www www.insightssuccess.com October 2018
1 The
MOST INNOVATIVE
CONSTRUCTION Tech Solution Providers 2018
Editor’s pick Product Life Cycle Management Technology Transforming The Construction world
Environmental Talk Eco Friendly Strategies For A Better Tech Enabled Construction World
Eco-Friendly Construction Solutions
Todd McKay CEO MgO Systems
Omnichannel Agent and Customer Engagement Solutions Simplify and personalize the customer experience, empower agents and achieve business success with one workspace for all channel interactions, application integrations, and CX reporting.
Redening the Construction Methodologies
I
n recent years, technology innovation in the construction industry has embarrassed its functionality and reliability. This cohesive technology improves many construction ethics and work pace including cost, safety, efficiency, and quality of construction. With passage of time, the construction industry has passed through various advancements which have emphasis its range from designing to practical construction. This progressed technology has successfully develops strong and long lasting buildings. The core principle of automated construction technology is to develop a highly efficient automated system that produce a customer oriented projects which involves advanced technologies with new design techniques. There are many innovations which has emphasizes the progress in construction industry. With the use of latest machinery such as robots, 3D Printing, Smart devices and drones has accelerated the whole construction process. Thanks to the incredible tech advancements, great value is generated by optimizing efficiency and productivity at every stage, from planning to construction. Indeed, many within the industry predict that in a decade a building site will look very different.
Hence, Insights Success has shortlisted, “The 10 Most Innovative Construction Tech Solution Providers, 2018” who are aggressively establishing industrial perception towards construction process management system. Our cover story features, MgO Systems a manufacturing company dedicated to making wall boards and panels that are fireproof, mold and mildew resistant and environmentally friendly. The company's
design and construction teams work in synergy with its clients and partners to develop rapid, cost-effective and innovative designs for residential, commercial, agriculture, healthcare and institutional construction throughout the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. The issue also features, ePROMIS one of the leading solution providers in construction technology. The company provides a comprehensive range of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software solutions to various industries including construction and engineering, real estate, manufacturing, logistics, supply chain, oil, and gas. Orren Pickell Building Group is a design/build firm most often associated with luxury custom homes that perfectly suits each homeowner's individual needs and preferences. Orren Pickell Building Group recognized the importance of improving the customer experience through its online project management site, MyHomePortal™ which allows its clients to track design and construction progress with incredible detail. Datumate is a construction data analytics company transforming and simplifying the construction projects digitally. Starting from a developing software solution delivering survey grade mapping and measurement for the surveying market, the company has evolved into an end-to-end automated construction data analytics platform as a service for the construction industry. Atlas RFID is the leading company that develops and implements RFID and barcode based systems that connect people, process, and technology to ensure craft workers have the materials and information they need to carry out their work without disruption due to material availability issues – while simultaneously increasing planning flexibility and minimizing the need for costly material buffers. StatsLog is a Canadian company committed to creating the world's best construction contract administration software. While it maintains a particular focus on the unique requirements of design professionals in Canada, its products are versatile enough to adapt to any location or scenario. Also, make sure to go through the articles, written by our in-house editorial team and CXO standpoints of some of the leading industry experts, to have a brief taste of the sector. Happy reading!
Bhushan Kadam
Cover Story
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MgO Systems:
Articles Editor’s Perspective The Impressive Impact of Organic Networking
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Environmental Talk Eco-friendly Strategies for a Better Tech-enabled Construction World
34
Editor’s Pick Product Life Cycle Management Technology Transforming the Construction World
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CONTENTS
Eco-Friendly tions Construction Solutions
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28
40
Leadership Viewpoint
CXO Standpoint
Benchmarking Future
Blockchain: the next opportunity for better, safer, smarter Cities
How is technology going to transform the ď€ nancial sector
Impact of Predictive Analytics in Field Service
Atlas RFID:
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The Future of Material Innovation
Datumate:
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Turning Data and Information into Insight
ePROMIS Solutions: Embarking Resilience in Business
32
Orren Pickell:
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42
Constructing Your Dream Homes
StatsLog: Molding the Construction Industry for Over 30 Years
Managing Editor Anish Miller Executive Editor Bhushan Kadam Assistant Editors Jenny Fernandes Hitesh Dhamani Contributing Editors Abhishaj Sajeev Shubham Khampariya Visualiser David King Art & Design Director Amol Kamble Associate Designer Shubham Mahadik Co-designer Sapana Shinde Art & Picture Editors Paul Belin Jayant Khanna Senior Sales Manager Passi D. Business Development Manager Peter Collins Marketing Manager John Matthew Business Development Executives Steve, Joe, Alan, Jagdish Sales Executives David, Kevin, Mark, Omkar Technical Head Jacob Smile Technical Specialists Amar, Pratiksha Digital Marketing Manager Marry D’Souza Online Marketing Strategists Alina Sege, Shubham, Vaibhav K SME-SMO Executives Prashant Chevale, Uma Dhenge, Gemson, Irfan Research Analyst Chidiebere Moses Circulation Managers Robert, Tanaji Database Management Stella Andrew Technology Consultant David Stokes sales@insightssuccess.com
October, 2018 Corporate Ofces: Insights Success Media Tech LLC 555 Metro Place North, Suite 100, Dublin, OH 43017, United States Phone - (614)-602-1754 Email: info@insightssuccess.com For Subscription: www.insightssuccess.com
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Eco-Friendly Construction Solutions
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Our business is changing the way construction is done in a green and ecofriendly way.
1
THE
MOST INNOVATIVE
CONSTRUCTION Tech Solution Providers 2018
Todd McKay CEO MgO Systems
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he world has grown into a dense concrete jungle with the emergence of construction technology. As the technology has grown, buildings and structures are not just limited to providing shelters but have developed to deliver numerous functions. These functions provide error free, safe designs even before the construction begins. This has led to commendable growth in the market as the global construction market is estimated to reach around $1.2 trillion by 2020. Recently, the industry came up with a new concept known as green construction. It promotes usage of ecofriendly materials in construction. Many companies are turning up for the concept, among which MgO Systems is the one, supplying an eco-friendly alternative to the classical approach to the building. MgO Systems is a new alternative to traditional building. It meets the same needs as a classic stick and frame build; however its walls have added superior advantages that the traditional walls cannot compete with. Its new approach provides a fire, mold and mildew resistant panel that can be prefabricated and installed at a much faster rate than traditional construction. MgO develops and manufactures innovative Magnesium Oxide (“MgO”) based construction solutions such as MgO board and MgO structurally insulated panels. Its proprietary construction solutions provide the clients and partners with superior speed, quality, fire rating, thermal performance and defense against water, mould and insects. The company’s design and construction teams work in synergy with its clients and partners to develop rapid, cost-effective and innovative designs for residential, commercial, agriculture, healthcare and institutional construction throughout the United States, Canada and the Caribbean.
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A new alternative to traditional building.
