Connected technologies are helping contractors improve visibility, control and performance from the office and the field.
As construction timelines tighten, budgets shrink and labor shortages persist, contractors face constant pressure to boost productivity. Innovative construction solutions are helping them improve visibility, reduce downtime and delays and make more confident, data-based decisions in the office and in the field.
From open fleet management platforms to smart access systems, these tools give construction leaders practical ways to manage risk, control costs and improve jobsite performance. Here are seven construction technology solutions worth considering, especially for larger projects.
1. Open fleet management platforms
Managing a fleet of owned and rented equipment from different manufacturers has always been challenging. Some rental companies offer fleet management platforms that gather and normalize data from mixed fleets, providing insight into equipment location, utilization and more from a single platform so managers don’t have to juggle multiple OEM platforms.
The most convenient of these platforms are “open,” meaning they easily integrate with other systems contractors use, such as project management software and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. For example, United Rentals’ Total Control® can automatically sync rental equipment records and telematics data with Procore’s Resource Management solution via application programming interfaces (APIs).
Teams gain increased visibility and control when equipment data is available in the same systems they use to plan, track and manage their fleet.
2. Equipment telematics
One highly effective way to improve fleet performance is to leverage telematics. Telematics is an older construction innovation, but it’s evolved to become much more powerful when used in conjunction with a cloud-based platform; in fact, along with these platforms, it’s the foundation of a connected jobsite.
Built-in and aftermarket telematics devices transmit not only location data but a vast amount of operational equipment data. They show where equipment is, how often it is used, whether it is idling excessively, how much fuel or battery charge it has, engine runtime, generator load status and more.
Telematics can help contractors:
- Locate equipment that is sitting idle.
- Redeploy, return or sell underutilized assets.
- Make smarter buy vs. rent decisions.
- Schedule just-in-time maintenance.
- Monitor fuel use and reduce unnecessary idling.
- Identify equipment health issues early through diagnostic trouble codes.
In a cloud-based fleet management platform such as Total Control, managers can configure alerts such as low fuel, low DEF, low utilization and long idling. To increase site safety and security, they can also get alerts when a machine exits a geofence, or virtual boundary.
3. Smart job boxes and supply containers
Tool management is a struggle on many jobsites. Crews lose time hunting for tools they need, and the tools themselves have a way of walking off the site. Smart job boxes address both challenges.
Placed where crews need them and stocked for the work at hand, smart job boxes use digital credentials or app-based access to control who can open them. This allows supervisors to make tools available to authorized workers without relying on physical keys.
United Rentals’ ProBox OnDemand goes a step further. It’s designed to automatically track who checked out which tool and generate a daily inventory report. Bluetooth tags affixed to the rental tools provide real-time location data so “missing” tools can easily be found.
Contractors also struggle with how to manage construction site inventory and distribute consumables such as parts and PPE efficiently. Smart storage containers that act as automated distribution and inventory management systems are helping to solve that problem.
Together, connected job boxes and supply-distribution systems can reduce inventory management burdens, control waste and give crews faster access to what they need.
4. Smart turnstiles for construction site access control
Construction technology is transforming site control. Smart turnstiles are modular units with one to 10 lanes that integrate with perimeter fencing. They offer an automated alternative to manual entry checks, reducing bottlenecks at the gate and freeing security guards to focus on other tasks. Workers pass through the turnstile using a credential such as an RFID badge, QR code or biometric identifier, depending on the system and site requirements.
Digital site access allows contractors to control who enters the site, track entries and exits and know who is on site at all times. Security cameras and facial recognition software can be added as part of a comprehensive site security infrastructure.
5. Badge-based equipment access management
To increase jobsite safety and help reduce heavy construction equipment accidents, contractors need an efficient way to restrict equipment use to authorized operators. Issuing PINs is time-consuming on large projects, and PINs can be shared when they shouldn’t be.
Badge-based equipment access management gives authorized operators access to designated machines using a digital credential such as an RFID badge. The system not only restricts access but also records who accessed the equipment and when, which increases personal accountability.
Administrators can assign permissions by individual, trade, crew, equipment category or specific machine.
6. AI security camera systems
Towable visual intelligence systems combine surveillance cameras with AI-powered analytics to provide remote, real-time visibility across a jobsite.
Depending on system configuration, visual intelligence can identify people and vehicles, help distinguish between humans and wildlife on remote jobsites, and send alerts about potentially suspicious activity such as unauthorized site access and unauthorized access to laydown yards containing costly materials. Instead of relying only on periodic site walks or manual camera review, teams can use analytics to focus attention on the events and areas that may warrant action.
7. Remote equipment and site monitoring platforms
Remote monitoring platforms available today allow contractors to monitor critical equipment as well as environmental conditions in specific rooms or areas without requiring teams to conduct extensive site walks or visit jobsites daily or after hours.
These platforms provide visibility into:
- Generators
- Temporary power systems
- Climate control equipment
- Fuel tanks and DEF tanks
- Ambient temperature, humidity and air quality
Alerts warn teams when equipment requires attention or when environmental conditions drift outside of specified parameters.
Some remote monitoring solutions, such as Wedge® from United Rentals, allow users to remotely adjust heaters, air conditioners, chillers and dehumidifiers. Users can even set equipment to cycle on and off automatically, which can help reduce energy use and associated costs.
Choosing practical innovations to implement
Construction technology delivers value when it solves a recurring jobsite problem and produces a measurable improvement. By working with an equipment rental provider that offers a variety of innovative construction solutions, contractors can identify opportunities to help improve safety, efficiency and productivity before the first piece of equipment arrives on site.
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