The ConTechCrew

EPISODE 429: Have you ever been knee-deep in a project, only to discover you’ve missed a crucial building code? It’s frustrating and costly, right? What if you could avoid those mistakes with just a few clicks?Meet Scott Reynolds, co-founder & CEO of UpCodes, who’s leading a revolution in construction by providing open access to building codes through an online platform.In this episode, my co-host Nathan Wood and I sit down with Scott to discuss the critical role building codes play in construction and how the Pro Codes Act–a bill that could privatize access to codes–threatens this.Scott explains how limited access to these codes could impact not just the construction industry but the rest of society. He also dives into how some organizations are profiting from these codes, why the Pro Codes Act could hinder innovation, how to leverage AI technology for code compliance, and more.Want to learn how codes affect your work and what you can do to protect it from its threat?Tune in now!Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00)What is UpCodes and how it all started (01:37)Challenges faced by architects in understanding building codes (03:09)Differences in codes between the U.S. and Hong Kong (04:45)How are GCs and trades interacting with UpCodes (06:24)The legal battle for free and open access to building codes (08:55)How other organizations are making money off building codes (12:22)The Pro Codes Act and its implications for the industry (17:34)Utilizing AI technology in code compliance (20:38)How limited access to codes can hinder innovation (24:40)Keep up with Scott and his work at UpCodes (40:45)Construction technology news of the week (41:22)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at: https://thecontechcrew.com Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew — Follow Scott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-reynolds/Check out UpCodes to learn more: https://up.codes/Help keep the law free by opposing the Pro Codes Act: https://up.codes/pro-codes-act— See this week’s news articles! 🗞️⬇️➡️Denver Mayor Mike Johnston claims city exceeded goal to reduce permitting time by 30%https://denvergazette.com/news/denver-mayor-cut-permitting-time/article_2d3c8c8e-448c-11ef-a66e-1720a606608d.html➡️GreenLite Raises $28.5 Million Series A to Streamline ConstructionPermitting with Tech-Driven Solutionshttps://www.siliconhillsnews.com/2024/09/22/greenlite-raises-28-5-million-series-a-to-streamline-construction-permitting-with-tech-driven-solutions/➡️Amazon's return-to-office mandate could boost downtown Seattle's recoveryhttps://queenannenews.com/news/2024/sep/24/amazons-return-to-office-mandate-could-boost-downtown-seattles-recovery/➡️Amazon’s new office-only work policy is sure to backfirehttps://thehill.com/opinion/technology/4885672-amazon-return-office-controversy/➡️PwC tells UK staff it will monitor office attendancehttps://www.ft.com/content/11ccedba-f120-4dd2-a98f-19e8b59d7764— The ConTech Crew is a construction news podcast dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest in construction technology. Give us a follow so you never miss an episode!

EPISODE 428: Ever dreamed of ditching the headaches of managing your construction crew to focus on what you do best–building? Today’s guest has the perfect solution to your problem.In this week’s episode, my co-host Nathan Wood and I sit down with Lou Perez, a former pro snowboarder turned tech entrepreneur.Lou shares his story of transitioning from pro snowboarding to carpentry and ultimately co-founding Lumber, an AI-powered workforce management platform built specifically for the construction industry.With features like automated time tracking, payroll,  and scheduling, Lumber removes the tedious manual processes that can slow your business down.Find out more how you can leverage Lumber to transform your construction operations into a well-oiled machine.Let’s jump right in!Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00)From pro snowboarding to carpentry (01:32)Lou’s construction tech journey and the creation of Lumber (07:05)How Lumber solves time tracking and payroll issues (10:02)AI-driven scheduling and compliance management (16:19)The power of consultative sales and customer-centric strategies (21:25)How Lumber is helping solve labor shortages (24:43)Connect with Lou and Lumber (31:59)Construction technology news of the week (33:19)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at: https://thecontechcrew.com Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew — Follow Lou Perez on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loujperez23/Subscribe to the Builder Upper Show: https://www.lumberfi.com/the-builder-upper-showVisit Lumber’s website for more information: https://www.lumberfi.com/— See this week’s news articles! 🗞️⬇️➡️Boosting Contractor Profits Through Better Coordination on Construction Siteshttps://www.constructionowners.com/news/boosting-contractor-profits-through-better-coordination-on-construction-sites➡️Hype responsibly: Why ‘AI washing’ can get companies in troublehttps://www.emergingtechbrew.com/stories/2024/09/04/ai-washing-trouble➡️Tony Robbins | 5 Things All Great Leaders Dohttps://www.linkedin.com/pulse/tony-robbins-5-things-all-great-leaders-do-tony-robbins-txrsc/➡️New Website for construction newshttps://www.constructionowners.com/— The ConTech Crew is a construction news podcast dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest in construction technology. Give us a follow so you never miss an episode! 