MgO’s Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) have no offgassing, unlike plywood and particle board, and are the new green alternative in building. Its superior insulating value and energy efficiency results in a potential 30 per cent reduction in heating and cooling costs over traditional construction. The construction process produces much less jobsite waste, saves money and dramatically reduces the amount of materials that needlessly end up in the landfill. MgO believes that its business is changing the way construction is done in green and eco-friendly way. Delivering Comprehensive Solutions Conventional construction continues to face mounting pressure from labour shortages, time pressures, material cost increases and quality issues. MgO’s proprietary pre-fabricated solutions combine proven unique chemistry with off-site controlled fabrication to deliver a high-performance custom solution on a quicker timeline with cost certainty. The solutions then further reduce the need for on-site labour and disruption to other key trades in the building process. It however reduces their potential delays and deliver a higher performance building to clients with higher thermal performance, higher energy efficiency, better performance with respect to water, mould and greater life safety. Embracing challenges The challenges that MGO Systems face in the Construction Tech Solution industry are the negative reputations of magnesium oxide cement board and structurally insulated panels (SIPS). The chemistry in magnesium oxide cement needs to be precisely controlled or the boards are prone to crack or weep over time which has given the product a bad reputation. The scientists in MgO are working on methods to mitigate this problem and, one of its highest priorities is quality control, testing every batch before it leaves the plant. The other challenge that the company faces is the perception of SIPS. MgO’s engineered wall system has similarities to SIPS and the negative associations the SIPS industry with early adopters is another battle it must fight. SIPS are panels that have two pieces of board, often OSB, with a piece of EPS foam in the middle which they then call structurally sound. The problem with SIPS is that if any of the board is damaged or destroyed the structural integrity of the panel is severely compromised. MgO’s C3 engineered wall systems differ because they have internal wood or steel studs built into them, meaning that if one of the
external boards is damaged, the internal structural integrity is not. A Leader left with an Idea Todd McKay is the CEO of MgO Systems. As a former General Contractor and Electrical Contractor, Todd was curious to find better methods of construction after his family’s house damaged in an accident. He set out to educate himself and partner with leading experts in the United States, Canada and Australia to determine the most cost-effective way to build both residential and commercial structures. This led him to partner and eventually team up with a diverse group of experts to develop a Magnesium Oxide based board and structurally insulated panel solution. He, along with MgO Systems didn’t stop there though, as they continued to invest in research and development for related technologies which the company intends to commercialize in 2019. Throughout this journey, there have been many challenges in what is a small niche industry to date. Todd’s relentless pursuit of a better way to build has earned him the nickname “Godfather of MGO”, but he and his team recognize that the journey is only just beginning.
Safety as Inspiration In 2010 Todd McKay and his son were sitting at home watching the Grey Cup when the fire alarm went off. At first, they thought it was a false alarm however it soon became clear that there was a genuine danger. Fortunately, the two were able to get out of the house with the pets; however, it wasn’t long before the house turned into ashes. The fact that the fire happened in the afternoon likely saved their lives; the fire spread so quickly that they would have been trapped if it had occurred at night. Todd then began passionately searching for a way to keep his family safe from traditional building materials. His search led him to magnesium-oxide, a material used in the construction of the Great Wall of China. Standing Tall and Apart In addition to a relentless focus on the customer, MgO Systems has spent years developing a proprietary solution which addresses the previous and perceived challenges from using Magnesium Oxide in building products. This makes the old material being used in a new method. Moreover, the key aspects include faster construction (providing superior insulating value compared to traditional wood frame construction), superior strength (structurally stronger and straighter than a conventional), fire resistance (Made of non-
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Changing the way construction is done for a better planet.
combustible, fire resistant sheathing material) and insect free (do not rot or deteriorate) C3 engineered board.
performance construction solutions for the exterior construction of residential and commercial buildings.
Striving for Leadership
Testimonial from Satisfied Client
For over one hundred years the construction industry has stayed stagnant, an unchanging, unyielding cultural tradition. Science, Technology, Medicine have all evolved while the construction industry continues to build with accelerants and air-toxifying products causing daily deaths. It’s time to stand up for security, safety and quality. MgO Systems is working to create products that will not burn or poison the air.
“We partnered with MGO Systems on an innovative build which integrates their proprietary technologies with innovative solar solutions. MGO’s prefabricated panel system resulted in rapid installation with minimal waste and cost certainty for the client. Too often conventional construction methods are fraught with overruns, quality issues and quality challenges...MGO Systems has the solution.”- Joe Kozina, General Manager at Nova Terra Developments Inc.
MgO Systems is striving to become the North American leader in sustainable, cost-effective, pre-fabricated high-
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CORPORATE OFFICE Insights Success Media Tech LLC 555 Metro Place North, Suite 100, Dublin, OH 43017, United States Phone: (614)-602-1754,(302)-319-9947 Email: info@insightssuccess.com For Subscription: www.insightssuccess.com
Management
Brief
ACCIONA acciona.com
Jose Manuel Entrecanales Chairman & CEO
ACCIONA is a global company with a business model based on sustainability. Its aim is to respond to society’s main needs through the provision of renewable energy, infrastructure, water and services.
Atlas RFID Solutions atlasrfid.com
Robert Fuqua Founder, President & CEO
Atlas RFID Solutions LLC is the company founded in 2007 to bridge the gap between the capabilities of auto-ID technology and the commercial needs of efficiency-conscious firms.
THE BECK GROUP beckgroup.com
Brad Phillips Managing Director & CEO
The Beck Group is the company with the unique approach to architecture and construction. It create teams across all departments and areas of expertise to work on a common goal.
CentraLite Systems centralite.com
Sean Bryant President & CEO
Centralite Systems, Inc., is the company mainly known for its software, hardware, and interface expertise.
Datumate datumate.com
Tal Meirzon CEO
Datumate is a Construction-Tech company that promotes innovation and digital transformation in the construction market.
ePROMIS Solutions epromis.net
Mathews Mathew CEO & Managing Director
ePROMIS is one of the leading solution providers in construction technology provides a comprehensive range of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software solutions.
MgO Systems mgosystems.ca
Todd McKay CEO
MGO Systems is a manufacturing company dedicated to making wall boards and panels that are fireproof, mold and mildew resistant and environmentally friendly.
Orren Pickell Building Group pickellbuilders.com
Lisa Pickell President
Orren Pickell Building Group is a design/build firm most often associated with luxury custom homes that perfectly suits each homeowner's individual needs and preferences.
StatsLog Corporation statslog.com
Jason Peter Brown President
StatsLog is a Canadian company committed to creating the world’s best construction contract administration software.
VIATechnik viatechnik.com
Danielle Dy Buncio President & CEO
VIATechnik is a fast-growing engineering organization that offers a range of Technology, Virtual Design and Construction, and Construction Administration services to architects, engineers, and contractors.
Company Name
Leadership Viewpoint
Blockchain: The Next Opportunity for Better, Safer, Smarter Cities About the Author: Gianni Minetti Passionate and eclectic technology expert, Gianni Minetti is the President and CEO, Paradox Engineering SA has about 25 years of business experience in information and telecommunication systems, with peculiar interests in Internet of Things, smart technologies, blockchain and cryptography. In 2005 he founded Paradox Engineering as the vehicle for bringing his unique technology vision to the market through pioneer IoT platforms for Smart Cities and Smart Factories. He is currently President and CEO of the Company, which has been part of MinebeaMitsumi Group since July 2015. Gianni is also chair of the Southern Alps Chapter of the Crypto Valley Association, active investor and advisor to several blockchain venture projects. He is based in Ticino, Switzerland.
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T
oday, about 55% of the world’s population lives in urban areas, but this share is expected to increase to 68% by 2050. Combined with the overall growth of global population, this could add another 2.5 billion people to urban areas by 2050, with close to 90% of this increase taking place in Asia and Africa, as reported by the United Nations’ 2018 Revision of World Urbanization Prospects. Since the world continues to urbanize, a wiser and far-sighted management of urban resources is more and more needed, especially in low-income and lower-middleincome countries where the pace of urbanization is projected to be the fastest. Smart technologies and smart
October 2018
urban platforms can support City managers in tackling the increasing demand for energy, infrastructures, affordable housing, well-connected mobility systems, healthcare and education, as well as quality of life and jobs.
consumption, optimize costs and simplify processes for City operators and managers. Even more, it provides actionable information to feed strategic decisions about services efficiency and improvements, and take evidence-based actions where and when needed.
To understand how smart technologies work, we should picture Cities as distributed communication systems, where urban objects – think of streetlights, meters, parking lots, waste bins, Wi-Fi hotspots, video surveillance cameras, etc. – are not dumb, isolated devices, but smart nodes of a citywide network. With the Internet of Things (IoT), all these objects are injected with intelligence and acquire the capability to receive and transmit data and execute commands, thus enabling remote monitoring and dynamic, adaptive control functions.
