Digital Builder

In construction, the decisions leaders make now will largely determine what our industry will look like in a decade. How organizations embrace new technologies has never been more important, because technology and the success of the next generation comes hand in hand. Eric sits down with John Fish, Chairman and CEO of Suffolk Construction, and Jim Lynch, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Autodesk Construction Solutions for an honest, no-holds barred look at the state of construction today and where the industry is headed tomorrow.  We discuss: The need for increased collaboration and alignment across all contributing members of a project How AI is unlocking new opportunities for workers and companies to innovate and refine their focus How leaders should invest in recruiting more blue-collar talent and upskilling them with unfamiliar technology and why it’s so important Can data sharing become the most transformative form of collaboration across the industry? How should organizations approach engaging the next generation in construction Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk. 

People are the important thing for any company to remember as they replace legacy technology with innovative, purpose-built tools and processes. That’s why Eric is sitting down with Jon Marks, Former CTO at Swinerton and Principal CEO at Corvus Star Consulting. In this episode Jon breaks down the key tactics leaders can implement to ensure they are keeping their people first. We discuss: Change management in construction is challenging to lead because there are limited opportunities to deliver change Effective delivery of change involves bite-sized learning and intentional engagement with project teams Flexibility is important for retaining talent and finding the best people for the organization The use of technology and processes is interconnected with the need for mentorship and coaching. Technology and automation in buildings can improve comfort, reduce costs, and benefit the environment. Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk. 

With the growing conversation about how construction is changing because of purpose-built technology like AI, AR technology, and robotics, it’s important to nurture those who will have their careers be the most influenced by it: the next generation of workers. That’s why we’ve invited Alan Dillon, Senior Superintendent at Truebeck Construction, for a conversation about leadership, effective mentorship, and why successful relationships are the key to successful projects. We discuss: Properly balancing technology and human contributions Why collaboration and providing new opportunities are key to successful mentorship How successful construction projects are built from successful relationships Why curiosity and asking questions help leaders and team members grow, feel valued, and lead to new opportunities Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk. 

The benefits and challenges of digitization are shared by construction companies globally. Construction leaders located around the world are all discovering the best ways to scale digital adoption at their organizations so that processes can become safer, faster, and more efficient. Today we're taking a closer look at how digital adoption is quickly gaining traction in APAC, or the Asia-Pacific region. During Autodesk University, Eric sat down with Muhd Khalil Shaiful Bahari, Deputy Director for the Group Technology Office at Boustead Projects Limited, and William Low, Asia-Pacific Regional Sales Manager at Autodesk, to discuss the state of digital adoption in APAC, the main obstacles to scaling digitization, and why it is so necessary for the success of future projects. We discuss: The challenges of scaling digital adoption How virtual collaboration has transformed the construction ecosystem in APAC Main obstacles preventing digital adoption How a value-focused digitization strategy prevents “Shiny New Toy Syndrome” The state of data collection, creation, visualization, and implementation in APAC Upcoming technology trends to be excited about  Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.  

The adoption of robotics and augmented reality tools at scale is making projects more efficient, workers live safer & easier—all while reducing errors that can cause major problems. This and a whole lot more was discussed when Eric sat down with Andrew Cameron, Project Manager at Hensel Phelps. In this episode, we are talking effective technology pilots, tech deployment at scale, and how these tools and new processes are turning Construction into a more attractive industry. We discuss: Effective technology pilot strategies  Aligning new tech with a company’s core goals and a team’s specific pain points How augmentation improves worker experience & safety Agile software tools versus legacy technology and processes The ROI of robotics deployment at scale  Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk. 

It’s no secret that manual labor in construction can take a significant toll on the human body, and high-strain activities can have a long-term health impact for workers. That’s where Robotics comes in: By augmenting how workers do their jobs today, robots are helping to relieve them of the burden of many high-strain tasks, freeing workers to do their jobs faster, safer, and more efficiently. In this episode recorded live at Autodesk University, Eric sits down with Brooke Gemmell, Emerging Technology Partner at Skanska, to break down the current state of robotics in construction and how it will impact the industry in the coming years. We discuss: How robots make manual labor and redundant activities easier The biggest myths about robotics in construction Benefits for adopting robotics & technology Biggest obstacles to widespread adoption and how to mitigate them Best practices for successful adoption Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk. 

As the construction industry continues to digitize, companies are faced with endless possibilities thanks to access to exponentially more and better data, truly digitized workflows, technology like augmented reality, and communication tools that improve speed and efficiency.  To dive into all of these and more, Matthew Cordova, Director of Construction Technology at Hermanson Company, Matt Lamb, the Chief Information Officer at Rosendin Electric, join Eric Thomas in another live episode of Digital Builder hosted on LinkedIn Live! We discuss: Ensuring a balanced workload when integrating new tech into existing processes Properly implementing new tech with different teams in the same organization Security considerations and best practices with new technology and AI tools like ChatGPT How AI and better data availability open new revenue lines How to begin the digitization process in a way that teams can manage Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk. 

Reality capture technology is transforming what is possible on and off the construction site. Site scanning technologies and augmented and virtual reality are changing the game for construction pros by enabling teams to create a comprehensive view of physical structures and environments. In this episode recorded live at Autodesk University, Eric is sitting down with Lisa Kelly, VP of EarthCam, and Waleed Zafar, Mission Critical Projects Director at XYZ Reality, to talk about why this technology is so game-changing and how it is impacting the construction industry. We discuss: What VR/AR technology brings to construction projects The factors driving fast, widespread adoption Best practices for adopting VR/AR technology into your organization Why thorough project communication is vital to the success of any new technology Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk. 

In the second half of our two-part episode with Autodesk colleagues Lisa Chen, Technical Sales Executive, and Ross Wagner, Manager of Technical Sales, we continue talking about the obstacles preventing the industry from digitization and why Legacy Non-Purpose-Built tools are holding companies back. If you haven't yet, catch the first half of our conversation with Lisa and Ross in Episode 41! We discuss: Why contractors are rejecting digital tools The difficult reality of using Legacy Non-Purpose-Built tools The tools Lisa & Ross can’t do without on a job site Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk. 

While remote work becomes more and more accessible and integrated in the workplace, it remains elusive for construction because the very nature of the work requires an onsite workforce. This nuance makes accessibility a difficult hurdle to improve workforce diversity across the industry. This week, Eric sits down with Camille Hardin, Project Manager at Flint Builders, Inc., to talk about innovative construction tech, the rise of prefab, and a candid look at the challenges facing women working in construction—especially for those out in the field. We discuss: The gender & diversity imbalance in construction How prefab can open up career possibilities for underrepresented groups The need for increased flexibility in the workplace (and why!) The best tech for coordinating the prefab process Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.