Pandemic reshapes construction technology

The continuing pandemic has reshaped construction technology throughout 2020. The net impact has been positive, as the need to maintain social distancing and work remotely has pushed many construction firms to increase technology adoption, wrote JLL in its State of Construction Tech: United States 2020 report. At the same time, the economic downturn created by the pandemic has led to difficult market conditions, particularly for less-established startups, because construction firms have recorded lower profitability and have less money to spend on unproven options.

There are two ways construction tech has enabled onsite execution during the pandemic. First, by creating opportunities to have fewer people on a jobsite. Typically, coordination between various subcontractors relies on onsite meetings, walkthroughs, and face-to-face discussions to solve problems. Through scanning tools, virtual walkthroughs, virtual inspections, and digital issue tracking, much of that wor