The 10 Most Innovative Construction Tech Solution Providers 2021

VOL 11 | ISSUE 01 | 2021

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Most Innovative C NSTRUCTION Tech Solution Providers, 2021

Constructive Future

Future Possibilities

Trends and Technologies Shaping the Construction Industry

Prospering Technology in Every Facet of Construction

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Editor’s Desk Soaring High with Technology

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rom homes to offices, apartments to villas, monuments to skyscrapers, everything has one thing in common and its construction. Human civilization would not have reached the point that it is now without construction if our ancestors hadn't thought of covering their heads with a roof. We have come a long way since the stone age, and the construction sector has evolved with the times. It has grown at such a scale to create magnificent projects like Millau Viaduct, Palm Islands, The Venice Tide Barrier Project, and National Stadium, a.k.a. "Bird's Nest," to name a few.

I am often awestruck when I come across buildings with a distinctive design, which makes me wonder about the creative minds, human efforts, and the technology behind them. Technology has introduced innovative tools, machinery, modification, software, and much more, enabling diverse ways of the construction process. The inclusion of technology like robotics, drones, and wearables enhances the construction industry to newer heights.

With automated and semi-automated pieces of equipment, the advancements in the construction sector have allowed engineers to create stronger, taller, and more energyefficient structures. Technology has also increased productivity, improved collaboration, and tackled complex designs.

Innovative technologies allow engineers to pre-construct building from the floorplans and layout in augmented and virtual reality, birthing 3D models of the project. These 3D models help predict possible challenges that may occur during the actual construction to ensure the safety of

workers on-site and reduce risks. To further prevent any mishaps, site sensors are installed on-site to check temperatures, commotion levels, and volatile organic compounds to assist with restricting laborers' exposure.

Technology has genuinely boosted the construction industry ahead of its time and will continue to do so in the future. To acknowledge and admire some technological marvels in the construction industry, we at Insights Success have compiled a list of The 10 Most Innovative Construction Tech Solution Providers 2021.

Featuring in the edition are the companies that embarked on a journey to assist the construction sector with their innovative tech solutions. These companies have positioned themselves to become the best and are paving a path towards a better technological future for the construction niche.

While flipping through the pages, have a quick rundown of the articles written by our in-house editorial team, and gain inside knowledge with the CxO penned down by industry experts.

Dive right and soar high!

Aditya Gaikar aditya.gaikar@insightssuccess.com

CONT ARTICLES

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Constructive Future

CxO

Future Possibilities

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Expert’s Insights

ENTS 10

16

Billd

Brick Control

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32

CAHill TECH, Inc

Clue Insights

Editor-in-Chief Hitesh Dhamani Managing Editor Anish Miller

Executive Editor Sharad Chitalkar

Assistant Editors Jenny Fernandes

Visualizer

Art & Design Director

Associate Designer

Co-designer

David King

Priyanka Rajage

Kartik Balapurkar

Shubham Dali

Senior Sales Manager

Business Development Manager

Kshitij S

Peter Collins

Marketing Manager

Sales Executives

John Matthew

David, Martin, Akash

Technical Head

Business Development Executives

Jacob Smile

Steve, Joe, Abhijit

Technical Specialist Aditya

Digital Marketing Manager Marry D'Souza

SME-SMO Executive Amol Wadekar

Research Analyst Frank Adams

Database Management Stella Andrew

Circulation Manager Robert Brown

Technology Consultant David Stokes

sales@insightssuccess.com November, 2021

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Company Name

Featured Person

Brief

ALICE Technologies Inc. alicetechnologies.com

René Morkos Founder

ALICE is the world's first artificial intelligence platform that understands construction.

Ackcio ackcio.com

Mobashir Mohammad Co-Founder

Ackcio prides itself in building extremely reliable, wireless monitoring solutions.

Billd billd.com

Jon Katz Vice President of Marketing

Billd offers commercial subcontractors financing terms that finally align with their payment cycles.

BrickControl BrickControl.com

David Jiménez CEO

BrickControl is a “cloud-based” application that helps you manage all of your projects in an easy, simple, and efficient way.

CAHill Tech cahillresources.com

Carley Hill President and CEO

CAHill Tech is a leader in heavy construction skill-sharing, using modern & proven methods.

