Columbia Business School and Trimble examines technology adoption in construction

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A new report published by Columbia Business School’s Center on Global Brand Leadership, with support from Trimble, reveals challenges to technology adoption in construction and outlines opportunities for transformative growth in the industry through expanded innovation.

The report highlights important economic and societal impacts of construction, along with agriculture and transportation. By analyzing the historical role of technology and the current dynamics in these sectors, the white paper identified innovation strategies with the potential to drive growth and efficiency.

“Despite several specific hurdles outlined in the report, these lynchpin industries have become eager to embrace emerging technologies and innovation practices,” said author Matthew Quint, director of the Center on Global Brand Leadership at Columbia Business School. “This study outlines several techniques that can help them to break through the barriers they still face in making this transition.”

The study identified barriers that have hampered development and deployment of innovative technologies in construction. These ranged from cost and fear of change, to an aging workforce, siloed data and the uniqueness and complexity of construction projects.

“The findings of this report align with Trimble’s vision and our focus on some of society’s most vital sectors,” said Pete Large, senior vice president of strategy for Trimble. “There is tremendous potential in these industries to improve operational performance through innovations that increase precision, drive efficiencies and expand access to real-time insights across connected workflows.”

The report also outlines opportunities driving expanded technology adoption in the lynchpin industries, including efficiency and cost reductions, interoperability, sustainability advantages and expanded capital investment in technology development.

Based on the findings, the report presents techniques and best practices construction companies can use to break through innovation barriers. Key strategies include embracing digital transformation, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and leveraging technological advancements.