Let’s apply what we’ve just described to a basic service such as street lighting. By connecting street lamps to a wireless IoT network, it becomes possible to turn them on/off and adjust brightness according to daily solar times and ambient light levels, defining variable patterns for working and festive days, residential and industrial districts. Sensors can be integrated to bring lights up when human or vehicle presence is detected, and on demand actions can be triggered in real time for single or grouped lamps – for instance when a car accident or an emergency requires intense lighting in a specific area.
Acquiring and correlating data from urban assets is a significant step forward to improve quality of public services and citizen satisfaction, reduce energy
It is proven that implementing LED lighting and an IoT remote management and control platform can cut energy consumption and greenhouse emissions up to 70%.
October 2018
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Moreover, connected lamps can monitor key operating parameters and automatically report failures, generating extra savings on maintenance costs. Considering LED technologies last about 50% longer than traditional light sources, the US Federal Department of Energy estimated that if the entire country converted to LED lighting over the next 20 years, it would save a total of USD 120 billion. Even more interesting developments are possible with blockchain technology, which can make Smart Cities far more secure, transparent, efficient and resilient. As an original combination of mature technological concepts, including peer-to-peer networks, distributed consensus algorithms, validity rules, ledger technologies and cryptography, blockchain can be successfully applied in any domain where stakeholders’ relations are based on
trust and may be entirely disintermediated. This is particularly true in Cities, as they rely on accurate, secure, authentic and trustworthy information exchanges to deliver services to people and businesses. About energy distribution, for instance, blockchain-based metering solutions can accelerate the adoption of real-time differential pricing models and encourage users to participate to power generation by connecting their renewable energy microgrids to the main grid. In water networks, blockchain technologies enable smart contracts and validated rules to automate water supply in the most possible efficient manner, minimizing leakages and tampering. Blockchain technology can be combined with IoT solutions to provide better waste collection services: it allows to accurately track
waste input and optimize waste truck routes upon parameters like bin status, filling levels, etc. This increases service quality and efficiency, and generates further savings on fuel expenses and overall maintenance costs. Garbage-related data could also support the introduction of customized fees for household and commercial users, thus rewarding recycling and correct waste separation. Coming to public government and administration, blockchain can be used to automate and digitalize civil registries, as well as property, real estate and business registries, generating notable cost savings and increasing quality of service. Considering citizen participation, blockchain-based voting platforms can improve present, analogue electoral systems by achieving secure, anonymous and unique voting in a decentralized manner. Same platforms can be used to poll citizens on specific urban initiatives, making sure contributions from civil society are recognized in Smart City planning and development. Blockchain technology is still in its early days, but most experts agree it has a potential for disruption. And some pioneer experiences – from Dubai to Tokyo, from New York to Tallinn – demonstrate that benefits for Smart Cities can really be worthwhile.
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October 2018
1
THE
MOST INNOVATIVE
CONSTRUCTION Tech Solution Providers 2018
Atlas RFID: The Future of Material Innovation
A
tlas RFID Solutions was founded in 2007 to bridge the gap between the capabilities of RFID and barcode technology and the commercial needs of efficiencyconscious firms. The company develops and implements RFID and barcode based systems that connect people, process, and technology to ensure craft workers have the materials and information they need to carry out their work without disruption due to material availability issues – while simultaneously increasing planning flexibility and minimizing the need for costly material buffers.
are some of its numerous benefits. Jobsite Ÿ Digitize the Clipboard Ÿ Mobile / App-Centric Ÿ RFID and Barcode Technologies Visibility Ÿ Readiness Reporting Ÿ Exception Notification Ÿ Cross Team Collaboration Extension Ÿ ERP Integrations Ÿ Procurement Integrations Ÿ Work Planning / Scheduling Integrations
A Future-Ready Product
Manual, paper-based processes for managing materials at the jobsite create silos of information that lead to reactive decision-making, reduced labor productivity, and increased cost and schedule for projects. Jovix replaces these processes with an automated, digital solution that:
Jobsite Visibility Extension (Jovix) is the signature product of Atlas RFID Solutions. It is an award-winning solution designed to support complex multi-site Material Readiness processes for industrial construction capital projects market. The Jovix platform drives value to construction by automating site material management workflow processes and providing actionable, real-time information about the availability and location of materials, ensuring visibility and traceability through-out the Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPIC) material lifecycle. Jovix plays a critical role on construction sites and provides innovative and unique features that help maximize productivity. The following
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Jovix: An Irreplaceable Asset
Improves the performance and accuracy of material management personnel by giving them a better tool to do their work Ÿ Provides real-time data on material location and status to construction planners, allowing them to align work plans with material availability, resulting in improved direct labor productivity Ÿ Captures and preserves all transactions, inspections, and other material data in the form of digital inputs, photos, and file attachments Ÿ
Seamlessly connects silos of information in procurement, expediting, scheduling, construction planning, and project controls systems to enable collaboration and proactive decision-making Ÿ Real-time insight and proactive alerts that inform decisions that previously were not possible Ÿ
An Unsurpassable Feat of Excellence Jovix is built to make a meaningful, positive impact on labor productivity, with the goal of reducing the time labor spends waiting on materials to zero, and it has made tremendous progress in achieving that goal. Jovix has been deployed on over 300 sites and 45 projects, spanning 10 countries and 5 continents. This diverse experience has allowed Atlas to build Jovix using best practices in project execution and Material Readiness from a wide range of projects. Atlas has also been able to prove the capabilities of Jovix in a variety of conditions, producing a capable, flexible, robust, and useful tool. Jovix project deployments include: Ÿ
Curtis Island LNG Projects (APLNG, QCLNG, GLNG), Australia
October 2018
We are proud to offer a complete technology solution in Jovix that provides real-time, geo-contextual, and relational VISIBILITY regarding construction materials from fabrication to installation with the goal of ensuring Material Readiness.
— Robert Fuqua Founder, President & CEO
Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ
Chevron Wheatstone LNG, Australia ExxonMobil Baytown Chemical Complex, USA Suncor Fort Hills Oil Sands, Canada BP West Nile Delta, Egypt Tengizchevroil Future Growth Project, Kazakhstan KIPIC Al-Zour Refinery Project, Kuwait
A Documented Case of Merit Atlas clients have utilized Jovix to improve the execution of their projects. Case studies from multiple successful deployments detail the following facts: 5% reduction in indirect labor by using Jovix to manage materials Ÿ 5% reduction in direct labor by using Jovix to align work planning and materials Ÿ 1% reduction in material budget by using Jovix to track materials Ÿ Zero lost spools on a multi-billion dollar project by using Jovix to track pipe materials Ÿ
A Visionary Leadership Robert Fuqua is the Founder, President and CEO of Atlas RFID Solutions. Fuqua is a native of Birmingham, Alabama and attended the United States Military Academy where he
October 2018
received a BS in Political Science and Systems Engineering in 1996. Upon graduating from West Point, Fuqua served as an Infantry Officer in the 82nd Airborne Division and then with the 3rd Infantry Division as part of Operation Joint Forge. Following his military tenure, Fuqua earned an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University and worked 5 years as a sales and marketing executive in the healthcare industry before founding Atlas in 2007. Under his leadership, the firm has progressed into a rapidly growing technology firm focused on delivering information-centric solutions that leverage the capabilities of emerging RFID and barcode technologies. Fuqua was recognized as one of Birmingham’s “Top 40 Under 40” by the Birmingham Business Journal and is involved in many communityfocused endeavors. He serves on the board of Grace House Ministries, Tech Birmingham, and attends the Church of the Highlands. He is a life-long Cubs fan and, more than anything loves being a dad to his two daughters, Starling and Eliza.
has shown its commitment to the cause through meaningful R&D. Recently, McKinsey & Company released a report describing why, and how, the construction industry should embrace digitization to transform the industry and to reverse the trend of stagnant labor productivity. Atlas RFID is ahead of the curve in 2 of the 5 key trends described by the research report. The innovation at RFID has enabled the company to set itself apart from the competition and stamp its authority as the leader in the industry with an edge in the IOT technology, digital collaboration and mobility. Atlas will continue to be the innovative market leader for their space—their research & development has resulted in patented technologies developed for mega construction material management. With the goal of zero material wait times, Atlas will continue to evolve technology (mobile application, predictive analytics, etc), hardware (drone, BLE tags, etc) and processes (integrations, industry standardized tracking, etc) to improve Material Readiness on an increasingly global supply chain.