Clue Insights Inc. getclue.com

Oded Ran Co-founder and CEO

Clue Insights’ mission is to transform construction into a more innovative and productive industry.

Eave eave.io

Colin Myer Head of Marketing

Eave’s mission is to prevent the loneliness and isolation caused by hearing loss.

Kwant Kwant.ai

Kara Masteller Marketing Head

Kwant is the first company to use proprietary low powered sensors network to automate construction site data collection to improve safety and productivity.

Mighty Buildings mightybuildings.com

Helen Chong Head of Marketing

Mighty Buildings is innovating the construction industry by creating beautiful, sustainable, and high-quality homes using advanced materials, patented 3D printing technology, and robotic automation.

SmartBeam smartbeam.co

Caroline Basecqz CEO

Smartbeam is a financial management software that helps General contractors, Subcontractors.

Jon Katz

Vice President of Marketing Billd

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The 10 Most Innova ve Construc on Tech Solu on Providers, 2021

Helping Contractors Grow their Businesses to New Heights

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s significant as the construction sector is, it has struggled during the pandemic, which caused frustration and hardships for contractors. As a result, their projects were delayed, which led to suffering colossal losses. It was essential to find a solution that balanced the burden of the contractors. Billd was incepted to provide financial support to the contractors after witnessing these issues firsthand. It recognizes how a lack of access to working capital impacts a contractors' ability to operate and grow their business.

We, at Insights Success, caught up with Jon Katz, the Vice President Marketing, to know more about Billd and how it is helping contractors by giving them access to funds with terms that mirror their repayment cycle.

The Strong Foundation Subcontractors are among the last in line to get paid on a commercial project and are typically required to pay for materials far before they're paid for their work. Billd steps in to pay the supplier upfront, then extend a pay-when-paid, or up to 120-day term to the contractor, allowing subcontractors to take control of their cash flow, and ultimately grow their businesses. Through its cutting-edge solutions, Billd is helping fix a construction payment cycle that has been terribly broken for decades.

Billd's project-based material financing product is an innovation in construction finance - providing terms that align to construction payment cycles and align revenues to expenses. The company pays suppliers upfront for materials, then extends pay-when-paid or up to a 120-day term to subcontractors. Contractors pay a small, weekly interest-only payment until the final repayment is made to Billd, at which point payments end with no additional fees. www.insightssuccess.com

The project-based component of the product allows the company to provide far larger credit limits to subcontractors than traditional banks or suppliers are willing to offer, opening up opportunities for construction businesses far greater than they had prior to Billd.

The Stones and the Mud While most people don't think of construction business owners as prototypical entrepreneurs, the construction industry indeed boasts extremely entrepreneurial, optimistic, and prideful business owners. With that being said, the construction industry has historically been underserved by the capital markets, and in many ways, been victims of predatory lending. This has caused an understandably negative connotation towards financing organizations, one in which Billd needs to battle against.

Additionally, these business owners are wary of debt as an instrument to grow their business and believe cash is always king. Breaking this misconception has proved to be a challenging proposition.

Rising Above the Rest Billd's project-based financing approach offers significantly larger credit limits to construction businesses that ultimately would not be able to demand it elsewhere. The largest competitors to Billd are lines of credit from banks and supplier terms. Banks underwrite lines of credit on past performance and are largely industry agnostic, so inevitably, they compare construction businesses to companies in more stable cash flow industries.

Billd's expertise in construction allows it to underwrite and view construction businesses through a unique lens, ultimately benefiting growing subcontractors. On the other November 2021 | 11

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It's in our name. It's in our DNA. And it's what we're most proud of.

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hand, suppliers are experts at selling material but not assessing and mitigating collections risk. Billd can combine the power of wall street with the construction industry to supercharge the purchasing power of growing businesses in construction, unlike its competitors.

The Consequence of the Pandemic Talking about the impact of COVID-19 on the construction industry, Jon mentions that has reared its head in several ways. Project delays from job sites that have been exposed to the virus have created extended delays, which impact everyone involved in the project. Additionally, the mass exodus of cities to suburbs and the move to remote work has given pause to developers looking to build office buildings. The combination of short-term project delays and potentially long-term hesitation around the future state of business has left cause for concern for commercial construction. On the flip side, the infrastructure bill signed

by Congress that could provide a spark to the industry, with a large part of the bill focused on construction.