Dylan Underhill, a BIM and VDC consultant from Trillium Advisory Group, sheds light on the intriguing world of digital twins. He discusses how they function more as a methodology than just a concept. The conversation touches on the generational challenges in adopting construction tech, driven by mentorship and hands-on experience. Dylan also dispels common myths about digital twins and explores the impact of AI on their implementation. Discover how gaming skills can enhance engineering and bridge gaps in the industry!

EPISODE 426: Research shows that 13% of a construction professional’s workday is spent looking for information that they need to do their jobs. Let that sink in. But is technology alone the answer to this crisis?In this week’s special episode, live from The ECC Future Leaders Conference, I’m joined by industry experts Tannis Liviniuk and Nathan Wood to discuss the ongoing challenges in construction communication and collaboration.We’ll dive into how construction teams are often bogged down by using too many platforms, leading to inefficiencies and data loss.We also tackle the importance of culture and process alignment, why owners need to understand their tech stack, the most impactful technologies to date, and more.Don’t miss out–tune in now!Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00)Project collaboration and communication defined (02:09)Challenges of using multiple communication systems (07:10)Most impactful and widely-adopted tech to date (14:39)How to fix communication and collaboration issues (17:47)Addressing labor shortages in construction (19:43)Why owners and leaders need to understand their tech stack (27:40)The future of contracts (33:38) Importance of flexible tech ecosystems (39:55)Standardization in construction tech (44:29)Episode wrap-up (50:12)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at: https://thecontechcrew.com Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew — Follow Tannis Liviniuk on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tannisliviniuk/Follow Nathan Wood on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanaec/— The ConTech Crew is a construction news podcast dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest in construction technology. Give us a follow so you never miss an episode! 

EPISODE 425: Whether it’s misplaced cards or redundant training, managing construction credentials can feel like a full-time job–but not anymore with BuilderFax.In this week’s episode, my co-host Nathan Wood and I sit down with Christi Pilutik, CEO of BuilderFax, to talk about her mission to change how craft workers manage their credentials and career growth.With a solid background in HR and construction consulting, Christi shares her insights on the current state of the industry’s workforce and how BuilderFax, an all-in-one credential management platform, provides career growth solutions to the industry.If you’re looking to learn how to improve craft workers’ experience and help them take control of their careers, this episode is a must-listen.Let’s get started!Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00)Christi Pilutik’s construction journey (01:30)How BuilderFax is transforming construction (05:36) Career development made easier (11:40)How BuilderFax verifies user profiles and credentials (14:59)Standardizing credentialing across the industry (22:08)Professionalizing construction careers (25:08)Improving construction safety using BuilderFax (33:59)Keep up with Christi and BuilderFax (37:52)Construction technology news of the week (39:28)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at: https://thecontechcrew.com Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew — Follow Christi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christipilutik/Visit BuilderFax for more information: https://builderfax.com/— See this week’s news articles! 🗞️⬇️➡️Integrated Data Ecosystems Could Transform the Construction Industryhttps://www.forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/2024/08/16/integrated-data-ecosystems-could-transform-the-construction-industry/➡️National Public Data Admits Hackers Stole Social Security Numbers in Massive Breach Reportedly Affecting Nearly All Americanshttps://nypost.com/2024/08/19/business/national-public-data-admits-hackers-stole-social-security-numbers/➡️Why the Construction Industry Must Climb Out of Its Productivity Rut—and Why it Hasn’t Yet.https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/operations/our-insights/delivering-on-construction-productivity-is-no-longer-optional— The ConTech Crew is a construction news podcast dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest in construction technology. Give us a follow so you never miss an episode! 