A Future of Infinite Possibilities Atlas, with an eye on innovation, is keen to stay ahead of the curve and it
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Editor’s Perspective
The
Impressive of
Impact
Organic Networking T
he main reason for the invention of website, Internet and technology devices that provides the platform for software to run and connect with each other is mainly to make networking of services, products and people possible. Technology leaders such as Cisco, Arista and Apple are dedicating their resources to provide various business enterprises and the masses the ability to communicate their values through technology mediums called as Networking. The works and provisions of these organizations are very outstanding, and are believed to last for ages. This is because the growth of technology is not going out of style so soon, but rather it is believed to continue into the future. Technology networking strategies is good, but to make it more effective there is the incessant need to incorporate organic strategies. You may be asking what I mean by Organic Networking or Strategies. The organization that will survive in the market in the near future, considering the increasing rate of competition are the ones who take the necessary steps, to develop more human connection for their business, more than they do for machines such as provided by AI. The Factors to Consider for an Effective Organic Networking: Even as our age is encouraging more of technology strategies, if we must survive the future of it all, then we must connect more people, than we do for machines. As an
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October 2018
innovative networking solution provider, it is going to pay more, when you include human intelligence and physicality in your networking strategies over machines. Imagine a day that the machines are going to have a serious breakdown, and the owner organization do not have the capable persons to ďŹ gure out the cause of the breakdown and possibly provide a feasible solution? What will be the fate of the organization? This means that, there will be a great loss of value and possibly a strike off the industry. I know you would never want that to happen. So, plan from now, to never pay for the loss in the future. Balance Your People to machine Deployment. Social Medias are for networking, Newspapers and various Medias are also for networking, but there are people behind the arc of this innovation. The more you incorporate AI and machine learning strategies, always remember the need for Control Engineers and those are human beings. The most successful organizations identify the major importance of
October 2018
people networking and how best to utilize human intelligence in their business quest. For example; if you write an article and share it on a website, who do you expect to read your article; human beings or machines? It is obvious that the organic networking aspect of computing will never go out of style; else, there will be a day in the future that digital connection and values will be measured on the number of bots that read your articles and/or that paid for your services. So, remember to balance the rate of your people to machine deployment, by acknowledging the need of human networking over technology networking. The Need for Organic Sense in Networking and the Future: Technology is the miracle of our age, ArtiďŹ cial Intelligence is a major molding factor of this development, IoT is the liberator from machine isolation by providing the platform to interconnect millions of them over the virtual platforms, but humans make these things possible.
Networking is an innovative concept with high proďŹ le technology terms. If one does not implore deep interest and concentration while exploring this realm, there may be a serious distortion of original motive of indulgence, and this can lead to serious breakdown of enterprise infrastructure. Sometimes, it maybe direct and other times, it will be indirect, but in all, it will always have an impact. The future of technology is very bright, and that is mainly dependent on how available we make the resources to help manage what we have today in the near future. For this to be possible, the networking solution providers must incorporate more of organic sense in their solutions and industry advancements. Technology will advance, more machines will be connected, devices will be programmed to run independently, but in all these things, the humans in the network will still rule the universe. The more organic you make your networking strategies, the lesser the fear of a disastrous future for your organization.
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1
THE
MOST INNOVATIVE
CONSTRUCTION Tech Solution Providers 2018
Datumate: Turning Data and Information into Insight
H
andling large construction projects requires a right management. Most of the time, these projects are over budget, late, and are executed inadequately. Furthermore, these projects suffer from additional challenges such as repetitive reporting, multiple data systems, paper-based reporting, un-prioritized and unorganized data. All these challenges complicate the process of construction for the owner and diminish time, budget, and development performance. Not to mention, the huge amount of data generated and resources that goes into these construction projects. Hence, there is a specific need in the construction industry to have an automated data monitoring and report generating functionality that should be capable of managing a multitude of data. Keeping all these industry hurdles in mind, Datumate, a construction data analytics company is transforming and simplifying the construction projects digitally. Starting from a developing software solution delivering survey grade mapping and measurement for the surveying market, the company has evolved into an end-to-end automated construction data analytics platform as a service for the construction industry. The firm delivers an automated data
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analytics platform, providing daily monitoring of project execution, planned budgets, schedules, and quality. Recognizing the industry needs, the company addresses the construction project process and results, which are precise, scalable, quick and userfriendly that delivers the analyzed data in a collaborative manner via the cloud.
active professional consultant to the Survey of Israel, Israel’s government agency for mapping, geodesy, cadastre and geo-informatics and led some of the pioneering works to convert Israel’s cadastral data into a digital system. The Diversified Construction Solution
Tal Meirzon is the CEO at Datumate and a business leader with an extensive experience in growing global start-up and mature High-tech companies, privately or publicly owned. He has more than 20 years of experience in the Communication industry and he is an expert in the Carrier and Enterprise markets.
Datumate provides an end-to-end solution, which is based on a robust cloud-based platform. This platform provides leap frog in operations for General Contractors, Construction Management, and Project Management Companies stakeholders. By using this Datumate’s Project analytics, executives can gain a real-time comparison on the project progress and it’s versus plan and by that, control the project execution, delivery, budget and quality.
The motorist behind Datumate, its Founder Dr. Jad Jarroush holds a Ph.D. in civil engineering and geoinformatics. He has twenty years of experience in construction and GIS projects. Leveraging his civil engineering experience combined with the other management expertise in the high-tech, he led to the generation of the technology innovation construction tech company - Datumate. He is an
Within Datumate’s (DatuBIM™) cloud delivery platform, images are collected from the field using DatuFly™ Professional drone application (professional drone app for automated flight plan and execution) and are processed centrally on the cloud for construction data analytics. "As-Built" information is continuously extracted from the field and is analyzed to produce progress, deviation from
Company Leadership
October 2018
Our core competency is rooted in a team of construction experts and high-tech professionals. — Tal Meirzon CEO
plans, alert and forecast reports (in addition to survey-grade 3D models and maps). As far as the customer’s ROI is concerned, it includes: - 50% cost saving vs. existing process budgets - Engineering analytics within 48 to 72 hours vs. weeks in traditional processes - Digital documentation of the entire project lifecycle - Saving of 3-5% of total project execution cost Fostering the Industry The Construction projects in general and Construction Infrastructure specifically, are divided to 3 stages: Planning, Execution and Inspection Indeed, the planning process is mostly automated and digitized, however, the execution is absent. Using the latest technologies like Photogrammetry, Computer vision, Drones and Cloud in its end to end solution Datumate delivers automation to the entire execution vs. planning process. Datumate reduce the amount of time construction supervisors and surveying crews spend in the field, speed up
October 2018
construction progress and shorten infrastructure inspection duration while maintaining survey grade accuracy. Datumate’s intuitive, simple, and automated platform increase the productivity by delivering quick, precise, and analyzed field progress data for civil engineering and construction infrastructure projects such as roads, intersections, earthwork, topography, piping, industrial facilities, bridges, property surveys, building facades, railways, and more. This team of experts strives to deliver best in class solutions. In addition to offering industry, leading solutions Datumate also promotes innovation and digital transformation in the construction market. and set the standards for the automated future. Advancing in the Technology The firm surpasses its competitors by providing uniqueness in its technology. The company’s platform provides an end-to-end service aimed at the construction infrastructure projects with transportation projects in focus. It has several satisfied customers worldwide. Currently, the firm serves for Deutsche Bahn – the German Railway, the largest railway company in Europe as well as other government and private companies in Europe & USA.