Leveraging Technologies to Upscale Services We asked Jon his opinion on the necessity for businesses to align their offerings with newer technological developments, to which he says, “As technology continues to evolve, so do the industries that they serve. When new technologies gain mainstream adoption, it’s critical for subsequent technologies to seamlessly integrate into these new customer workflows in order to find success. The customer’s goals more or less stay the same (growth, profitability, etc.), but the tools in which they seek to achieve those goals change. Therefore, it’s critical to position your company as a thought leader and influencer about the changing trends and new customer preferences by aligning your values and R&D investments in a way that moves with the industry.”

it begins and ends with the people hired to join the organizational family. Billd's culture is defined by certain core values that it lives by - Grit, Selfless, and Always Better. It celebrates when each team member exhibits these core values, which are internal and external, towards its customers.

Conjugating with Communities Billd has recently kicked off a national events campaign with the goal of becoming a familiar face in the national construction community. To further this effort, Billd also increases involvement in local association chapters nationwide to connect with subcontractors across the U.S. The company is excited to ramp up its event and association sponsorships to grow its relationships with the contractors it is doing business with and the ones it hopes to work with in the future.

Carpet Rolling into the Future Moreover, Billd will be a part of every commercial construction project within five years in the United States.

Whether that's financing the materials that lay the foundation of a new high rise or whether it's a SaaS tool that enables stronger financial management of projects, Billd will be there as a partner and facilitator of success in a meaningful way.

A Robust Organizational Culture A strong culture is critical to success as an organization, and

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BrickControl David Jiménez CEO

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The 10 Most Innovative Construction Tech Solution Providers, 2021

Made Managing Construction Projects Much Easier and More Efficient

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echnology has changed the face of the construction industry. Today, we have software and mobile solutions to help manage every facet of a construction project. By utilizing technological advancements, many construction tech companies are driving construction forward. One such company is BrickControl.

Dedicated to the development of software for construction companies, BrickControl covers a range of needs, making the work of professionals and companies involved in a project much easier.

Responding to the multiple ideas contributed by customers for so many years, BrickControl dares to offer worldwide software that is increasingly easier and safer to use by combining the best technology with the ability to host in the cloud. It has become a powerful and convenient solution for businesses of all sizes.

We at Insights Success caught up with David Jiménez, the CEO of BrickControl, to know more about the company and how its cloud-based application helps businesses manage all of their construction projects in an easy, simple, and efficient way.

Below are the highlights of the interview: What makes BrickControl a preferred choice among your clientele over other competitors?

BrickControl stands out for being a SaaS On Cloud solution that remains at the level of an ERP system but frees users from the tedious complications in installation and infrastructure payments that ERP systems entail. We use advanced technology.

It is an extremely powerful system that allows the parallel management and at any level of detail of multiple projects, multi teams, multi languages, and multi currency. The system has no limits in construction management. www.insightssuccess.com

The cloud service generates maximum security thanks to the DataCenter Amazon Web Services in the US and Europe, guaranteeing automatic backups in real time for optimal management.

It offers an API to run multiple integrations with accounting, financial and human resources systems, among many others.

In addition, consulting services, training, technical assistance, and support of all kinds are offered. The correct performance of each client is the main thing.

The prices are highly competitive, BrickControl offers different scalable subscription plans, adaptable to all types of companies and their specific needs.

It has been the combination of these elements that make BrickControl a Leading System in Construction Technology in the world.

Describe your top-notch features that address the need of your customers.

In BrickControl, the budget management function is integrated with all the departments involved in the organization to ensure comprehensive management.

This software allows you to create an infinite number of studies, as well as to prepare budgets simply and efficiently, generating the sale automatically from cost. Either by importing Excel files or by creating them, budgets can be copied, exported, printed with their own designs and much more, thanks to its multiple nesting level.

Project monitoring and progress: BrickControl's capabilities as measurement software exceed user expectations, and it has been a fundamental point for the recognition of this software.

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Entering work progress measurements is as simple as registering work units executed by quantity, by percentage or by measurement lines in BrickControl. The system allows to compare them with the project measurement and print using personalized templates with logos, images and colors.

After the introduction of the project progress, cost deviations can be easily monitored and analyzed, to allow control of the execution of the work in progress.

