Miron Construction

Laura Smith

In your opinion, how has the Construction Tech landscape evolved over the years? What are some of the advantages of the current technological evolution?

Yes, greatly, over the years, technology has been made easier to adapt to for all ages, which had reduced the generational gap. Construction technology is also becoming easier to connect across platforms, which makes it more user-friendly for the user and streamlines connecting data to projects.

The global pandemic has created challenges to be together and collaborate, but with advances in technology, we are able to find ways to connect virtually. By using technology such as video conferencing, reality capture, and augmented reality, we are able to immerse ourselves in the project without having to physically be there. It’s a game-changer, and we can make real-time decisions without stepping foot on site.

What according to you are some of the challenges plaguing the Construction Tech landscape and how can they be effectively mitigated?

I think there still is a disconnect and struggle on how to smoothly transition from design to construction with data transferring. We are almost there, but there are small bumps in the road to make this a smooth transition. Technologies are ever-changing, and we have to communicate early on what tools both entities are using, how they are using them, and what the best ways to connect are. Trust is a huge factor as well. Relationships are everything, and having that trust in how you’re using the information is key.

I may be biased, but, in my opinion, those that create the tech need to understand what the uses and needs are. I firmly believe the end-users need to be beta testing the product early on, or you’re only guessing what they want. You have to live and work in the environment to really understand how the product should work. Too many times, tech is created by only hearing the problem but not actually experiencing the problem. The product has lots of hype but can never really fully accomplish the need.

Which are a few technological trends influencing Construction Tech today? What are some of the best practices businesses should adopt today to steer ahead of competitors?

Reality Capture is such a game-changer and has become something we use every day at Miron Construction Co., Inc. Whether it’s using drones, site cameras, or 360 cameras, we are able to capture those moments in time and bring them right to our clients no matter where you are. That has really changed the way we work and how we can save time and money on a project by being able to make quick decisions and communicate with others effectively.

Project management software has really changed in just the last few years. Our teams are able to use one platform to communicate, manage, document, and transfer data. This is changing how we work at Miron and has elevated us above the competition.

Miron is always willing to try new things to make the process better. With construction technology, we are able to use our employees’ years of experience and knowledge to create processes and standards that we can use across all projects to analyze the processes and see where we are excelling and where we are not. This helps us make smart decisions moving forward.

Do you have any advice for industry veterans or budding entrepreneurs from the Construction Tech space?

Don’t be afraid to push the envelope, but really get to understand your end-user’s needs and where they’re coming from. Even though we are seeing brilliance in the construction tech world these days, there is always room for improvement and that starts by old-fashioned people skills like picking up the phone or sitting down and having a conversation.