Having focused my undergraduate studies in civil engineering, but eventually pivoting to exploring the tech sector and product management roles, I have always wanted to explore the intersection of these two distinct fields. From the perspective of a product manager, I believe there are ways that the construction industry can continue to innovate from some antiquated processes and adopt evolving technology trends. Prodding project managers in engineering and construction based roles, the most common pain point was knowing that a project could be managed more efficiently, but not necessarily having the capabilities or tools to do so.
Introducing, low-code/no-code development platforms. The main selling point to this novel development method is the ability to create complex applications without the need to code, and without extensive knowledge on how software development works.
Photo by Troy Mortier on Unsplash
Develop Custom Modular Solutions and Workflows
One size fits all solutions that are mainstream may not fit the unique processes and requirements of respective projects or companies. Then ensues a cycle of introducing new tools to address a small fraction of the overall process, and having to deal with a lack of cohesion and integration while managing a handful of inherently different productivity tools that were supposed to make managing the project easier. No-code and low-code platforms often have pre-created templates to start as a base, but also have a myriad of plugins and integrations to allow users to truly customize the application from end-to-end; in this way, solutions can be very modular, with the ability to include or remove features that fit the workflow best.
The repertoire of potential applications include:
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Field inspection reporting tools that centralized information and keep track of different file formats
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CRM tools to collaborate with clients and building the sales pipeline
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Supply chain management systems to keep track of inventory and manufacturing practices
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Advanced staffing and scheduling platforms across departments and functions
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Data dashboards to monitor the progress of concurrent construction projects and major deliverables
Enable Employee Problem Solving for Faster Innovation
Finding individuals with the expertise of how to build a custom application as well as the ins and outs of the construction industry could be an extremely rare find. Being able to equip existing employees who understand business needs and system requirements with the required resources may be a more realistic pursuit. Especially for companies that may not have an in-house software development team, low-code/no-code is an extremely valuable tool to equip teams to still build out the custom workflows they may require. Over time, applications built from no-code can save companies money given reduced legacy maintenance; once the application is built out, even a non-technical team could continue with its upkeep.
Building applications without code is not specific to large and complex problems. No-code and low-code development is an efficient way of bringing a product to market faster throughout its lifecycle. Since applications are built from modular components that are readily available, the need for testing and debugging is greatly reduced. UI/UX prototyping and development can occur concurrently, meaning deployment can happen with less effort and more rapidly. Applications built in no-code and low-code environments were completed in 40 to 60% less time than traditionally built products. This time saved helps support a more iterative approach where teams can deliver faster, and continue to improve on the platform while it is live, simultaneously.
Leverage Your Data to be More Actionable
Some may say that data already exists throughout the construction industry in the form of Excel files, CAD drawings, and standardized reporting, however, lacking access to relevant data flows and not having ways to integrate and extrapolate meaningful conclusions often leads to under-utilized data. Introduce low-code/no-code platforms that have the ability to extract, store, and visualize data in a way that is meaningful. This provides a way to transform data and centralizes information across multiple teams, reducing friction in handoffs while building futile knowledge repositories.
As companies and projects scale upwardly, dependencies on static data and information storage through Excel sheets or simple files on a local desktop are no longer sufficient. Being able to better organize, sort, track, and share data is often a crux for scalability that can be overcome through building robust applications that are capable of automating these processes and improving visibility across an organization; applications that can simply be built in no-code and low-code platforms. Having easy access to such data assists in reporting to upper management, and also in being proactive in decision making and having the necessary information to make an informed decision in project timelines, cost projecting, scheduling, and material estimations.
Final Thoughts
No-code and low-code platforms are becoming increasingly popular, with large market shares growing in non-software industries such as banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), healthcare, and manufacturing. Providing the tools to create advanced applications even without extensive coding knowledge will help to democratize the tech sector, and enable digital transformation in industries that may be rooted in more traditional practices. Such tools improve accessibility and opportunity to what software development entails, and can serve as a stepping stone to equip a myriad of users and creators with some semblance of digital literacy and confidence to further innovate in their own space.
Image from AppMaster.io
I had the opportunity to work on the McCain digital transformation project at TribalScale which was largely built on no-code and low-code platforms, where we are building out McCain's own custom workflow across their manufacturing practices. The work being done on that project is a testament to the power and potential that no-code and low-code hold, and it will be exciting to see how it drives innovation and improved workflows within the construction industry. Civil engineering and construction is rapidly changing behind the scenes as technology related to AR/VR, building information modeling (BIM), and robotics begin to make appearances on construction sites. Having the development platforms to support such innovation and those who seek to drive such change will be critical in holistically furthering the industry.
