Summer may be coming to a close, but AI (artificial intelligence) is still one of the hottest technologies in the construction industry, and it will have a long-lasting impact on the construction industry. But it will only be successful if we align people, process, and technology.
If you have been following along here, then you know in the first phase of this blog series, we have been talking about AI in general and AI throughout the lifecycle of a construction project, including design, construction, and building operations. In the second phase of the blog series, we have also looked at it in key areas like accounting and ERP (enterprise resource planning) and bidding and estimating.
Now, we are in the last phase of the blog series, where we look at aligning people, process, and technology. First up, the people.
Let’s look at some key strategies to help workers thrive in a new era of work.
Embrace soft skills: AI might excel at providing insights and critical data, but it can’t replace curiosity, resilience, emotional intelligence, or the ability to navigate uncertainty. A recent Skiilify study found 94% of tech leaders agreed on this, yet many haven’t received training in these areas.
Partner with technology: Key here is man and machine working together, and workers feeling empowered. A survey from the American Management Assn., reported 58% of workers feel “behind” on AI. Workers who experiment and ask questions around AI-enabled tools, such as predictive maintenance, gain a competitive edge. They become collaborators, not bystanders.
Build critical thinking: AI can make intelligent suggestions, but decisions often happen in messy real-world environments. According to Skiilify, 37% of leaders struggle with decision-making when data isn’t definitive. This means the workers of tomorrow must still have critical thinking skills, which can be guided through mentorship.
Train employees: Training construction workers isn’t just a necessity—it’s key to the future of work. It’s time we stop thinking of training as an afterthought and start recognizing it as the backbone of productivity, safety, and long-term project success.
The future lies in construction workers using AI to do their jobs better. Let’s consider how we can better gain fluency with AI tools, double down on soft skills, build critical thinking, and ultimately, train, train, train.
The workers of tomorrow will be the ones who combine cutting-edge tech with long-lasting human skillsets. The combination is a powerful one that will help build the homes, cities, and infrastructure of the future.
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