By using pixel level precision measurement, the company improves surveying continuously with the ongoing improvement of the technology of the camera. Already being the part of the CAD systems, its imported planning data and generating vectorized data from the field can be compared to plan with ease. Future Mapping Datumate will continue to be the leading digital transformation of construction infrastructure projects execution and aims to deliver its value to the largest global contractors. The company believes that the continuous automation effort of its platform processes that uses technologies like machine learning will enhance the value for repetitive objects measurements and its envisions utilizing the same in coming future.
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CXO Standpoint
About the Author Koichiro Yoshida is the President and CEO of CrowdWorks. He founded CrowdWorks Inc, in 2011 which provides the Japan’s largest crowd sourcing service and has taken lead in offering. The company was listed on TSE Mothers in 2014 and provides services to over 1.87 million crowd-workers which includes, 12 government institutions and 240,000 companies as of June,2018. In 2015,he was awarded to Workstyle Innovative Award in Japan’s Venture Company Award of Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry proposed by Shinzo-Abe Prime Minister.
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October 2018
F
How Is Technology Going To Transform The Financial Sector October 2018
intech (Finance + Technology) is one of most significant trends in the world. Transformational technologies, such as smartphones, smartwatches, blockchain, P2P network, cryptography, machine learning and optimization algorithms will rapidly and drastically convert the current financial world. In my opinion, there are four mega-trends in this area: 1) Cashless Society, 2) Rise of the Consumer Credit Economy, 3) Cryptocurrency and Financial System Reform via Blockchain Technology, and 4) Trade Automation using Machine Learning. Cashless Society
Firstly, digital payments using smartphones and smartwatches are expected to further accelerate. In Japan, contactless payment systems such as SUICA and PASMO are widespread, but using smartphones for payment will become the norm. I am convinced that in the near future, you won’t need to use a real credit card, but you can pay for your dinner by simply using a smartphone at the restaurant, and you can transfer money to your friend using your smartphone. Alipay and WeChat Pay have already started to reform the way money is used, and China is now shifting to a Cashless Society. In the U.S., Venmo and CASH App are used for transferring money to each other, making cash unnecessary. Japan will also adapt to such, where there will be an enormous opportunity for business. In the next few years, many startups will produce products that will lead to a cashless society. The Rise of the Consumer Credit Economy Second is the “Consumer Credit Economy”. With the spread of the Internet and SNS, there is a significant change in how individuals work, and how one obtains credit. In the last century, corporations had considerable authority, and personal trust depended on the type and size of the companies they engaged with. But now, data of an individual’s skills, expertise and career are stored on the Internet and SNS, and in some cases, the number of followers on Twitter / Instagram and friends on Facebook may be more important than what kind of company you work for (there are people who have many followers called “Influencers”). In addition to this trend, individual workers
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such as users of Crowdsourcing platforms (e.g., CrowdWorks), can earn more than those who work for a company. In the U.S.,“Freelancing in America 2017”, the survey conducted by independent research firm Edelman Intelligence and commissioned in partnership by Upwork and Freelancers Union showed that the number of freelance workers is 57.3 million last year, an increase of over 4 million since 2014. In addition, based on the survey, it is predicted that the majority of the U.S. workforce will be freelancers within a decade (by 2027). With acceleration in such direction, the way of personal credit will change. In the last century, individual workers, freelancers, and small business owners had difficulty to get credit and loans from financial institutions. However now, on Kabbage.com, small business owners can get quick access to working capital by SNS information. In China, Sesame Credit, a subsidiary of the e-commerce giant Alibaba, uses data to create a score for each person based on how trustworthy they are, and high-scored users can gain various benefits such as social security and welfare, the right to be admitted to expensive private schools, and smooth clearance of Chinese customs. As these examples show, a flexible social system optimized for each individual starts to emerge. Of course, countless companies will invent some revolutionary financial product such as insurance and lending services for individual workers in the next few years, and many Fintech startups will intensely endeavor to produce such products. Cryptocurrency and Financial System Reform via Blockchain Technology The third is blockchain and cryptography technology. As you know, blockchain is a necessary technology, the core of which is an “open and distributed ledger” and cryptocurrency is one of the hottest applications of blockchain. Cryptocurrency, represented by Bitcoin, has a tremendous impact on the economy, and is creating a new ecosystem. The combination of cryptography, P2P network and blockchain is very compelling, and it may eliminate the existing model of currency and the way money is transferred. The market value of Bitcoin is now over 10 billion US dollars.
audit, credit investigation, and transaction management. With blockchain, the system records all data in a block, and the applicants of the network monitor each other’s data correctness, making blockchain secure by design and exemplifies a distributed computing system. With this kind of distributed system, the overhead fees currently charged will be close to zero. There are many possibilities, such as most business processes of the traditional financial institutions would be automated and decentralized by blockchain, and some blockchain companies like Bitfury and bitFlyer would begin to provide blockchain technology to existing banks and financial institutions. In addition, I am convinced that a future would come where venture companies and startups will invent new insurance products (such as automated credit surveys), and unique real estate transaction structures using blockchain. Trade Automation using Artificial Intelligence The last is the rise of Artificial Intelligence, represented by Machine Learning / Deep Learning. “AI” has started to change the structure of the financial industry. For example, Goldman Sachs, one of the world’s largest financial institutions, has reported that they have automated trading by Machine Learning and drastically reduced the number of traders in the company, and now there are only two persons who work as traders. In Silicon Valley, some “AI hedge funds” have begun to appear recently, where AI completely judges an investment without human intervention. As these examples show, AI can drastically improve productivity of trading businesses that are based on algorithms, eliminating need for human intervention to a bare minimum. High-speed trading (HFT) has become a popular topic of conversation, made possible with increased computer performance and algorithm evolution, is exceeding speeds beyond human ability. Machine learning has enormous potential to transform the financial business structure. As I described above, there are many possibilities where transformational technologies are revolutionizing the financial industry, and I’m extremely optimistic about the future. I look forward to a great future, and our lives will evolve for the better.
But blockchain technology represented by Ethereum is not limited to cryptocurrency, but to various fields such as
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October 2018
1
THE
MOST INNOVATIVE
CONSTRUCTION Tech Solution Providers 2018
ePROMIS Solutions: Embarking Resilience in Business
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echnology has played a major role in the overall development of various industries and the construction industry is not an exception for this technological development. Over the years, the techniques used in the construction have evolved remarkably. Construction Technology came into play, when the process of making buildings and other structures became complicated. Currently, it is reaching new pinnacles of innovation every day. Along with rapid growth in this sector, the demand for construction technology solutions has increased. ePROMIS is one of the leading solution providers in construction technology. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, the company provides a comprehensive range of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software solutions to various industries including construction and engineering, real estate, manufacturing, logistics, supply chain, oil, and gas. ePROMIS differentiates itself from the rest by offering product development & innovation that are based on real-life scenarios standing at the customer’s side. Innovation, product differentiation, service and support are
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the key differentiating factors of the company. Offering Diversity ePROMIS offers various services to various industries. ePROMIS Construction ERP is one such software application which is specific to the construction and engineering industry. The system automates key processes of an organization that enables them to minimize costs and optimize resources without compromising quality. In addition to construction industryspecific modules and systems, ePROMIS construction ERP also offers various functionalities including realtime information, electronic approvals, business intelligence and analytics, mobile apps, document management system, document attachment system, cloud deployment, and audit trail system. ePROMIS Construction ERP solutions are available in various editions including ePROMIS Lite, which is ERP software for small and growing construction organizations, ePROMIS Innovate, which is the ERP solution for medium-sized organizations, and ePROMIS Enterprise, which is for larger organizations.
