The world isn’t what it was a decade ago – or even a year ago. Housing market trends are evolving and new technologies are developed daily. When you compare the infrastructure of the 90s to today, you’ll notice that much of construction – such as construction materials, practices and procedures – has changed dramatically in this short time span.
Now, the construction industry trends are moving toward more healthy and sustainable solutions that combat global warming and other worrying challenges. In addition, teams are employing new technologies to automate and accelerate operations.
It’s important to pay attention to the 2023 economic outlook and emerging construction industry trends for 2023. These trends include improved collaboration, 3D printing, Building Information Modeling (BIM), an emphasis on green building and more.
The future is now – and these innovations are proof of it. Let’s get started.
According to the State of Residential Construction Industry annual report, 26% of builders plan to invest more money in software in 2023 than they did in 2022. With inflation and the possibility of an economic downturn, investing in technology to protect and grow your business is essential.
Advanced technology is quickly transforming all industries around the world, including the construction sector. Some of the notable construction technologies include 3D printing, virtual reality (VR), drones, Building Information Modeling (BIM), customer relationship management (CRM) software and data collection systems.
All these tools and services benefit the construction industry in a variety of ways, including the use of data by construction businesses to make better decisions, increase productivity, improve workplace safety and decrease risks. Additionally, companies can use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning systems to predict future project outcomes as well as forecast demand and supply in the coming years.
Then there’s CRM software for the construction industry. This will assist companies by increasing the visibility of the sales funnel and sales pipeline. For example, Buildertrend – the leading tech within the residential construction industry – contains a full suite of sales tools to help contractors land more projects, close deals faster and lose fewer opportunities.
Overall, one of the promising construction industry trends we’ll see in the coming years is the use of advanced tools and technologies.
Another one of the key construction industry trends we can expect to see in 2023 and beyond is improved collaboration. This means multiple construction teams – such as sales, marketing, customer service, construction and those in the field – are all working better together.
It all happens in the online world, too. More construction companies are migrating to the digital space by replacing traditional communication practices such as email and spreadsheets with cloud-based alternatives.
These cloud-based tools boost team communication significantly by enabling instant access to real-time updates – regardless of where the team is based. Eventually, this will ensure that all members working on the same construction project remain connected to one another, increasing overall performance.
In addition to enhancing team communication, construction industry collaboration solutions provide a variety of other benefits such as file storage and sharing, streamlined project management, simplified scheduling, improved security and faster data processing.
Recently we’ve seen a greater focus on worker safety initiatives, something companies previously overlooked during housing booms.
Here’s what that looks like:
All of these practices benefit teams in reducing accidents and unintentional deaths. Construction tech plays a big role here, too. Building businesses can use software solutions to monitor processes and identify flaws before they happen.
However, there’s room for improvement: 45% of builders don’t use software to manage health and safety in the workplace. A comprehensive construction platform, like Buildertrend, is the key to increasing the work you’re already doing to keep your workers safe on the job.
We can expect a boom of 3D printing technology in the coming years. That means teams will be able to literally ‘print’ an entire building.
It doesn’t just sound cool – there are some major benefits to this ambitious approach.
3D printing may be able to solve challenges including include waste reduction, design freedom and human error reduction. Additionally, 3D printing in the construction industry reduces injury and incident occurrence, lowers material costs, speeds up building and improves durability.
All of these advantages will significantly improve a project’s overall performance and quality.
One of major emerging construction industry trends is an increased emphasis on green building. What does this mean exactly? Let’s make it simple: Green building is the practice of constructing structures using environmentally responsible techniques.
Keeping in mind global warming and other environmental challenges that pose severe long-term threats, the construction industry has adopted environmentally friendly systems and techniques.
This approach is likely to be adopted by a rising number of construction teams since it provides a number of benefits. These include:
The steel your grandpa built with might not be the steel you use today. Traditional building materials such as concrete and polymers have been enhanced or replaced by more innovative products over the last few decades. This enables distinctive and sophisticated design while ensuring energy efficiency, sustainability in construction and security.
This construction industry trend is likely to continue for many years to come. Thermasteel panel systems, spray-on coating and Kebonization of softwood to hardwood are some additional examples of advanced building materials.
Another important aspect to consider is the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM). It may sound complicated, but this is nothing more than a three-dimensional digital portrayal of the project you plan to build.
The model includes details on the structural, electrical, plumbing, HVAC and other elements dealing with the construction materials. BIM helps builders, architects and civil engineers visualize how a space will be constructed and its functionalities.
Producing online content is crucial for builders to generate high-quality construction leads. By utilizing blogs, social media and email marketing, you can engage your target client and establish yourself as an industry expert. Your content should educate, inspire and ultimately drive more quality leads your way.
Build a contact list and send regular updates from a branded email address to deliver information on industry insights, exclusive offers and upcoming events.
You should also keep search engine optimization in mind to ensure that the content you create ranks high in search engine results. If you spend time making content, you want your potential clients to see it. Learn more about SEO best practices to increase your visibility.
Studies show that builders’ financial understanding has continued to improve in 2023.
