As more technology becomes available to the construction industry, keeping up with all the advancements can be overwhelming. The timing can pose a problem, too. Tech moves quickly, so by the time you’ve invested in a new machine, an even better one becomes available. Managing costs while staying current and competitive may seem impossible, but retrofitting your machines is a great way to increase productivity and safety while decreasing other costs.
Benefits of Automation
While protecting the bottom line and productivity are serious benefits of investing in automation technology, by far the most important aspect is safety. Some autonomous equipment eliminates the need for people to engage in particularly dangerous work, like heavy lifting. While this initially brings concerns about eliminating jobs, this isn’t the case. Rather, some job roles will shift. A lot of equipment will still need operators, so this technology has the potential to offer higher pay to these new job roles.
Automating the job site also brings benefits to productivity levels and cost savings. Autonomous equipment reduces human error, keeping the job running smoothly. Cutting those mistakes saves time, which saves money.
Another benefit that isn’t always top-of-mind is one that can help address the labor shortage. Gen Z was practically born with tech in hand, and they expect some level of technology in the workplace. Embracing tech is an effective way to keep your business competitive in the job market.
Benefits of Retrofitting Current Equipment
The first benefit of retrofitting your current equipment is upgrading your machines without needing to spend the money to replace them entirely. Retrofitting the equipment you already have allows you to start using the technology needed to stay current in the construction industry while keeping the machines you’re already familiar working with, all the while reaping the many benefits of automation.
Companies like Teleo develop technology to retrofit your current machines so they become semi-autonomous. In these cases, operators are still required for the equipment to function, but they are remote controlled. This kind of automation increases safety and production while keeping a job for the operator.
Companies like SafeAI create retrofitted equipment to make your equipment fully autonomous vehicles, paired with mapping control and data analytics. So, your machine becomes an additional asset when dealing with site planning, progress monitoring and more. You still need a person to manage that data and use it to improve each project, redefining another job but keeping people employed while increasing productivity and safety.
To keep up with scalability, flexible software is necessary, which is a feature of products from Robo Industries. For example, its solutions are compatible with 2D and 3D control systems. So, as you improve and update equipment over time, the tech can still meet your needs.
These are just a few examples of tech you can use to update your current equipment. Take the time to take stock of the equipment you have and note what efficiencies you’d like to see. You can then use that information to select the right retrofitting product for you. Then, you will begin to see just how helpful the technology can be for your business.
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