Solutions for Success: Navigating the Challenges of Technology in Project Delivery

Technology has become integral to modern laboratory project delivery, transforming how architects and engineers design, collaborate, and deliver high-tech projects. 

Integrating tools such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), Augmented Reality (AR), and project management software has brought numerous benefits to the industry, including enhanced design capabilities, improved collaboration and communication, increased efficiency and productivity, and sustainable design practices. 

Along with these benefits, however, there are also challenges that architects and engineers face, such as the learning curve of adopting new technologies, compatibility and integration of different tools, and data security and privacy concerns. Challenges also arise when educating owners and stakeholders and considering the potential impacts on the human element and creativity in project delivery.

Understanding Terminology

In today’s digital age, understanding the terminology is half the battle when working with owners and other stakeholders who may not be as well-versed. With data interoperability and 3D transactions regarding access and permissions, it’s easy to get lost in translation, particularly with accessibility to the cloud in a hybrid work environment. 

It’s critical to empower owners with knowledge and a sense of security.  Some of the benefits of understanding technology include:

Informed decision-making—Understanding terminology allows owners and stakeholders to evaluate options, compare costs, benefits, and risks, and make informed decisions that align with their project goals and budget. Tech-savvy owners can actively participate in discussions and provide valuable input, leading to better decision-making.

Quality assurance—Better understanding allows owners to assess the quality of proposed solutions and ensure they meet industry standards, codes, and regulations. Owners and stakeholders can also verify whether the solutions are scalable, reliable, and secure, ensuring the project's long-term success.

Risk mitigation – Owners who understand technology terminology can actively engage in risk assessment discussions with project teams, identify potential risks, and work together to implement appropriate mitigation measures. Owners and stakeholders can also ask relevant data security, privacy, and compliance questions to protect their projects from potential risks.

Innovation and futureproofing – Owners who understand these terminologies can collaborate with project teams to explore emerging technologies, assess their potential impact on the project, and make informed decisions about adopting new technologies to enhance the project's value, sustainability, and efficiency.

Orient digital transformation to optimize cost and schedule.

Digital transformation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are becoming critical considerations in businesses today. Owners and stakeholders are now more aware of the capabilities of technology and digitization, and discussions around data security, ownership, and management are becoming more frequent. Digitizing processes and standardizing data transactions are crucial in creating an environment that can leverage AI technologies. 

Introducing new technology strategies requires careful execution to avoid potential delays or budget overruns that may be blamed on the latest technologies. The data management consulting industry is proliferating as new technologies challenge traditional processes. Owners still prioritize completing projects on time and within budget, and the efficiency of technology implementation is critical to meet these goals.

Regular meetings with owners to discuss data transaction security and how it ties into project execution have become common and are expected to increase in frequency. Project teams are uniquely positioned to handle the model side of the data but not necessarily the construction side. 

It is vital to delineate responsibilities with owners and only take on what is appropriate for the firm's expertise. Overall, digital transformation and data interoperability are driving conversations in the industry, focusing on standardizing processes, ensuring data security, and leveraging technology to improve project outcomes. 

Manage stakeholder involvement.

One of the primary challenges of integrating technology into the construction phase is ensuring that all stakeholders, including contractors, subcontractors, and other team members, are trained and proficient in using the technology. Some are savvier than others, so it is essential to know who the players are and how they work. 

This helps to achieve a balance. Knowing how knowledgeable a client is about technology makes it easier to plan for that and determine how far to go to accommodate the client’s needs. 

Suppose they don't have a sophisticated technological infrastructure. In that case, it is not necessarily a bad thing. However, it’s a constraint that must be acknowledged upfront so it doesn't become a hindrance later. This may involve providing training sessions, workshops, or tutorials to familiarize stakeholders with the tools and software utilized. It's essential to address any knowledge gaps or skill limitations to ensure that the technology is used to its fullest potential and that all team members can effectively contribute to the project.

Understand team dynamics within technical competency.

Understanding team dynamics, members' level of technology knowledge, and being familiar with the software platform used by designers are critical factors that contribute to highly successful projects. This requires a multifaceted approach that involves effective communication, collaboration, and coordination among team members. 

It's essential to assess if the team is still building up their skills or if they have reached a higher level of expertise. Understanding this dynamic allows a design firm to manage expectations effectively and prevent unrealistic demands. For instance, many project teams expect that posting updates or drawings to the cloud will be accessible in one centralized location, eliminating the need to send individual emails. This one-stop-shop approach can streamline communication and ensure efficient coordination among team members, minimizing potential confusion or delays, but such solutions can only be effective if technological expertise is in place to support them. 

With design-build scenarios, it's important to determine the technical working environment. Project teams need to balance their efficiencies and the clients' and decide on the most suitable environment for the project. This includes evaluating if the entire team has the necessary licensing to support the chosen working conditions and if they will contribute to the project's success. 

A partnership and licensing agreement with design software puts project teams in a unique position, as they can provide licensing, alleviating the need for the client to provide it. Regardless of their role, the entire project team can work seamlessly in the environment, which sets contractors apart from other agencies where licensing can be a deal breaker for smaller and mid-level contractors or project teams.

Optimize technical alignment between Construction Documents (CD) and construction.

Understanding the level of detail a design firm takes in the design and construction documents phase is essential to ensure efficient project execution. By communicating and aligning with construction partners on a higher level of detail, project teams can reduce rework. 

This collaborative approach makes it possible to identify areas where design can be taken to a higher level of detail, enabling early collaboration on the supply chain, coordination, fabrication, and construction techniques. 

Unlike traditional delivery methods where contractors make designs constructible, core competencies and skill sets in piping design provide an avenue for constructability reviews and routing right from the start, accelerating ordering and prefabrication, which is especially advantageous for manufacturing owners and stakeholders managing multiple utilities. Incorporating prefabricated racks into the design ahead of time makes construction more efficient. This approach distinguishes project teams, bringing a higher level of detail upfront.

Collaborating with contracting partners and achieving a constructible design delivered on time helps owners achieve their goals while mitigating risks and avoiding problems such as fitting issues. This is particularly crucial in retrofitting projects within the manufacturing phase, where time windows for exchanges are limited. 

The value of bringing 3D models to design and construction cannot be overstated. It enables effective data handover and allows for early visualization of aesthetic changes or potential issues, such as equipment sizing in retrofit projects. 

With the ability to conceptualize a 3D environment and understand construction documents, owners' increased engagement in the project will dramatically improve communication and set clear expectations, leading to more successful projects. 

Careful planning and management are essential to successful project delivery, from ensuring that all stakeholders are trained and proficient in using the technology to managing data, interoperability, and costs. By addressing these challenges head-on, owners and project teams can leverage technology to streamline construction processes, improve communication and collaboration among team members, and enhance overall project outcomes.