EPISODE 424: Mental health in construction isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a necessity. But how do we empower the industry, especially its leaders, to talk about it openly?In this week’s Pause for the Cause episode with co-host Rob McKinney, we interview Paul Lawson, Risk Management Coordinator and Lead Mental Health Advocate at Mid-City Electric/Technologies, to explore his unique path from ministry to construction.Paul shares how his background as a pastor and two-time cancer survivor motivated him to address the growing need for mental health advocacy in the industry.Today, you’ll learn about the Blueprints for Well-Being initiative, the importance of proactive mental health programs, and how vulnerability can transform a challenging workplace culture like construction.Ready to bring this life-saving approach to your workplace?Tune in now to learn more!Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00)Meet Paul Lawson (02:42)From pastor and cancer survivor to well-being advocate (06:29)Building an army of well-being advocates in construction (18:23)Launching Builders Exchange’s Blueprints for Well-Being program (25:13)Importance of Employee Assistance Program (EAP) (33:07)Start with a why and lead with vulnerability (39:07)Advice for companies looking to start mental health programs (44:12)Keep up with Paul and his works (46:08)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at: https://thecontechcrew.com Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew — Reach out to Paul by emailing him at: plawson@midcityelectric.comConnect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paullawsonhelps/Visit Mid-City Electric/technologies for more information: https://www.midcityelectric.com/— The ConTech Crew is a construction news podcast dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest in construction technology. Give us a follow so you never miss an episode! 

EPISODE 423: How ready is your construction business for the future? If you haven’t thought about AI and automation yet, you could be missing out on something big!In this week’s episode of The ConTech Crew, my co-host Travis Voss and I sit down with Aaron Hilger, CEO of Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA), and Carol Duncan, President of General Sheet Metal and SMACNA, to discuss the evolving landscape of the construction industry.This conversation dives into the importance of adopting new technologies like AI and automation in construction to stay competitive, manage labor shortages, and improve efficiency. We explore how industry associations like SMACNA can play a pivotal role in mentoring and collaboration, the significance of peer learning, and more.Curious how you can future-proof your business?Tune in now!Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00)What is SMACNA and its impact on the industry (03:17)AI’s potential to revolutionize construction operations (10:01)Leveraging technology to address labor shortage issue (19:30)How SMACNA supports small to mid-sized businesses (26:21)What it’s like planning the SMACNA convention (29:14)Why contractors learn best from their peers (32:01)What sets SMACNA events apart (36:30)SMACNA’s impact on contractor members (38:15)Succession planning and employee ownership (ESOP) (46:10)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at: https://thecontechcrew.com Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew — Follow Aaron Hilger on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronhilger/Follow Carol Duncan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carol-duncan-31630710/Follow Travis Voss on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travis-voss/Visit SMACNA for more information: https://www.smacna.org/— The ConTech Crew is a construction news podcast dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest in construction technology. Give us a follow so you never miss an episode!

EPISODE 422: How reliant are digital technologies in improving construction safety? In this week’s episode of The ConTech Crew, my co-host Rob McKinney and I sit down with Gabe Guetta, CEO and co-founder of SALUS, a young SaaS company specializing in construction safety.Gabe spent 15 years in construction, dealing with the challenges and stigmas that come with it. But when a near-miss job site incident occured, he realized there was a critical gap in how safety was managed in the industry.Today, he’s here to share what that critical gap is, the evolution of safety practices in the industry, how to gain buy-in, especially from field workers, and why adapting technology that matches real-world construction workflows is key to success. Listen now to see how technology is driving a safer, smarter construction job site.Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00)Gabe’s construction journey (03:44)How a near-miss incident led to a safety solution (06:50)The complexity of safety in construction (09:02)Getting field-level workers to adopt safety technologies (11:16)Adapting tech to real-world construction workflows (23:13)Companies using SALUS safety solutions (32:34)Breaking barriers and anchoring safety with why (37:34)Overcoming stigma in construction safety (48:13)Construction technology news of the week (50:15)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at: https://thecontechcrew.com Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew — Follow Gabe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabeguetta/Check out SALUS Safety for more information: https://salussafety.io/— See this week’s news articles! 🗞️⬇️➡️ 3D-printing firm achieves world's first with next-gen construction technologyhttps://www.yahoo.com/tech/3d-printing-firm-achieves-worlds-010000501.html➡️ Inflation, rising costs, difficulties accessing finance. How construction SME’s can overcome challengeshttps://www.pbctoday.co.uk/news/digital-construction-news/construction-technology-news/inflation-rising-costs-difficulties-accessing-finance-construction-smes-overcome-challenges/141701/➡️ RockYou2024 leak of 10 billion passwords could present major threatshttps://www.itbrew.com/stories/2024/07/12/password-leak-exposes-10-billion-passwords➡️ New initiative seeks innovations to streamline NYC’s building processhttps://www.constructiondive.com/news/new-york-city-building-construction-lab/720900/— The ConTech Crew is a construction news podcast dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest in construction technology. Give us a follow so you never miss an episode!