Calculation and management of resources: BrickControl generates, from the budget and automatically, the anticipated needs for the execution of the work at the project, chapter and work unit level; calculates its cost and integrates this information with the control, monitoring and analysis of the project.

Variance analysis: provides control over budget variances, offers a real-time projection of variance and variance analysis. You can find the origin of the deviations and determine if they are due to consumption or prices, at the chapter, task and resource level. It makes it possible to know in which resource the deviation is being generated to insert corrective measures.

BrickControl also has many other functionalities such as warehouse management, purchase orders, delivery notes, invoices, integration with accounting.

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What is your opinion on the necessity for businesses to align their offerings with newer technological developments, especially when it comes to Digital Transformation?

We are currently experiencing one of the most important changes in the construction industry. New products have appeared on the market much more powerful that have joined the need for the digital transformation of companies.

Web products in the cloud such as BrickControl help the digital transformation of the construction sector at a very affordable cost for companies of any size.

Companies that distribute products and services for digital transformation must adapt to the most advanced products on the market, which are in the cloud, SaaS, and must offer integrations through APIs to their customers in order to meet the current demand of companies.

The end customer must evolve towards the new digital transformation because this way of operating will allow them to be more competitive and efficient in their work.

In what ways have you or BrickControl contributed to the community?

Acelera Pyme is a Spain program that was created to help SMEs and freelancers in order to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on their activity.

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BrickControl is an Official Collaborator of the Acelera Pyme Program, to provide all possible technological help and contribute assertively in the digital transformation process of entrepreneurs, freelancers and all types of companies in general.

We are committed to the success of the construction sector, we do it through our assistance, and through our efforts to improve technologically to ensure the best performance in the construction process.

What, according to you, could be the next big change in the Construction Management Software industry? How is BrickControl preparing to be a part of that change?

We believe that an important change that is going to take place, is that the most technologically advanced products automatically integrate (without added developments) with each other in real time through APIs so that companies choose the best product in each category. Until recently, companies were looking for an ERP that would solve all the problems of the company, this often resulted in integrated software, but with many shortcomings in some areas and difficult to use.

Currently many products on the market should no longer be seen as competitors, but as partners where we can unite to provide the best solution to customers.

In this way, clients can choose the best work control and execution software, the best BIM software, the best accounting software for their country, and more; All these software can work fully integrated as if it were a single product.

What are your future aspirations? Where do you see BrickControl in the next five years?

Our future aspiration is to continue to consolidate ourselves as a reference in construction project management software and to continue expanding in more countries.

With our technology to manage all construction processes, we have helped hundreds of companies in 2021, and we are committed to continuing to grow; the improvements that we are planning for 2022 we are sure will benefit all the agents involved in the construction sector.

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“Our services vary from training to custom development solutions. We offer what you need!”

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TRENDS and TECHNOLOGIES SHAPING the CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

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Constructive Future

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he world population is growing continuously, and to meet the needs of the growing population, more buildings need to be constructed daily with supporting infrastructure. The construction industry needs to take proactive steps to meet the rising demands of people. The pandemic has created the issues of scarcity of resources and shortage of skilled labor. There is a need to scale the construction industry with responsibility and create sustainable and resilient processes that provide efficient solutions to resource management, labor shortages, and ensure workers' safety.

Today, new construction technologies enable companies to build faster and smarter and complete projects earlier and at a minimum cost than ever before. The latest innovations in construction technology facilitate construction using advanced materials and also minimize environmental damage.

Technology is absolutely a great boon, and the construction industry has been utilizing technology for making site operations and construction management easier, effective, efficient, and enduring.

The following are the technologies or trends that are reshaping the construction industry: 1. Big Data Analytics: Big data has been a major trend in nearly all industries since the last few years. Big Data Analytics allows construction companies to collect and analyze huge amounts of data for taking important decisions and resolving some issues using that data. The collected data in construction projects is helpful for businesses to recognize risks and convey to project teams about possible delays, and this data is also useful in the estimation of budget. Big data solutions improve operational efficiencies of construction projects. Crucial insights, forecasts, and optimum utilization of resources are possible with big data analytics.