Over half of builders surveyed (57.3%) for the 2023 State of Residential Construction Industry’s annual report are generating monthly financial reports. To effectively stay on top of your financials, monitoring gross profits on every job on a monthly basis is important.
Some critical steps involved with monitoring financials include tracking job costs, calculating the gross profit for each job, reviewing profitability and making adjustments wherever necessary. Performing these tedious tasks informs your decision making, shows areas that require improvement and aids in the long-term financial health of your business.
To be a leader in this evolving business, construction companies must stay informed on industry news and updates. Here are just some benefits of keeping up with the latest and greatest.
Staying current with industry trends like construction AI can help construction companies stay ahead of competitors. Research your competition’s strategies, marketing approach and any trends they’re adopting. Regularly conduct this market research and analysis to stay in touch with new technology and emerging trends.
By embracing new technologies and processes, you’ll improve efficiency and productivity. To be extra efficient, use a good construction management software with construction forecasting – forecasting is just one way that tech will organize your workflow.
Staying up-to-date with safety trends and best practices can help construction companies reduce workplace accidents and injuries. Investing in professional development for your employees will keep everyone in the loop on best practices.
By demonstrating a commitment to innovation, safety and sustainability, construction companies can improve their reputation with customers. Also, it’s a wise decision to be a regular presence at networking events and trade shows to connect with others in the business.
Improved communication. Risks mitigated. Increased productivity. The benefits of these nine construction trends are priceless and limitless.
For small and independent builders, some of these may seem out of reach or only available to the biggest in the industry. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. When you start using construction project management software, many of these trends are instantly in the palm your hand.
Buildertrend is advanced technology that improves communication and allows you better visibility on processes like worker safety or material procurement. To see what the leading tech solution for residential home builders, remodelers and specialty contractors can do for your business, demo Buildertrend today.
Get answers to the most common construction industry trends questions.
As many working in the field know, the construction industry has to face up to the evolution that should have been happening for years. New technologies and materials are constantly being developed, which means those involved in the sector need to keep abreast of the latest trends to be competitive.
This article examines eight major construction industry trends that have the power to transform the sector and unlock all of the potential that has been lying dormant until now.
The term Building Information Modeling (BIM) will evolve into the more easily understood Digital Information Management (DIM). Changing the acronym makes the technology seem more accessible to more people. The goal is to foster a broader knowledge, acceptance, and use of BIM concepts throughout the construction industry.
This technology produces a virtual model of a construction project that is continually updated in real-time. The advantages of a digital twin include the following.
What distinguishes Digital Twin from BIM? Digital Twin spotlights the interplay between people and built environments, whereas BIM focuses more on design and construction visualization. The key takeaway is that digitalization is crucial to the future success of the construction industry.
BIM is the most essential source of information for a Digital Twin. Eventually, even during the design and construction phases of a project’s life cycle, Digital Twin will likely end up superseding BIM software.
Connected construction sites are made up of a network of people, equipment, vehicles, and devices that communicate with each other via wireless or digital technologies under the umbrella of a single organization. The advantages of having a connected construction site include the following.
Robots can complete many repetitive and time-consuming tasks, thereby speeding up building processes. For instance, robots designed like mechanical arms can take over menial tasks like brick-laying. They also decrease the number of human-induced mistakes, ensuring greater safety with respect to hazardous jobs.
The future potential for construction robotics is great, but their use currently has some boundaries. For instance, they may be unable to navigate certain obstacles or work in certain weather conditions. However, with continued development, their limitations are likely to decrease.
Drones are becoming more useful in many industries, and construction is no exception. They provide a unique perspective that can assist with a variety of tasks, including the following.
More and more designers and builders are looking to create eco-friendly structures. Many different aspects need to be considered, from energy efficiency to using non-toxic materials. Here are some benefits of green building.
Researchers continue to develop new and more advanced construction materials that are more effective and longer-lasting than traditional materials. Plus, they are becoming increasingly more affordable. Some examples are given below.
Graphene: Graphene is made from carbon and is thin, transparent, and stronger than steel. It has many other useful applications, including the following.
Calcium Silicate Board: This material is made from natural materials such as sand, clay, and lime. It’s resistant to fire, moisture, and pests and is non-toxic.
Bendable concrete (Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC)): ECC is stronger than traditional concrete because it contains polymer-derived fibers. It has a smaller carbon footprint and is cost-effective.
Engineered timber: Products are made by engineering several types of softwood together, resulting in a very strong lumber material that can replace steel and concrete. This means fewer emissions and less waste during manufacturing.
Recycled materials: Such materials are currently being used to construct entire structures, albeit small ones for now.
3D printed building materials: Currently used to make such things as concrete walls and floors. While 3D printing can’t produce homes on a mass scale yet, it is already being used to create smaller buildings.
Prefabricated or offsite construction means building elements are manufactured away from the construction site before being delivered to and assembled on-site. This type of construction is not new, but it is seeing a resurgence due to the many advantages it offers, including the following.
Koehn Construction (pronounced “cane”) specializes in the design-build method for commercial construction, which means the project owner only needs to work with a single contractor: us! We work with the designer and manage all subcontractors. Everyone on our design-build team is focused on the end product and delivering work that is of the highest quality. Contact us today for more information and a free quote!