Construction Dive recently published an article on "The New Normal" in construction during and after the COVID-19 crisis. A couple of construction pros and/or experts were interviewed for the article. Most of the eight ways that construction will be different made sense but a few didn't, starting with "Projects Will Take Longer." The lack of improvement in construction productivity is a recurring discussion because clients want jobs done when they want them done and construction pros almost always deliver. Even if productivity lags, construction pros will likely find different ways like augment crews or get more efficient under the new norm.
A couple other ways the article noted COVID-19 would impact our industry is through increased or maintained social distancing via technology and increased union influence. While these changes as a result from COVID-19 seem reasonable, they will have less impact in the south and non-union states. In today's building industry, most competitive contractors maintain and take care of non-union crews because it's the right thing to do personally and professionally without union direction and influence. Using technology to maintain social distancing seems like a stretch too. Use and full implementation of technology as tools is almost always a struggle on jobsites. Using a tech in this situation would be a struggle at a minimum. At best it would be a slow process to implement and actually make useful.
Check out the article to see what fellow construction pros are thinking and develop a plan to cover your weaknesses and exploit your strengths.
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