How Haselden is Approaching New Technology in Construction

Technology is moving at a pace faster than we can imagine. Conversations around AI are dominating stories, and it seems like every industry has an implementation plan or new automation. Construction is no different, as our technology continues to make huge advances forward. As these changes take shape, here is how our team has approached the different challenges impacting our company:

Challenge 1: Too many programs and options create an overload of resources for our teams and lead to low utilization or disjointed systems.

With so many options for technology and programs available to us even just in construction, there is a risk of low return on systems we implement. Less is more when it comes to introducing new technology. Giving teams time to learn and implement tools without overload helps prevent duplication and avoids multiple programs serving the same function. My team and I start by asking whether there is a clear business case for new software, programs, or tech tools. We gather suggestions from our team members (both in the office and the field), vendors, and our own research. The goal is always to make our teams’ jobs easier and more efficient. Many of the systems we’ve implemented automate routine tasks and searches, freeing up time for our teams to focus on solving problems and building buildings. Ultimately, there must be a strong business case for us to move forward with any new system.

Challenge 2: Many of the AI chatbots and new programs present risks to company security if they can access our files or if team members upload sensitive information.

Security is always a top priority when we evaluate new programs. Our first step is to work with the programs and vendors we already use to explore additional offerings. Many of our software providers are adding AI elements and invite us to beta-test their latest advancements. Because we’re already familiar with their licensing and protections, these opportunities allow us to safely enhance our tools. We’ve seen this work especially well with our EGNYTE management software, where we beta-tested an AI add-on that lets our team ask questions like an AI chatbot, except it pulls answers directly from our file storage. This gives our teams access to our full institutional knowledge while maintaining maximum security. Beyond technology, we also focus on educating our teams on safe AI use through email campaigns, meetings, and training opportunities. To encourage exploration without the risks of unsanctioned tools, we are creating a submission platform where employees can propose new technology.

Challenge 3: We have the programs, but utilization is low due to a lack of training or understanding.

Even after selecting technology that’s safe to implement, adoption presents a new challenge. As Director of Business Transformation, I can advocate for how software might be useful in the field, but I’m not working with it every day. To help create a holistic view of any programs we’ve implemented, we are developing a user community group that will meet once per month to discuss how team members have been implementing these new programs. The insights and tips that come out of these meetings will be instrumental in accelerating how fast we can implement new technologies, as well as our understanding of what is actually helpful for our field and operations teams. During these meetings, we will also bring in consultants from our software partners to demonstrate new aspects of the technology and have conversations with our teams on what they would like to see in further iterations. Some of the technology is moving so fast that we have actually found new capabilities in our software through these demonstrations.

As technology advances, it’s crucial we stay up to date. Changes are happening so fast that we can easily get left behind as more companies adapt to the changing landscape. At Haselden, our goal is to thoughtfully implement the next generation of technology that will help us better serve our clients and ultimately build even better buildings. If you want to learn more about technology we have implemented or how we evaluate new software or programs, please feel free to reach out at RobKrauter@haselden.com!

Rob Krauter, Director of Business Transformation