Big data also have a positive impact on ensuring health and safety. It helps construction managers and workers to work smarter and complete projects faster. It also ensures the safety of workers by informing them about the possible risks and safety updates. Ultimately, it is paving the way for a more productive and efficient workforce in the construction industry.

reducing the overall costs of projects. Overall, ease of design and quicker construction of homes is possible with these two trends.

3. Focus on Sustainability: As most governments and people are increasingly focused on sustainability, most successful companies in the construction industry are also focusing on sustainability.

Construction companies are looking for products or construction materials that provide ecological benefits and are not damaging to the environment. The sustainable approach of construction companies is better for the planet as a whole since it will minimize the climate crisis.

4. Additional Integration of Technology: The recent advancements and innovations in technology have resulted in technology that is especially suitable for construction projects, with more usage of drones and 3D printing. The construction industry can utilize both these forms of technology as these technologies will make construction work easier and safer. With drones, it is possible to ensure that materials are placed at desired spots, and 3D printing technology can be used effectively to make sure every material is of perfect size. Cloud applications can also make the complete construction processes more straightforward, more efficient, and digitalized, giving rise to many new benefits for digitally managing construction projects at the tip of the finger using smart devices.

5. Building Information Modeling (BIM) : Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology can make the collaboration aspect of construction projects much easier. Communication between all the people involved in the construction projects can be easily possible with BIM. It makes the management of resources easier.

BIM technology helps people be in touch until the completion of the construction project and provides enhanced collaboration between them for successfully completing the project.

Conclusion There are many such trends and technologies that are shaping the future of the construction industry, making construction work safer, easier, efficient, effective, and enduring with reduced costs. The future of construction looks promising with these trends.

2. Prefabrication and Modular Construction: In recent years, prefabrication and modular construction have become more popular as both cost-effective and energy-efficient trends. It helps construction companies in

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CAHill TECH, Inc Innovation in Construction Skills Management

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career in the trades is more feasible and rewarding than it has ever been. As the industry continues to grow and innovate there is a critical, growing need for competent workers. New materials, new machines and evolving processes require constant up-skilling. At the same time secondary school training in the trades is not always available. This has caused a critical skills shortage in several industries that is limiting many companies from growing and projects to be delayed.

CAHill TECH, Inc. provides the aQuiRe© tool to directly address this skills gap. aQuiRe© is an eTraining platform with a mobile app that makes it easy for their customers to stay up to date in the industry with hundreds of “microburst” learning modules. It has thousands of fresh, current, and modern resources which are attractive and user-friendly for the NextGen worker. These microburst trainings are typically 2-5 minutes in length for very targeted real time access. The app was purpose-built so it quick training or reference piece can be used easily with greasy hands or wearing work gloves. The QR in the name stands for QR Codes. A user can scan a QR pasted on a machine or a jobsite poster to pop up a specific skill.

The aQuiRe© Skills Center library features top level industry experts. They have real experience in the field, assuring relevant and realistic training in every video. Each user comes away with a new perspective and piece of knowledge to help them better understand how to be productive and safe. Workers love using the app because it gives them a way to build their skills and advance thier career in ways previously unavailable.

The app features a robust library of several hundred training modules in the general library, available at no extra cost with a company subscription. This library will continue to grow in depth and breadth to help workers keep their skills up to date and top of mind. Companies can also contract the

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CAHill production team to develop custom modules that are relevant to their own culture and practices. This is great for capturing tribal knowledge and passing it to the next generations.

When a company uses the aQuiRe© app they can deliver the training in a group setting or remotely, saving travel time and consulting fees. Whether this training is needed at a specific job site or before the construction season begins, there is always a way for clients to get the training delivered to their employees. When they purchase a new asset, they stick a QR code on the machine for the employee to scan. By scanning that QR code, their employee will be provided training on how to specifically operate that piece of equipment. The company has partnerships with OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and material suppliers, which deepens and enriches the content available to its clients.

The aQuiRe© Standards Logging feature allows company leaders to track recurring equipment maintenance, health and safety activities and other standard processes. By eliminating paper and the related inefficiency surrounding checklists and process guides, leaders can understand and control field conditions much more easily. For example, a construction company assigns their workers a Skills Center module on the proper methods for maintaining a specific model of backhoe. They link that up with a Standards Logging survey outlining the specific steps needed to do a proper and compliant inspection of the backhoe. This inspection survey is completed each day before the machine gets turned on. Leaders have a full historical record of inspection activity including detailed notes that can be routed via text or email for further preventative maintenance action.

