London Build Expo 2024 was an event to remember. The two-day event was packed with insightful presentations and discussions on the latest trends and innovations in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry.
If you couldn’t make it, here are some of the key sessions that took place and my takeaways from them:
Interoperability: Key Area to Begin
Data is fragmented and needs to be stitched together to deliver value. Different software, reports, and teams working on one project make this even more valuable.
The benefits here are enhanced collaboration and improved efficiency supporting work across teams as part of the design-build process.
Skills Gap: Area for Increased Focus
The need to upskill new generations and pass on expertise from retiring generations creates even more of a use case for efficiencies gained.
The latest Construction Skills Network (CSN) report provides insights into the UK construction economy and its future labour requirements. The report highlights a significant skills shortage in the construction industry, predicting that an additional 251,500 construction workers will be needed by 2028 to meet the expected levels of work.
The skills shortage means the industry will face substantial recruitment and training challenges over the next five years. This shortage is driven by the need for workers in major sectors such as private housing, infrastructure, and repair and maintenance.
The need to upskill new generations and pass on expertise from retiring generations creates even more of a use case for efficiencies gained.
AI was the Buzzword of the Event: Support Interest with Quick Wins
The key to utilising AI will be moving into the Proof Of Concept (POC) phase quickly once envisioning sessions are completed and high-value use cases are identified.
Given how cost-constrained the industry is, organisations are looking for use cases that will drive clear ROI. There’s so much complexity, but even simple examples that drive efficiency on-site will do the trick. Transparity, have seen this in our partnership with BMT where we built out their bid management solution. While transformational projects are often mentioned, being practical and building a POC that delivers ROI is more realistic.
Stay tuned for more Construction AI use cases in future blog posts.
Highlight Session
Incredibly relevant to our work at Transparity was “Cracking the Code: How Data-Led Construction Will Shape the Built Environment’s Future,” a panel which highlighted several key points:
- Data as a force multiplier: It’s crucial to ensure that your data is well-organised and reliable to stay competitive. Proper data management can significantly enhance your operations and decision-making processes.
- User journey mapping: By mapping out the user journey, you can identify areas for continuous improvement. Even small changes can lead to substantial cost savings or safety enhancements.
- Start small and iterate: When developing and implementing your data strategy, begin with specific projects that offer business value. This approach allows for gradual improvements and adjustments, as demonstrated by Inspired Villages with the support of our expert team.
London Build Expo 2024 was a fantastic opportunity to learn about the latest trends and innovations in the AEC industry. The AI & Digital Construction stage, in particular, provided valuable insights into how AI and digital technologies are shaping the future of construction. I look forward to applying these learnings to our projects and continuing to drive innovation in our industry.
Look out for more updates and insights as we continue to explore the potential of AI and digital technologies in construction!
