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Business Spotlight

Digital Transformation in the Metal Construction Industry: A Complete Guide

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Andrej Lovsin
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October 16, 2023

In todays changing landscape when we hear the term "digitalization" it often brings to mind thoughts of robots and artificial intelligence taking over human jobs. However when it comes to the metal construction industry digitalization serves a purpose. It's more about optimizing processes to achieve efficiency and productivity than simply automating tasks. The main focus is not on digitizing production steps but also on improving communication and organization within the industry.

Effective collaboration among trades is one of the challenges in metal construction and this is where digital technologies play a crucial role. They act as a bridge that connects all parties involved and makes the entire value chain transparent. By using tools workflows can be streamlined real time communication can be. Projects can even be remotely monitored resulting in reduced delays and lower costs.

To provide an understanding of how digitalization's applied in practice lets explore some real world examples. There are two companies within the sector that are leading the way by focusing on operations across construction sites, workshops and offices. Additionally a family owned business in the industry has made progress, towards operating without paper documentation.

By streamlining its software applications, for control and accounting purposes the company has successfully saved time and resources. They also make use of an ERP system that enables generation of work orders and real time access to all job information, including materials needed and time spent on each task.

Another company has utilized ERP software to enhance transparency across all stages of work. This has resulted in time savings. Has also aided the company in meeting industry specific documentation requirements. The software brings together all project related details into a document allowing for tracking of the production process and ensuring compliance with regulations.

The Dual Nature of Digitalization: Challenges, Opportunities and Future Prospects

While digitalization offers advantages it is crucial to acknowledge the challenges associated with it. Many companies in the metal construction industry hesitate to embrace technologies due to factors such as high initial investment costs the need for specialized employee training and concerns regarding data security. However there is an increasing recognition of the potential for performance measurement and competitor analysis.

Digitalization brings forth a range of benefits such as process optimization improved transparency and efficient allocation of resources. These advantages collectively contribute to enhancing efficiency and productivity. Key elements, for maintaining competitiveness in todays market.Furthermore the information gathered can be analyzed to make informed decisions, which will further improve effectiveness.

Looking ahead as our society continues to progress in the era customer expectations are also changing. There is a growing trend, towards service offerings where customers seek more than a physical product. They now desire solutions that can effectively address their problems and bring added value to their lives. In alignment with this shift the metal construction industry is experiencing an increase in the adoption of software solutions and decentralized work models. Cloud based operations are becoming increasingly common enabling collaboration, among parties involved in a project. This becomes particularly crucial as projects become more intricate and require the expertise of trades.

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I have been a software developer since I was 12 and I think this shaped my approach to solving problems. What I do first, is untangle them – and my favorite tool for that is a whiteboard. This is what I’m passing on to the company. I am proud that easy.bi develops intelligent SaaS solutions for businesses that help optimize business processes in a faster and more efficient way.
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