Some companies are using aQuiRe© to deliver annual Safety Training in person. Others are using it for weekly

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The 10 Most Innovative Construction Tech Solution Providers, 2021

Carley Hill President and CEO CAHill TECH, Inc. WBE, DBE

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In training today’s workforce, flexibility is paramount.

A virtual training system like this is key for meeting the demands of the changing workforce.

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The aQuiRe app features a broad array of skills topics organized in an easy to navigate library. Each skill module has a short video and relevant reference modules.

Toolbox Talks. aQuiRe© is the tool that brings the team together for safety, efficiency, and compliance training. This way, company leaders continually improve the effectiveness and safety posture of their workforce. And workers go home to their families every day with a smile on their faces.

This insight was the seed that has grown into the company's current eTraining platform, aQuiRe© that focuses on safety, innovation, and knowledge in an easy-to-administer platform. Ms. Hill believes that it should not be difficult for construction leaders to ensure that their team follows best practices at project sites.

The Inception Story The mind behind CAHill TECH is Carley Hill, who currently serves as the President and CEO of the company.

Ms. Hill has a first-hand background in the construction industry, growing up in a family-owned road and bridge construction business. She quickly recognized the need for and importance of education for the field-based workforce.

She expresses that training is constantly changing due to technical requirements, the retirement of seasoned workers, and environmental or regulatory needs.

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CAHill TECH is driven to find creative ways to pass the information generationally in meaningful and relevant ways. “But innovation will never be accepted without relational credibility. Which is why we’ve always placed the highest value on experienced, super-informed people whose roots in the industry run deep,” says Ms. Hill. The company might harness the latest technology, but the origin story starts not in a laboratory or board room but the trenches. And Ms. Hill believes that Innovation, Knowledge, and Trust have to work together.

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Hear it from the Clients

Into the Future

“In training today’s workforce, flexibility is paramount. A virtual training system like this is key for meeting the demands of the changing workforce.”

—William Geary, Erie County DPW Commissioner

CAHill TECH foresees aQuiRe© becoming one of the top eTraining platforms for the trades. aQuiRe© has successfully delivered solutions in the field of heavy construction as the initial industry focus. But this approach of technologybased microburst learning can work wherever there is a workforce ready to be equipped. The team is excited to explore the cross-industry potential over the next few years.

“My guys LOVE the videos; they literally say love. And these are construction workers.” -Jeff Distefano, Harrison & Burrowes “aQuiRe© is like having a second set of hands. It allows me to train employees when I’m not available and shows me if employees are capable. Truly a worthwhile sytem.”

—Max Korzaniewski, Safety & Logistics Manager at UCC

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The aQuiRe© platform helps project leaders become the best-in-class in their region through superior communication, coaching, and mentorship for their entire team. The CAHill team will continue to develop strong relationships with current clients by continuing to provide solutions to workforce training to keep their workforce safe and productive. CAHill TECH is pursuing recognition country-wide as an online mentor training provider for the construction industry.

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Future Possibilities

Prospering TECHNOLOGY in Every Facet of CONSTRUCTION

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he construction industry revolves around projects, infrastructures, and designing them. This definitely needs a vision as the job is breathtaking. The involvement of technology in the construction field gives an additional competitive edge to this industry.

Innovation has become the face of the industry today as we are walking in industry 4.0 - the age of technology. That’s the magic it brings in the construction field, and skyscrapers are a perfect example of it. So, what technologies are we talking about? Let us dive through this article.

Augmented Reality – AR can measure the physical properties – height, width, and depth of the construction industry. Construction companies incorporate this model that allows infrastructure to have a more comprehensive view of how the project will look. It enhances the view of the real world for construction professionals with additional information. It helps construction workers to accurately follow building plans and visualize potential changes or modifications to the contractors. It also displays real-time safety information to the workers. With its hands-free on a tablet or portable computer, this technology is here to stay.

Construction Wearables – One of the riskiest industries to work in is the construction industry. The environment they work in is not safe; falls and collisions result in the death of hundreds of workers each year. Construction wearable technologies reduce this fear by providing additional safety for workers, preventing injuries and deaths across the industry. Few construction wearables that are in use today are smart boots, smart hats, and power gloves. Additionally, there are smartwatches, monitors, and goggles to improve worker safety. In the coming time, these wearables will keep on improving and adding more safety to the workers.

