How Do Trends in the Construction Industry Affect Your Organisation?

The construction industry is evolving rapidly due to technological innovations, sustainability requirements, and new regulations. Building Information Modelling, modularity, circularity, inner-city construction, net-zero building, and the war for talent—these are just a few of the trends you can't afford to miss. How will they affect your organisation? In this Better Building blog, you’ll discover how your organisation can make informed decisions using Emixa's Competing Interests Model.

Conflicting Trends

Businesses worldwide are under increasing pressure to optimise their operations in response to a variety of challenges and opportunities. Navigating these choices is anything but straightforward. Often, these trends present contradictory demands when it comes to making strategic decisions about systems, processes, and organisational structure. Responding to one trend may require a company to focus on efficiency and standardisation, while another may call for greater flexibility and adaptability.

An example? Consider technological innovations like 3D modelling or the use of drones on-site. These trends demand flexibility from construction companies, enabling them to adopt and utilise new technologies quickly. Meanwhile, the shortage of skilled staff may necessitate standardisation, making it easier to train workers and deploy them across different types of construction projects.

Flexibility or Standardisation—Which Should You Focus On?

Our Competing Interests Model helps you find the right balance between flexibility and efficiency for your organisation. By considering both internal and external factors, customer needs, and your organisation's unique capabilities, the outcomes will vary for each organisation. The goal is to achieve your unique 'zone of strategic fit'—in other words, your ideal balance. We help you in pinpointing this. 

The Competing Interests Model

Choosing Wisely

Now, it’s time to implement this balance across your business: your processes, your organisation, and your IT systems. Start by conducting a deep dive into your business processes. Does your organisation specialise in modular building? Or is it focused on large infrastructure projects? In both cases, materials management should be organised differently. Is your company primarily a coordinating organisation, or does it execute most projects independently? In both scenarios, contract management will require a different approach.

Emixa supports organisations in this process. Together, we will identify which business processes can be standardised, leveraging best practices and standard applications within the sector. We will also focus on identifying your company’s unique core capabilities—the areas that generate the most value. These activities will require flexibility and adaptability, helping your company to lead the market. This selection process enables you to concentrate on your core strengths while ensuring stability.

Conclusion

A multitude of trends present both opportunities and challenges for organisations in the construction industry. Understanding which trends will impact you most and making informed choices between flexibility and standardisation will help you maintain focus. Emixa supports organisations in translating their strategic goals into tangible actions. Are you looking to become future-ready? We're happy to discuss your specific situation!

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