A lot of positive predictions were made for 2015 in terms of building and construction. A lot of changes were anticipated to bring in a new era in construction.
According to Dodge Data and Analytics, the U.S. construction industry will rise 9% to $612 billion over the next year, trouncing 2014’s 5% gain to $564 billion. But this growth won’t be evenly dispersed, and the face of these construction companies is rapidly changing, both with how they do their work, and who (or what) is doing it. This coming year will bring big changes to the construction industry, and the trends outlined below will mark the start to a new era in construction.
- Construction companies will continue ditching paper.
Paper is so 2010. Many companies are already switching over to construction management software with document management capabilities—saving some companies up to $5,000 a year. With more construction managers choosing to write, process, and submit their RFDs, project updates, applications, LEED forms, invoices, and contracts online, even smaller remodeling companies will start making the switch.
- Mobile apps with geo-fencing will boom in popularity.
A geo-fence is a virtual barrier. It uses GPS to track where an object (like a cell phone) is. With so many contractors relying on time-tracking software to figure out what to pay whom, geo-fencing applications are particularly helpful—with applications like Timesheet Mobile, setting geo-fencing parameters can help construction managers better manage their payroll as the system will log when an employee is on- or off-site, without manually having to add hours. There are lots of construction-specific mobile apps that provide this service, like Red-Trac and Labor Sync, but expect this trend to grow ever more popular over the coming year.
Sourced from: http://blog.capterra.com/top-six-construction-trends-2015/
Building and construction is usually associated with men but the industry is an equal opportunity employer and women are being encouraged to participate. Currently there are very few women who are venturing into this industry which offers a lot of opportunities.
A professional body says women within the construction industry deserve special recognition for their contribution. The Quantity Surveyors Chapter of the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK) says women have played a key role in determining the quality and direction of the otherwise male-dominated sector. “Notwithstanding the alarmingly low numbers, the few women who venture into building construction related disciplines have excelled in leadership, professional services delivery consultancy, research and scholarly pursuits,” said Haron Nyakundi, the chairman Quantity Surveyors chapter of AAK. Six per cent Women account for only six per cent of the construction industry professionals in Kenya, according to the latest data from the Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors.
Sourced from: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/article/2000070761/women-urged-to-venture-into-construction-industry
Africa is a continent full of resources. There is also a great rate of development recorded in the recent decade. Due to this growth Africa has opened itself to a great future that sees the building and construction sector as one of the industries forging this development.
According to Arthur Childs from advisory firm Arch Financial Planning the best place to venture with large capital is the Africa construction industry for in covers and accommodates all industry that is from modern kitchen, construction equipment, building automation, pumps and not left behind software that brings minds to book and to practical’s.
Here we find 4 major reasons to why companies and investors should consider pumping huge resources to African construction industry.
1) Africa’s construction industry has exciting deals
As the continent grows there is also an increase of population that also has an increase in infrastructures demand and therefore making many companies win exiting deals from the continent.
Like currently there are various ongoing projects that have been awarded to various companies
2) Expanding economy
The International Monetary Fund predicts that seven out of 10 of the world’s fastest-growing economies between 2011 and 2015 will be in Africa. Many sub-Saharan countries’ growth is predicted to rise from 5 to 5.5 percent per year as they emerge from the financial crisis. This gives a clear indication that getting to the African continent for business is a gold mine opportunity.
Sourced from: http://www.buildmartafrica.com/detail-news.php?NEWS_ID=394&PAGE_ID=7