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Construction Robots – Few jobs cannot be done manually and demands excessive strength. In manufacturing tasks, factory robots are used to erase the burden of carrying tools or equipment. However, there is still time to adapt to the robotic world fully. Looking at the future world, we are not far away from adapting to the robotic world.

Drones – Drones are already making an important contribution in the field of agriculture, mining, security, etc.

In construction, it is useful in mapping large amounts of land quickly, reducing mapping costs, and keeping track of equipment sites. It also comes in handy in security surveillance on materials and equipment to monitor a site when no one is around. With the increasing use of technologies, drones will continue to progress with personnel safety and building inspections.

3D Printing – Unlike traditional printers, 3D printing involves layer-by-layer creations using machines. Entire houses can be constructed using this technology. However, 3D printing is still in its early days when it comes to largescale construction projects. In comparison with the traditional building, a 3D printed structure can be built within a few days, reducing waste as opposed to traditional building. It achieves perfection on job sites and can have a huge impact on the construction industry in the coming years. There is still time, and a lot of work has to be done in 3D printing, as the technology is new to everyone but holds the capability to bring the transformation in the construction field.

Technology is moving rapidly, and the construction industry is continuously looking for ways to innovate and improve processes. Today, technological innovations in the construction industry are impacting every facet of project planning and the safety of the workers. With the right tools and technology, the construction industry is ready to take a big leap ahead in the coming future.

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Oded Ran

Co-founder & CEO Clue Insights 32 | November 2021

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THE 10 MOST INNOVATIVE CONSTRUCTION TECH SOLUTION PROVIDERS, 2021

Eradicating the inefficiencies of the Construction Industry Clue Insights manifested as a result of years of experience.

As veterans of the construction industry, they saw the inefficiencies plaguing day-to-day operation, how their fellows were being dragged down by the status quo, severely lagging behind the optimization curve. With this understanding came a dream, a mission; connect all construction resources and transform construction into a more productive, efficient, and greener industry. No small feat. Moving towards that lofty goal saw the creation of Clue Insights, a company that, through their construction management platform (aptly named Clue), provides a centralized place to manage a company’s entire fleet operation. Leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and robust telematics integrations, Clue provides actionable data, a single ‘source of truth’ , and a centralized hub to manage all project assets.

Minute-by-minute productivity tracking with AI-based alerts

Insights Success caught up with Oded Ran, the Co-founder & CEOof Clue Insights, wanting to know how their company is contributing to the efficiency of the construction industry.

Assign and track maintenance progress and attach images on the fly

Track utilization, idling, fuel, and location Self-reporting machine data and AI-generated insights - by project, asset types, locations Abnormal utilization, activity alerts Fully integrated maintenance process Unified view of all diagnostics/engine codes with one-click work order creation Customizable digital inspections Streamlined preventive maintenance

What makes your company a preferred choice Below are the highlights of the interview:

among your clientele over other competitors?

Describe your top-notch offerings that address

We are the world’s first solution that tracks real-time productivity for 100% of fleets. We provide tailor-made analyses on utilization and maintenance, including customized suggestions and reports for improving operations based on insights from fleet data. Clue is easy-to-use, available for web and mobile, and requires zero training or implementation for customers with adedicated success manager for life.

the needs of your customers.

We offer a comprehensive platform to maximize productivity and minimize downtime of our customers’ fleet operation. We do this mainly through our key 3 offerings: Tracking 100% of your assets: any make, model, or year.

Integrate all off-road & on-road assets in one platform, through 3 rdparty trackers or OEM telematics One easy-to-use mobile and web (dashboard) platform Customized reports by company and project types All data available via API and CSV

www.insightssuccess.com

“Having everything all in one place has been a real game-changer for us. We estimate saving $1M using Clue in our first year.”

Darrin Sheriff Director of Equipment & Purchasing, Palmetto Corp.

