The construction industry is a vital component of the world economy. Pre-pandemic, the AEC sector boasted a staggering investment volume of nearly USD 12 billion and contributed about 15% to global GDP. Despite post-pandemic challenges like geopolitical conflicts and supply chain disruptions, the industry in Germany alone is expected to reach 391.3 billion EUR in revenue by 2025, growing at a compound annual rate of 6.05%.
written by: Diego Cisterna
The Stagnation Challenge
However, this sector’s massive scale also presents significant hurdles. McKinsey Global Institute’s data revealed a worrying trend: construction productivity has stagnated over the past three decades, largely due to communication-related issues.
Communication as a Catalyst for Productivity
Improving project communication holds immense potential to boost productivity. Tackling this involves addressing the abstract nature of communication, which can be effectively measured using tools like Social Network Analysis (SNA).
Social Network Analysis in Action
SNA transforms communication into measurable data through surveys and algorithms, resulting in sociograms and quantifiable indicators. This approach allows for the visualization and mathematical formalization of communication networks, identifying bottlenecks, isolated groups, and key influencers in knowledge sharing and problem-solving.
Common Communication Channels in Construction
The most prevalent communication methods on construction sites include analog transmission (notes, prints), oral communication (in-person, phone, radio), and digital transmission (emails, WhatsApp). The latter, especially WhatsApp, offers significant automation potential.
The Widespread Use of Messaging Services
Globally, messaging services like WhatsApp are ubiquitous. In Germany, 92% of people regularly use WhatsApp. This trend is mirrored in construction, with 72% of workers using it for internal coordination and 55% for site documentation.
Introducing Valoon: Revolutionizing Construction Communication
Valoon is at the forefront of transforming chaotic chats into structured data in real-time using APIs and chatbots. It combines the benefits of messengers with essential construction management software features, enhancing simplified communication, efficient coordination, automated documentation, language translation, and personnel management.
Conclusion
Valoon ensures information flows smoothly, supporting personnel and automating data collection, structuring, and report generation. This approach is pivotal in unlocking productivity potential in the construction industry, making Valoon not just a tool, but a transformative force.
Icons made by Umeicon from www.flaticon.com