WHY DIGITAL TRANSFORMATIONS FAIL:
Top Construction Industry Mistakes
C
By Shelley L. Earsley onstruction companies continue to adopt more advanced digital capabilities to stay competitive in today’s
successful,
consider
these
common
the support, energy, and drive of all key
failure points for construction companies
leaders. This will help ensure a culture
on the same journey:
shift. It also means the initiative will get
1. MISUNDERSTANDING WHAT DIGITAL
market, and this has accelerated the use of
TRANSFORMATION IS.
technologies such as artificial intelligence
You might assume that implementing
(AI) and real-time data analytics. The
potential
benefits
of
a technology or making a digital these
change in operations is transformative,
technologies are great. Your data is a
but that doesn’t necessarily qualify as
strategic asset, and good intelligence
digital transformation. A true digital
into that data can help your operations, your people out on the job site, and aid in better decision-making. But when you approach digital transformation with a narrow scope, patching you operations with technology to quickly meet demand, a lot can go wrong. In truth, most construction companies need to digitally transform if they
transformation is holistic and accounts for total business impact. It transforms the original business model, involving a culture change and training. You can’t be hesitant about overhauling your business
the support and attention it requires when decisions and course corrections are called for. And leadership can be champions for changes with customers, vendors, and employees. 3. BEING UNWILLING TO INVEST WHAT IT TAKES TO GET IT RIGHT. A digital transformation will most certainly fail if you cut corners and go for the lowest price point versus investing in the right solutions, providers, and implementers. You get what you pay
model and operations to achieve success.
for. You must be willing to invest what
2. NOT HAVING LEADERSHIP IN THE
you want to make – and do it right. This
DRIVER’S SEAT.
includes hiring the right professionals
want to remain relevant. To ensure
For the entire company to adopt and
your transformation is meaningful and
execute change, the initiative must have
it actually takes to make the changes
who will ensure success, as opposed to trying it on your own. SPRING/SUMMER 2022 • BUILDING IDAHO 47
