There’s also the challenge of staying resilient and adapting to the changing needs of your business. In our whitepaper Reconciling the Irreconcilable, we look at the challenges faced by infrastructure projects and how interoperable solutions can help. By using a digital building lifecycle, the industry also has a key opportunity to boost sustainable industry growth, fix the supply chain, improve site safety and productivity, and drive innovation.

[msce_cta layout=”image_center” align=”center” linktype=”blue” imageurl=”http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/industry/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2020/06/whitepaper800x.jpg” linkurl=”https://info.microsoft.com/UK-DIGTRNS-CNTNT-FY20-06Jun-22-MSConstructionWhitePaper-AID-3013731-SRGCM3575_01Registration-ForminBody.html” linkscreenreadertext=”Download the whitepaper: Reconciling the Irreconcilable” linktext=”Download the whitepaper: Reconciling the Irreconcilable” imageid=”36465″ ][/msce_cta]

See how implementing smarter lifecycle management, flexible workplaces, or using technology to help your employees can address your needs and support your resilient operations.

1.      Workforce safety and protection

Employee safety and protection will always be a top priority for organisations. We also expect new processes and procedures to be implemented as the industry returns to site.

AI-infused IoT wearables and sensors in the field can also monitor and report to ensure health and safety best practices are being followed, or alert when there’s potential issues, like spills or leaks.

Microsoft HoloLens 2 infused with AI will allow employees to survey sites and create innovative, highly precise, sustainable solutions, delivered in an agile, flexible off-premises environment. It can also be used by on-site employees to access instructions hands-free while on the job.

2.      Connected Workers

Help employees stay engaged through Microsoft Teams and virtual desktop environments. Teams lets employees securely chat, meet, share and collaborate on files together no matter where they’re located. Virtual desktops enable employees to access the apps and information they need securely, from anywhere.

Additionally, use tools such as the HoloLens 2 and Dynamics Remote Assist will enable on-site employees to collaborate with experts in different locations. These tools also help upskilling employees with new processes.

3.      Smart lifecycle management

As the sector looks to control cash flow and make cost savings, whilst also planning ahead for economic recovery, it will be essential to optimise supply chains. Through better use of data across the supply chain, organisations can adapt to complex scenarios in real time.

Reduce physical onsite presence, and streamline operations with IoT technologies for remote monitoring, remote control, and automation of simple tasks.

You can then take advantage of the data collected to create processes and quickly adapt to changing working patterns. Deliver an intelligent, connected field service by moving from a costly break–fix model to proactive, predictive maintenance.

4.      Stay secure

As organisations move to more digital processes, it is critical organisations have security infrastructure in place to detect, respond, and protect against threats.

Microsoft builds its products with security-by-design, making it easy for your IT team to keep control of the whole digital estate. Think about implementing multi-factor authentication, conditional access, and creating strong security policies. Keep employee education up-to-date.

Help build a stronger future

We strongly believe there is a huge opportunity for technology to help transform the Built Environment Sector, whilst also supporting resilient operations.

By creating smart, interconnected sites, data, and people, we can bring together the skills and information today needed for tomorrow’s innovative projects. Which is a really exciting opportunity you don’t want to miss out on.

Find out more

Learn more about our vision for the Built Environment

4 ways the construction industry can use technology to fix the supply chain and empower employees

Learn how we’re supporting resilient operations

About the author

Adam has worked at Microsoft for over 13 years and is energised by the culture, direction, and strategy as an organisation. He is passionate about the amazing opportunity this provides to empower customers to achieve their goals.

Adam currently leads the Built Environment Team at Microsoft in the UK, where they enable the business outcomes of organisations in the Design, Engineering, Construction, and Facilities Management Industries through digital technology. The Built Environment sector is particularly interesting area to focus as there is a huge opportunity for the industry to transform and it has an impact on all of us in our daily lives.

The post How to support resilient operations in the Built Environment Industry appeared first on Microsoft Industry Blogs - United Kingdom.

At Microsoft we believe we can help empower the construction and built environment sector to fuel sustainable growth, fix the supply chain to increase employee productivity and deliver exceptional customer and social outcomes. To do this, organisations need to digitally transform with modern tools and solutions that bring AI, data, and analytics together to improve collaboration and productivity.

Ultimately our vision is to transform construction and built environment businesses with design innovation, a supply chain you can control, and a connected, safer, more productive workforce.

To help clarify our vision for the sector we have broken down where technology can play a key role in the built environment roadmap into four areas:

1.      Intelligent Design

Technology can enable significant innovation within design processes. This is achieved by smart design automation via the cloud to enhance simulations and generate better quality data.

Using HoloLens mixed reality glasses with data, it can help boost innovation and sustainability.  For example, HoloLens will make your building designs a reality by helping you view it in 4D. This enables teams to see how the building will look before it is even built, to help provide better collaboration and design.

We can even integrate HoloLens into Dynamics 365 to mobilise and increase collaboration across your workforce. Dynamics 365 Guides, provides employees with step-by-step instructions so they can learn by doing. You can even have remote assist, which provides instant collaboration.

Therefore organisations are able to bring ideas to life and create ground-breaking, sustainable designs swiftly and efficiently, powered by state-of-the-art mixed reality, AI, and the cloud.

2.      Smart Lifecycle Management

The challenges within the sector can mainly be around project delays and budget challenges. These have significant impact on companies and the individuals that rely on the infrastructure.

Technology can help make risky tenders and project overruns a thing of the past with AI-fuelled analysis of past project data to predict future projects.

Furthermore, with Dynamics 365, you can connect sensors, networks, and ambient intelligence to create autonomous supply chains that predict and avoid project delays and amplify resources.

