construction industry’s lagging productivity isn’t just a problem for the industry. It’s a problem for us all.
Ever searching for ways to evolve, our client, a market-leading construction group specializing in formwork and scaffolding, started to develop a range of new business models.
Their aim was doing one thing very well:
To develop its next business opportunity, the company came to Sclable with sensors it implemented on its frames, the data the sensors had collected and a mandate to improve the industry. Together, we aimed to structure and automate as many planning processes on construction sites as possible.
Research and workshops revealed that the planning and daily operations of active construction projects are challenged by complex dependencies and low-quality execution of tasks.
Building a concrete wall for example requires a number of standardized tasks to be executed properly and in the right order. If they aren’t, you start over. Mistakes that affect the execution of tasks can happen for a variety of reasons – from material delivery timing to human error – but all result in the same thing: degraded planning that must be done (and redone) daily by foremen.
Working closely with our client, Sclable developed a custom software concept that maximized the data collected by the frame sensors.
Based in the Building Information Modeling (BIM) process of managing construction information,
This was achieved in a variety of ways. For example, the software created daily task lists and instructions for every on-site worker. It also monitored the status and progress of each task based on workflow data. Foremen could also be alerted to deviations and deteriorations that require replanningand be given contextual information like weather conditions. It also automated documentation, creating “construction diaries” of each day. Finally, it aggregated data for construction companies and investors across active sites.
What we achieved together
Cross-functional collaboration
Connecting different industry fields, including architects, engineers, foreman and materials suppliers, improves efficiency.
Modernized workflows
Automated task approval, problem reporting and other alerts streamline on-site oversight and planning.
Measurable performance
For the first time, live on-site data lets developers accurately report progress to banks and investors for prompt financing.
Leadership positioning
Client now has a solution that can establish a new digital status quo for the industry.
New business opportunities
Client continues to evolve the original software’s features and marketing. Ensuring its own continued business growth.
With the software, the construction industry now has a framework for its future
In fact, the software proved to be so progressive for concrete wall building, our client launched it as a separate business. Soon enough, new features and functions were added based on user feedback, and it effectively pivoted the original product into an industry-wide digital planning tool.
Now, the possibility of a new era for the construction industry is upon us. One that is more interconnected, more productive and more predictable. That’s good news for the people on-the-ground doing the work, as well as investors, civic leaders and citizens alike.