A leaders Tale Mathews Mathew is the CEO and the Managing Director of ePROMIS Solutions. He studied Master of Science from Annamalai University. He has possessed various skills including business intelligence and business process. He also holds industry knowledge in business development, system administration, marketing strategy, international trade and entrepreneurship. At the initial stage of his journey with the company, Mathews countered few challenges while implementing automation. While elaborating challenges he said, “In the early days, hardware was expensive and employees were comfortable with manual business processes. The initial challenges included educating businesses the need for automating businesses processes.” He also added, “When we entered the construction sector as a software provider the industry was booming. But standardizing business processes at construction companies was a significant challenge due to high dependency on manual processes and the organizational specific requirements. On top of that, the construction industry was very slow in adopting enterprise software compared
October 2018
Flexible, secure, and comprehensive business solutions for global excellence. — Mathews Mathew CEO & Managing Director
to other sectors. We faced this challenge by incorporating industryspecific global best practices with the organizational specific requirements. That approach succeeded in gaining trust and within a decade ePROMIS became the backbone of many leading construction companies.”
come up with a solution to automate key construction project management processes. Currently, the company has over a million ERP users across the globe. Since its inception, ePROMIS Solutions has grown over 500 percent and had offices in 15 countries, including the USA, Canada, UK, UAE, Australia, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Evolving towards Excellence Efficiency is the Key ePROMIS initiated as a start-up company in the year 1981 with an objective to automate the basic accounting processes for companies. The company had first mover advantage as it entered the software business when only a few of the companies understood the need for automating their business processes. The company established as a reliable brand for DOS-based accounting solutions in Texas by the mid-80s. After desktop PCs became widespread in the business world, ePROMIS expanded its horizon to markets outside the USA. In the early 90’s, with the construction industry booming due to the strong economic growth, ePROMIS realized the potential and opportunities in the construction sector and decided to
October 2018
Due to the competition in the market, the companies focus on faster project completion. ePROMIS Construction ERP is a purpose-built software solution to help organizations in the construction sector position themselves for opportunities. The system comprises financial, procure to pay, inventory, project, and job costing, plant, human capital management, and customer relationship management modules to automate key processes of the construction business. ePROMIS is a fully integrated enterprise resource planning system. With centralized data and processes, ePROMIS ERP helps organizations to balance profitability and services delivery, deliver construction projects on time within the budget, and avoid
revenue loss due to inappropriate staffing and resource allocation. Innovation is Future ePROMIS is currently working on various innovation strategies including internal development, customer and partner co-innovation, and acquisitions. The company has a vision for the year 2025, under which the current investments including cloud computing, block chain technologies, big data and enterprise mobility are based. One of the most significant concerns with cloud, Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), and enterprise mobility has always been security, and it remains a significant priority for investments in the future. ePROMIS’s innovation lab is also working on the possibilities of Artificial Intelligence in business, i.e., AI-enabled ERP solutions, which will reshape the entire ERP software ecosystem and transform business processes and productivity benchmarks.
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Environmental Talk
ECO-FRIENDLY Strategies for A BETTER TECH -Enabled Construction World 34
October 2018
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oday, the national and global economies are on a consistent booming pathway. There is an upsurge in the use and implementation of cutting-edge technology in the construction-tech companies. Recognizing these technology trends, many construction-tech solution providing companies are focusing on its usage and adoption. Additionally, these global corporations are now majorly swinging their interest in executing sustainable construction procedures thereby leading to an increase in sustainable building materials reaching to the masses. It is essential for the construction-tech companies and developers to adopt the ecological values which can ensure sustainability and longevity to withstand the market complexities. The customers and corporations are shifting towards preserving the environment and the construction-tech industry is following the suit. Besides, rapid population growth demands an eco-friendly environment to live in. There is a need for strategies that provide alternative construction solutions to safeguard the environment. Therefore, the construction-tech companies are planning to implement cost-effective ecoconstruction practices. Using Eco-friendly Material Sustainable tech-based construction operations can involve the use of environment-friendly and non-toxic paints, solvents, and building materials. This can enhance an organizations’ productivity highgrounds in the construction-tech industry lending a hand towards construction of an eco-friendly building. This creates healthy and safer indoor spaces in homes, offices, and recreational areas. Besides, the integration of ecoconstruction practices in the technology will prove to be a long-term benefit for commercial and industrial buildings leading to the end-to-end customer satisfaction. Using the safe, natural and readily available insulation material like the sheep’s wool can prove profitable for the construction. The recycled cotton sourced from shreds of discarded clothing can be a strong move
October 2018
towards non-toxic insulation and sustainable construction. Also, the by-product of the timber industry wood fiber made from wood chips can represent a good eco-friendly insulation option. Reducing the Demolition Procedures Instead of dumping the hazardous materials like concrete and structural steel into landfills, these can be recycled and reused for various other tech-based construction operations. Using the industrial crushing amenities, the small-scale as well as large-scale construction-tech organizations can recycle these materials into dry aggregate for new construction operations. This would provide the organizations with a substantial savings opportunity and can help reducing the demolition construction procedures. It will also aid and cut-costs associated with the disposal of toxic materials from the site. Additionally, recycling and reusing the carpet, flooring and ceiling materials can be a small but strong move towards eco-friendly construction environment. Implementation of Locally-obtained Resources Construction materials are transported over an extremely long distance with greater consumption of energy in that transportation phase. But emphasis can be placed on the use of locally-sourced materials with green construction. Also, this would reduce the carbon footprint, and creates a far more efficient tech-based construction processes. The use of the resources available in any city or town can help, support, and grow the local businesses on a large scale. Conserving and Recycling the Water Water is the key enabler for every construction-tech operations; residential, industrial or commercial. Hence, water must be conserved to power the implementation of eco-construction processes into any kind of constructiontech project. This can involve simple techniques like rain-water harvesting and or watershed management. This collection and storage of rain-water can be used for
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landscape irrigation. In addition, the recycled rain-water and its condensation from HVAC units can also be collected and used for same causes. The construction-tech companies can take advantage of recycling water through readily available water resources which would otherwise go down the drain. Long-term Sustainable Solutions With the soaring energy costs, investing in solar power could be a long-term sustainable solution for tech-based construction companies. It can cut-costs, reduces grid reliance, and lessens the strain on electricity providers. The construction companies can transform the rooftops of the homes and buildings into generators with the use of this solar power and maintain a good electricity ow. To take one step further, use of photovoltaic windows consisting of solar cells can boost the operations controlling interior temperature. Another way to execute successful eco-friendly construction practices can be achieved through the use of wind power. Having turbine fans at the rooftop of a building can help in producing energy and also reduce electricity consumption. Besides, they require little maintenance, maintain indoor air quality, and reduce utility investments. Appropriate Use of Land With the increasing population, urbanization of smart cities is also on its way. Planning for green space and multipurpose areas can be signiďŹ cant in avoiding land degradation. The construction techniques can support the ideology of eco-friendly tech-based construction with the suitable use of landscape. Appropriate use of land by the builders, architects, and designers while developing a building, will encourage the addition of green spaces on rooftops or in other parts of that building. This will provide the masses with a multiuse space. The future construction world would witness transformations with more sustainable and alternative construction methodologies. However, creativity and innovations in tech-enabled construction practices will ensure the maximum longevity of resources for future generations. Also, these innovations will be the cornerstones of the developments and could help in leaving a better landscape for next-gen. Eco-construction practices and technological advancements will open the future doors for the green construction leading to a cleaner and greener construction-tech world.