EPISODE 421: Do you ever wonder why construction accounting is so challenging?I did, too, and so did this week’s guest, who has not only lived through these challenges but also developed innovative solutions to tackle construction’s accounting and profitability issues.Meet Chris Lee. Chris is an entrepreneur who transitioned from IT to construction and then to tech innovation–solving some of the most challenging problems in this industry. He’s the mind behind Esticom, a cloud-based estimating and project management software, and now CrewCost, an easy-to-use accounting software built for construction.Today, Chris is here to share the unique challenges of construction accounting and why the industry should use specialized accounting software instead of a standard one.We also explore Chris’s unique entrepreneurial journey, the development and eventual acquisition of his software Esticom by Procore, and the role of cloud technology in transforming construction management.Tune in now and learn how specialized software can transform the construction industry.Let’s get started!Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00)How Chris Lee got into construction (02:11) From contracting business to construction tech (05:49) How Chris’s Esticom got acquired by Procore (12:02)What it’s like working with Procore (15:14)Why construction should stop using generic accounting software (23:16)Difference between standard accounting and construction accounting (26:25)Profitability, cash flow, and billing challenges in construction (30:00)Keep up with Chris (39:43)Construction technology news of the week (40:16)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at: https://thecontechcrew.com Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew — Follow Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clee512/Check out CrewCost for more information: https://crewcost.com/— See this week’s news articles! 🗞️⬇️➡️ Quanta Services Climbs 7% on $1.5 Billion Cupertino Electric Acquisitionhttps://www.marketwatch.com/story/quanta-services-climbs-7-on-1-5-billion-cupertino-electric-acquisition-50407bbc?mod=mergers-and-acquisitions➡️ A tech ethicist on how AI worsens ills caused by social mediahttps://www.economist.com/by-invitation/2024/05/29/a-tech-ethicist-on-how-ai-worsens-ills-caused-by-social-media➡️ New Registration Bomb Email Attack Distracts Victims of Financial Fraud (Just personally experienced with a client)https://blackcloak.io/new-registration-bomb-email-attack-distracts-victims-of-financial-fraud/➡️ Microsoft-CrowdStrike Outage Hits Airports, Banks and Hospitals, Causing IT Nightmarehttps://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/microsoft-global-outage-explained-911-lines-down-flights-grounded-and-more/— The ConTech Crew is a construction news podcast dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest in construction technology. Give us a follow so you never miss an episode!

EPISODE 420: How do general contractors (GCs) spend most of their time?A recent study conducted on job sites reveals that GCs spend only 8% of their time in the field. The rest is consumed by tasks such as documenting discrepancies (16%), searching for the right information (15%), and meeting preparation (13%).Why are we wasting so much of these skilled professional’s time doing paperwork?Enter Trunk Tools–a platform designed to optimize workflows, enhance collaboration, and achieve a high level of efficiency.In this week’s episode of The ConTech Crew, my co-host, Rob McKinney, and I are thrilled to speak with the incredible Dr. Sarah Buchner, CEO and founder of Trunk Tools.Sarah’s journey is truly inspiring, from her beginnings as a young carpenter in Austria to becoming a leading figure in construction technology.With a PhD in AI from Stanford and over a decade of experience in AI, she brings deep expertise in AI and data management, demonstrating how AI (or, as she calls it, IA–Intelligence Augmentation) can transform the construction industry by structuring unstructured data.Curious how AI can simplify your next project?Tune in now!Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00)From carpentry to construction tech (01:32)The real role of education (05:52)PhD in AI and its impact (10:19)The mindset shift needed in construction (14:36)AI’s role in structuring data (18:52)Biggest problems facing contractors (20:19)Reducing rework with AI (22:35)Trusting technology in construction (24:23)Creating data visuals (34:27)What the future looks like for Trunk Tools (39:22)Construction technology news of the week (43:19)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at: https://thecontechcrew.com Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew — Follow Dr. Sarah Buchner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-buchner/Visit Trunk Tools for more information: https://trunktools.com/— See this week’s news articles! 🗞️⬇️➡️ Technologies That Rapidly Transform Construction Will Change Jobsiteshttps://www.enr.com/articles/58192-technologies-that-rapidly-transform-construction-will-change-jobsites➡️ Technology That Can Prevent Worker Injuries: NSChttps://www.ehstoday.com/safety-technology/article/55094140/technology-that-can-prevent-worker-injuries-nsc➡️ Meet the AI-powered robots that Big Tech thinks can solve a global labor shortagehttps://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/08/why-amazon-tesla-and-microsoft-are-investing-in-ai-powered-robots.html➡️Contech backer launches second, $100M fundhttps://www.constructiondive.com/news/ironspring-ventures-contech-fund-investment/720583/— The ConTech Crew is a construction news podcast dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest in construction technology. Give us a follow so you never miss an episode!