3.      Intelligent Asset Management

Internet of Things and Azure Digital Twins technologies are revolutionising the maintenance, facilities management, and the servicing of asset operations.

Firstly by managing and tracking maintenance and facilities in real-time, you can improve building efficiency, and automate tasks using device and sensor tracking. With Dynamics 365 this means better resource management allowing you to predict, detect, and solve issues before they happen.

Additionally companies can improve the management and efficiency of construction assets that help connect workers with the building. Non-operational assets, such as cranes, tools, and machines can also be monitored and managed through IoT and Azure Digital Twins.

This helps organisations discover ways to improve consumer experiences and spaces as well as create new efficiencies. By pairing the physical and digital world, you can analyse data and monitor systems to fix problems before they occur, prevent downtime, and even plan for the future using simulations.

4.      Connected Sites and Workers

Health and safety and productivity are key priorities for the sector. We want to help organisations empower their workforce by protecting and connecting their people, projects, and properties.

Companies can improve workplace safety for frontline workers when they combine mobile, wearable, and sensor technologies with visual recognition systems for real-time activity, safety, and personnel location tracking. The use of augmented reality for site surveying and drones to monitor dangerous areas of site can also be used to limit need for additional onsite staff.

With Dynamics 365, staff can manage and optimise projects in real time, with one consistent interface across all business functions. Technicians in the field can manage workloads easily as Dynamics brings all the relevant information together in one app. Using Remote Assist or the HoloLens, staff can easily build, repair, or consult specialist technicians in real-time.

Using a flexible device like the Surface also encourages staff to work the way they see fit. It brings together intuitive devices that are built with security by design with the apps and tools staff need to do their job. It’s even available with 4G connectivity for sites that are out of WiFi range.

Technology allows organisations to embrace safer, more collaborative, and productive working.

Help build a stronger future

We strongly believe there is a huge opportunity for technology to help transform the Built Environment Sector and build a better future for us all.

By using Dynamics 365 with the power of AI, mixed reality and advanced technology such as digital twins, you can enable your organisation to fuel future sustainable growth, fix supply chain, and site productivity.  This will help you deliver exceptional workforce, customer, and social outcomes.

Find out more

Discover how Dynamics 365 can help you

Go to a Dynamics 365 training day

About the author

Having worked at Microsoft for over 13 years I am energised by our culture, direction, and strategy as an organisation. I am passionate about the amazing opportunity this provides us to empower our customers to achieve their goals.

I currently lead the Built Environment Team at Microsoft in the UK, where we enable the business outcomes of businesses in Design, Engineering, Construction, and Facilities Management Industries through digital technology. The Built Environment sector is particularly interesting area to focus as there is a huge opportunity for the industry to transform and it has an impact on all of us in our daily lives.

The post 4 ways the construction industry can use technology to fix the supply chain and empower employees appeared first on Microsoft Industry Blogs - United Kingdom.

It is encouraging that 98 per cent of respondents felt digitally enabling the firstline workers was at least reasonably important to the success of their business, with 63 per cent thinking it extremely important.

We typically see the challenges facing these workers include obsolete tools and technologies, manual, time consuming processes, inefficiency in onboarding and training processes, lack of communication and collaboration across sites and head offices, and sometimes even lack of governance and unclear security policies.

There does seem to be some positive progress in the construction sector to overcome these challenges. A total of 54 per cent of firstline workers said they feel technology helps them to stay connected even though they are at different locations. However, 41 per cent feel that technology could play a greater role in driving a community and collaborative culture, showing there is still work to do.

Another big challenge in the construction sector is the skills shortage and firms attracting and retaining talent, especially firstline workers. The survey shows that 71 per cent of firstline workers felt that IT systems played at least a moderate role in attracting new talent to their businesses. At Microsoft, we have found this to be especially important in attracting millennials into the workplace as they expect to be able to collaborate and communicate using the latest modern technologies.

In addition to solving some of these challenges the survey also highlights how deploying the latest digital technologies will also help save firstline workers time, reduce costs and risk, and ultimately help produce better quality products for their customers.

Some of the barriers faced when adopting digital technologies include cost, skills, and process implementation. However, on a positive note the survey predicts firms will invest in digital technologies over the next 24 months to support construction processes, collaboration, security, and training. Some firstline workers even expect artificial intelligence to be implemented to enhance their experiences.

At Microsoft, our mission is to empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more. We build tools for the modern workplace and connect the entire organisation from the boardroom to the firstline.

With Microsoft 365, we empower all workers with a complete, intelligent solution and close long-standing technology gaps that have separated employees from the tools, resources and expertise they need to do their best work.

Building for success on the firstline of business and digitising firstline work delivers efficiency, quality and customer satisfaction. Technology can give firstline workers a more intuitive, immersive, and empowering experience.

The introduction of Microsoft 365 F1 represents a significant step towards this vision. With our new firstline offering we deliver on five key areas:

• Foster culture and community – put people first and strengthen culture, community and inclusivity.
• Train and upskill employees: help workers develop, grow, and apply their skills.
• Digitise business process: automate and optimize processes to increase agility and meet customer needs.
• Deliver real-time expertise: allow workers to harness expertise to solve business problems in real-time.
• Minimise risk and cost: streamline IT management and extend security to all employees.

With Microsoft 365 F1, customers benefit from firstline productivity with Microsoft StaffHub, build culture and community with Yammer and Teams, and share training and video content with SharePoint and Stream. Ensure security for all employees with EMS and have integrated platform support for shared and remote devices with Windows 10.

Adam Steel is Enterprise Sales Lead for Construction at Microsoft UK. Please contact to discuss the report further.

View the full report here – Construction: The Case for Digital Enablement

The post Construction workers and the case for digital enablement appeared first on Microsoft Industry Blogs - United Kingdom.