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October 2018
1
THE
MOST INNOVATIVE
CONSTRUCTION Tech Solution Providers 2018
Orren Pickell: Constructing Your Dream Homes
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n an interview with Insights Success, Lisa Pickell, President of Orren Pickell Building Group, shares her insights and experiences over products and motto of the organization, along with the organization’s future goals in revolutionizing the design and construction industry. Below are the highlights of the interview conducted between Lisa and Insights Success: Give a brief overview of the company, its solutions and its services. Orren Pickell Building Group is a design/build firm most often associated with luxury custom homes throughout Chicago, northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Whether it’s a new home or a renovation, we strive to create a unique living environment that perfectly suits each homeowner’s individual needs and preferences. In addition to superior quality, we are committed to offering an exceptional experience as our clients bring their dream homes to life. Many of our innovations are around enhancing communication
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and transparency throughout these processes. How do you deliver construction tech solutions to benefit your customers?
renderings of spaces, and have found that a 65 inches touch screen can be essential for clarity in meetings. Clients can draw right on their blueprints to communicate what they’re thinking.
Early in our 40-year history, Orren Pickell Building Group recognized the importance of improving the customer experience, and we saw how technology could play a part in that. Our proprietary online project management site, MyHomePortal™, was the first in the industry to allow clients to track design and construction progress with incredible detail. Clients can review specifications, renderings, material selections and more. They love being able to download progress photos to share with family and friends. In addition, MyHomePortal provides access to contracts, change orders and approvals, and allow clients to communicate directly with project managers to keep their schedules moving forward.
Give a detailed explanation regarding the founder/CEO/management’s influence toward the industry and the company.
There are other ways that we enhance the experience through technology. We use a laser room scanner to create precise 3D
Since Orren Pickell founded the firm 40 years ago, we’ve had a great history. We began as a humble homepainting business and now our name
Before being named president of the Orren Pickell Building Group in 2017, Lisa Pickell was the driving force behind the company’s commitment to advancing the construction industry’s use of technology, mentoring the next generation of skilled workers and opening doors for women in construction. Describe the experiences, achievements or lessons learned that have shaped the journey of the company.
October 2018
We Design, Build, and Remodel Luxury Custom Homes. — Lisa Pickell President
is synonymous with superior quality. That’s a lot of pressure, but we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished as a family business. Now with the second generation taking the reins, we embrace the same values the same commitment to exceptional quality and service that built our reputation in the first place. How does the company contribute toward making the industry better? We believe that the next big challenge for the design and construction industry will be a shrinking qualified workforce. To help address this need, the Orren Pickell Building Group is making a concerted effort to educate and nurture the next generation of craftspeople. In addition, we are longtime champions of advancing women’s roles in the industry. Our president and members of our leadership team sit on advisory councils at local high schools to help prepare students for internships and permanent positions in the construction industry, introduce new construction technologies, and meet
October 2018
with industry leaders to coordinate opportunities. In addition, we’re getting involved with ‘Revolution Workshop’, an exciting social enterprise that teaches unemployed and underemployed people new skills, and the ‘Chicago Architecture Foundation’s Girls Build!’ program. Where does Orren Pickell Building Group see itself in the long run and what are its future goals? Ultimately, we want our products and our company to endure for generations. To that end, we know that we need to continue to advance the industry and the next generation of construction professionals, and ensure that every project and client interaction goes well beyond what is expected. Considering the rising number of construction tech solution providers, how does Orren Pickell Building Group stand out from its competitors?
Right now, our portal sets the standard for providing comprehensive information and easy access to team members. In addition, it is mobile optimized to keep up with our busy clientele. Give us a few testimonials from your clients that accurately highlight Orren Pickell Building Group’s position in the market. “Our home is more than our family could have ever dreamed of. Each time I pull into the driveway, I have to catch my breath and as I think of how fortunate we were to choose the best designer and builder in the country.” “We toured custom homes for years. Every home we really liked was a ‘Pickell’ home. We could have built a home with anyone, but we could have only built this home with Pickell. They do quality work and were a pleasure to work with.”
Orren Pickell Building Group made a decision few years ago to remain ahead of the curve in terms of technology to support our customers.
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Benchmarking Future
THE FUTURE IS HERE Predictive Analytics for Field Service management
Samar Singla Founder
JungleWorks
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October 2018
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strologers and science-fiction writers have entirely lost their professional exclusivity with big data coming into action enabling anyone to predict the future backed by statistically analyzed complex data, that too in a matter of seconds. The key to the future lies in the past and the present has to connect the dots to make the time travel journey successful. Astonishingly, this entire process is reduced down to an operational duration of just a few minutes with advanced predictive analytics tools. Field Service, in particular, is a goldmine of data from GPS and location to client details which had always been lying dormant inside company servers but are now, gradually, being channeled for greater purposes. Predictive analytics has become so important in field service because customers are, blatantly, expecting companies to understand their needs and customize their offerings before them expressing it. Companies can no more merely sell products and services and have to shift their focus to selling experiences to make a huge impact on the results. These are the major impact points of predictive analytics in the field service sector: 1. Demand Forecasting demand for products and services can support enterprises in better inventory management and help in calculating the number of staff required to meet a certain objective. 2. Pricing Although enterprises are still slow in adopting modern methods of pricing and still rely on the traditional ones, times have changed with predictive analytics making the pricing process much more accurate and flexible to various internal and external factors. 3. KPIs Superior performance strongly relies on actionable information which is why predicting KPIs has become so important for enterprises. The ability of predictive analytics to measure, monitor and react to KPIs becomes imperative in formulating both short-term and long-term strategies. 4. Operational efficiency Task scheduling and route optimization becomes much more efficient especially with a heavy reduction in unnoticed slack using the multifunctional aspects of predictive analytics. 5. Maintenance Preventative maintenance becomes much more sense-
October 2018
making with predictive analytics supporting accurate planning using historical data about when a part is likely to fail. Although there are abundant benefits of using Predictive Analytics not just in field services but in any domain, however, we cannot shy away from the risks that it brings along with it. For Predictive Analytics to properly work, there should be a huge volume of relevant data sets from a wide range of activities and even with the availability of such heavy data sets, algorithms can fail in anticipating human behavior which in itself is full of complexities. If we bring time into the frame, it makes things even more completed. The analytics design might be successful at one point of time but it might falter with changes in variables with respect to time. However, modern predictive analytics tools have managed to rise beyond the risks and have hit a very high accuracy mark in making analytical predictions. Especially in field services, the algorithms have been modified to adapt to the changes in location-based data and customer insights considering time intervals as well. Such level of accuracy becomes imperative in shaping how historical data is used in making business level and functional strategies for the organization. Predictive Analytics platforms have started to become extremely prominent since 2017 with modern technology giving a push to business intelligence platforms supporting predictive analytics. Enterprises in the field service industry can look at platforms like Tookan and Kato to take a dive into predictive analytics and transform how they carry out their business. Tookan is a robust one-stop shop for all the field service management problems. Its analytical prowess gives you a glimpse of the future. Tookan diagnoses and understands the business with the help of its data mining and analytical functions helping to make business intelligent decisions to thrive in this volatile industry. Kato is a fully equipped analytical platform which has a wide range of analytical offerings from data preparation, analytics dashboard to predictive insights. It acts as an AI and predictive analytics tool by offering plug and play ML algorithms that solve specific use cases for your business model. With predictive analytics supporting functional activities at every step, enterprises can, literally, visualize a better future and make business intelligent decisions based on historical data defining patterns of activities and behavior.
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1
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MOST INNOVATIVE
CONSTRUCTION Tech Solution Providers 2018
StatsLog: Molding the Construction Industry for Over 30 Years
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tatsLog is a Canadian company committed to creating the world’s best construction contract administration software. While it maintains a particular focus on the unique requirements of design professionals in Canada, its products are versatile enough to adapt to any location or scenario.
management system that has been developed with the MIMO principle in mind – minimum input for maximum output. This principle ensures that users are as efficient, accurate, and error free as possible in everything they publish through FIVE.
