AECCafe Industry Predictions for 2024 – Autodesk

By Allison Scott, Director, Customer Experience & Industry Advocacy​,  Autodesk

Allison Scott

• AI brings risk and human interactions to the forefront

  The conversation of AI in construction has obviously heated up. Where not too long ago we were talking about data analytics as the next frontier, and BIM before that, now the industry is hot on more automation. The opportunity for AI to impact construction is vast, especially as a seasoned workforce with deep institutional knowledge retires and an emerging workforce needs to augment their experience with assistive technology. However, major risks such as inaccurate decision-making can have ripple effects to people and projects if firms don’t put good guardrails in place. We will start to see more firms take on the challenge of better data hygiene and governance models that inform how AI is leveraged. Insurance companies and those in the legal profession will also start ramping up on the implications for AI in construction, especially as regulation such as the UK Safety Act enforces a “golden thread of data” that pushes more collaboration and data management. Technology companies serving AEC will accelerate ML/AI capabilities to both legacy technologies and new, and a fresh wave of startups will jump on the train. However, as AI permeates every tool, even in our day-to-day lives, we’ll see that human interactions and customer service will become a premium. This is a challenge for our industry that still relies on people to solve problems that, in most cases, AI is not primed for yet. Construction firms should ensure they’re developing strong relationships with technology partners to make sure their voices are heard on what real-world problems AI can help solve, and how.

• Gen Z has entered the jobsite – or have they?
  The construction workforce has faced a steep decline over the years. As seasoned professionals retire, we’re no longer replacing 1:1 the talent we have lost. Glassdoor recently reported that Gen Z will officially overtake Boomers in the workforce in 2024. However, as Gen Z enters the workforce and many millennials in management roles look for advancement, we will continue to see accelerating digital transformation pressured in part by these digital natives. This is assuming, of course, we can convince them to come to the construction industry, and more importantly, stay. We’ll see a trend on more retention programs that clearly demonstrate dynamic career progression, reward open-source innovation, and support a culture of learning and development. Construction is a “site based” industry, so while others in corporate culture wrestle with return-to-work mandates, we’ll actually see construction firms take a more balanced approach to remote work and flexibility where possible to encourage retention. Additionally, more open and up-front discussions on mental health will take center stage as the industry pushes an evolving culture that is more inclusive and supportive of the health of our people, not just the health of the project.
• Together, we can do more – communities become central to digital transformation
  A central role of online communities is to share knowledge – in construction, they are reaching a tipping point where they’ve become required, especially as individuals wrestle with technology onslaught and getting teams to adopt new methodologies. Digital champions in construction have been working to expand knowledge in their tight circles or in the safety of their own jobsites for years, but we’ll see people start to seek broader swaths of knowledge outside of their typical spheres. As firms press forward into more advanced workflows, internal champions need access to others who are experiencing the same growing pains or who have already “crossed the chasm.” And while cornerstone online communities like Linkedin, Reddit or Forums are amazing places to find like-minds and technical advice, newer spaces like TikTok and YouTube will also grow as a new generation of influencers and practitioners help amplify both why digital transformation in construction matters and how to do it. We’ll also see gamified spaces like our online construction community The Big Room continue to expand as a place that provides both rich peer insights and incentivizes learning, feedback, and networking.

About Author:
Leveraging over a decade in the architecture and construction industries, Allison is a “technology translator” who supports customer experience and industry advocacy within the Customer Success team at Autodesk. She oversees the strategy and execution of customer-centric programs that complement the customer journey to help construction teams gain the most value out of their technology investments, and foster loyalty and trust. ​​Prior to Autodesk, she supported the national Innovation group of Skanska USA’s construction division. Allison holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Arts Management from Emerson College and an MBA in Innovation and Design Management from Suffolk University’s Sawyer Business School.

Category: Industry Predictions

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 18th, 2024 at 1:21 pm. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.