The company has been providing software, training, and consulting solutions to architects, engineers, and other design professionals and their support staff for over 30 years. StatsLog’s solutions currently support active construction projects valued at more than $7 billion.
StatsLog also includes its new Nomad web front-end for FIVE at no extra charge. This beta software gives users access to their FIVE data from any smartphone or tablet, anywhere they have access to the Internet. It is like having an entire filing cabinet full of documents, drawings, reports, and project communications at your fingertips.
Purpose-Built Software
An Innovative Organization
FIVE is the latest version of the company’s acclaimed construction contract administration software. It is able to successfully administer projects of all sizes, from small renovations to massive infrastructure developments.
Since its inception, StatsLog has tirelessly led the charge away from pen & paper contract administration and into the digital realm.
The software consists of a purposebuilt database and document
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The organization has worked with companies of all sizes on a wide variety of projects, gaining invaluable experience and a unique perspective on the factors necessary
to develop the best possible management system. StatsLog measures its relationships with many of its customers not just in months or years, but in decades. Unlike its competitors, FIVE has been designed to be highly customizable to meet the unique requirements of different customers. Whether through StatsLog’s form template layout engine, customizable report layouts and automated scheduling features, or even its pricing, licensing and deployment options, StatsLog is the most flexible CCA software solution provider. Perhaps StatsLog’s greatest asset is its unwavering commitment to its customers. The company’s extensive support network ensures that a client can reach a real person to find a solution whenever they encounter a problem. StatsLog makes significant investments to continuously improve its software solutions through streamlined workflows, the elimination of pain points, and by adding and enhancing features based
October 2018
We provide powerful and flexible construction contract administration for design professionals and their teams. — Jason Peter Brown President & Lead Software Developer
on direct feedback from users. These improvements are always provided at no extra cost as part of StatsLog’s “infinite subscription” model. The Men Behind the Magic Michael Copas Founded StatsLog Software Corporation in 1984. He continues to take an active role in the firm to this day, but has been mulling the prospect of retiring in the near future. His contributions to StatsLog are immeasurable – without them, StatsLog simply would not exist. Second in line is Jason Peter Brown. He has been with StatsLog for 20 years and has an intimate knowledge of the business. He is the President and Lead Software Developer behind StatsLog4, FIVE by StatsLog, and Nomad. Jason’s contributions to the firm are no less important – without his technological background and unique vision for the product, StatsLog’s offerings would never have attained the level of finesse and efficacy that they have.
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The indefatigable team of Michael and Jason is the reason why StatsLog is able to support the work of design firms and enterprises many times its size with relative ease. This is a remarkable achievement and a testament to their leadership, vision, and work ethic. Advancing Quality and Efficiency StatsLog notes that there is a lot of change happening in the construction technology space – the adoption of BIM (Building Information Modeling) has grown exponentially, and there is ample room for exciting developments with technologies like drones and AI. That said, a lot of the fundamentals are still the same – shovels in the dirt and machinery on the ground, a controlled chaos from which a building must emerge, on time and on budget. This has to be monitored and reported on throughout the construction process, and problems must be quickly identified and acted on. This is where StatsLog really shines.
There are always going to be better and faster ways to accomplish traditional administration tasks. Not having to go to the office to issue instructions but being able to do so onsite and paperless contract admin are some examples. StatsLog is already on the forefront of such developments, and always looking for the next way to improve its products and services and, in turn, the elevate the quality and efficiency of its customers’ CCA services. Envisioning the Future No matter how great a software is, the company believes it can always be better; StatsLog will continue to expand the features and functionality of FIVE and Nomad. It is also introducing exciting new analytic and business intelligence tools that will help customers analyze and act on the vast amounts of data they’ve have amassed through FIVE.
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Editor’s Pick
PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE MANAGEMENT Technology Transforming the Construction World
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October 2018
Editor's Pick
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n the modern global economy, the construction enterprises have to face several challenges to streamline processes; increase revenues and cut cost whilst at the same time meet regulatory demands. The Product Life Cycle Management technology (PLM) is aiding these enterprises with innovative Product Data Management (PDM) solutions. Currently, PLM is playing a vital role in providing the companies with keys to optimize their businesses. It is also playing a significant role in the designing, developing, and managing the construction machinery and products so that the enterprises can attain a greater profitability and stability.
efficient. PLM enables enterprises with improved communication and responsiveness. Efficient communication and information-sharing can foster the setting of a construction company and enforce smooth onsite and off-site operations. As such, PLM provides more flexibility to the work leading to frequent collaboration, cut costs and escalate business outcomes. It is integrating applications that help the companies to innovate their products regarding the development and the engineering performance. Also, consistency of working methods and more efficient data management leads to mobility in the workplace and provides prominent decision-making process assistance.
Boosting the Mobility Catching the Wave of Business Analytics In the fast stirring construction world, technology is becoming explicit in making the process faster and more
Data is of great use for any construction enterprise. This data need not be disputed. PLM technology is the key to monitor the engineering data and process information in a significant manner. It provides selective access to the data and mechanism related to the control of the data leading to end-to-end construction processes. This helps in carving-out better construction solutions. PLM is making significant efforts needed to bring right data in the right form and delivers functions that allow the information to be under control. It precisely supports the construction processes with the suitable risk & compliance as well as the service management. PML is surely assisting the business analytics with its applications, delivering strategical and tactical business values. The integration of PLM with analytics will help the construction companies in capturing and analyzing any sort of content, allowing transparent delivery of only the important data into the 3D-experience platform. This facilitates the elimination of legacy tools and systems in a controlled and low-risk manner. Connecting Every Dot of the Market— Construction Lifecycle Management Construction Lifecycle Management (CLM) is simply PLM for Construction and Engineering. It promotes innovative ways of thinking and doing business by delivering cutting-edge Construction Process Integration framework. This helps the organizations to withstand the market complexities and manage all the phases of the Lifecycle of a Capital Asset holistically: design, build, operate and retirement. In the construction market,
October 2018
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Production and Manufacturing are unique fields on their own but share a great deal of things together. Individually these fields are concerned with creation. Broadly, manufacturing is concerned with creation of products and production is concerned with capital assets. CLM helps organizations to clearly build a symbiotic relationship between the two. It has helped connecting every dot of the construction industry and is profoundly transforming the construction-tech processes. CLM provides a complete strategic business approach for the companies by which they can implement a consistent set of business solutions— integrating people, processes, and information. It highlights these solutions in support of the collaborative creation, management, dissemination, and use of construction definition information. It is a comprehensive business approach that conduits the opening between design, engineering, construction and profitmargin for the business enterprises. CLM covers missing support regions and overcomes the lack of integration and collaboration between different business operations taking place in the industry. It facilitates the involvement of construction information across all enterprise functions, customers, and suppliers. CLM is taking the construction market to the next level by underpinning both lean practices and standardized modules. It gives a solid foundation to an organization. It is nothing more than a PLM for construction practices which is improving how information is organized and how changes are managed. It can prevent inhibiting the reintroduction of waste into operations once it has eliminated and generated profitable business outcomes. It helps in managing how the products and their designs are standardized, organized into configurable modules, and efficiently manufactured based upon the data. A Tech-Enabled Future There will be an exciting future for the construction industry with the rapid development in the PLM industry. It will empower the next wave of business productivity. Integration of PLM in the cloud, mobile, and the IoT will lead to rewarding opportunities with extraordinary contributions to the construction world. PLM will provide the construction enterprises with a seamless data integration layer to access the core database information in a simple and efficient manner. These curated moves would create a successful platform for an organization to set its pillars right into the market. Furthermore, systems decomposition and process re-engineering would become paramount to the IT skill inventory. This would be due to the business operations and master data hitches decomposed in unison and enabled by the PLM technology platforms of the future.
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October 2018