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From a business leadership perspective, what is your opinion on the impact of the current pandemic on the fleet management sector and the equipment maintenance market? there’s no arguing that the pandemic has changed the fleet management and equipment maintenance markets in a fundamental way. Companies that were hesitating on remote technologies suddenly found themselves desperate, the care, safety, and health of their people becoming not only paramount but something that needed to be directly monitored. It also tigtened belts with profit margins becoming more critical than ever. For us, it made clear that great construction software needed to focus on these areas. Access needed to be easy and available anywhere.

Likewise, the communication needed to be streamllined and made a simple click away. Images and videos became more necessary for clarity in day-to-day operations. Total visibility on crews and equipment is now an industry necessity. With profit margins becoming thin and irregular, being aware of asset hoarding and underutilized equipment is essential. This is why real-time productivity tracking is so powerful. With budgets now more ‘shoestring’ than ever, companies need to optimize.

They need to know the best fleet compositions for their projects to maximize their resource utilization and reduce their costs. Being able to see the granular movements of your assets - their volumes, cycle times, load counts, driving routes, etcetera, and being able to optimize those operations is crucial to a project’s overall profitability.

Describe the values that drive your organization.

We want to build something useful, reliable, and consistent.

Dare we say, a new industry standard. To do that takes time.

You have to evolve with your customers. They key: don’t sell...listen! Communicate with them openly and honestly, and make sure you understand their perspective.

We ourselves are from more than 10 countries, all with different cultures, beliefs, and backgrounds. Creativity, resourcefulness, and progress are born from our diversity.

This internal perspective led to the understanding that open, clear communication is foundational to our success.

We also want to contribute to society thoughtfully and with a greener world in mind. We want to reduce the industry’s CO2 emissions by optimizing fuel efficiency in the hope that we’re leaving the environment better for our children.

What is your opinion on the necessity for business to align their offerings with newer technological developments, especially when it comes to Digital Transformation?

It’s no secret that the construction industry is one of the least digitized. Companies find themselves in a situation where those who evolve swiftly to newer, more effective technologies will survive while their competitors...don’t.

That’s why there are tons of software solutions - the market is ready for change, ready for progress, but few in the industry are inclined to transform easily. It comes down to buy-in and ease of transition. For a real digital transformation, you have to come at it from the field-up; the product has to be useful on the ground level. It has to show value quickly. Otherwise, it’s just another layer of work that drags a company down rather than lifts them up.

In what ways have you or Clue Insights contributed to the community?

We host free webinars on how to increase fleet efficiency and productivity and provide free downloadable maintenance protocols and fault code translations.

We’re proud to say that we’ve been recognized by our local and federal customers for saving their costs and avoiding unnecessary expenditures. We’re also proud that, for every customer that signs with us, we plan to donate to a Chicago food charity. Lastly, we reduce the CO2 emission to help move towards a clean and sustainable future.

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What are your future aspirations? Where do you

“Clue collects and standardizes the

see your company in the next five years?

telematic data from the OEM systems

Our vision is to connect and optimize all construction companies, equipment, and employees. We envision increasing productivity in the construction industry by deliveraing degitized operations, data-based analysis, and AI-enabled telematics. We’re not competing with existing construction solutions, but rather partnering with them to revolutionize the construction ecosystem. If you’ll pardon the pun, we envision becoming the global platform to get all ‘Clues’ for every construction manager to manage and optimize their entire fleet operation.

to allow me to compare everything side by side, saving hours of manual data handling eveery week.”

Duo Operations UK

One-stop shop for 100% of assets Collect and analyze all fleet data in a clean and normalized format.

One-click breakdown reporting and fault code notifications User-customized alerts, including real-time diagnostics and abnormal activity detection

www.insightssuccess.com

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Improving RETENTION Through HARDENING MARKETS

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Expert’s Insights

A

s we are approaching the 2-year mark into a global pandemic, both insurers and insureds are trying to navigate through a changing insurance landscape and a hardening market not seen in nearly 2 decades. This evolving landscape is pressuring insurers to reinvent their business and client engagement strategies as a competitive differentiator to counteract the increasing pricing and support underwriting profitability.

A recent survey by brokerage firm, Alera Group Inc., forecasts an average rate increase of 11.6% across all lines of business for 2021. With investment returns taking the inverse course, pressure to drive strong underwriting results has become imperative. Outside of just price increases, buyers can expect to see an increase in coverage exclusions along with higher retentions and deductibles.

This is coming at the same time as a paradigm shift has transferred power from the carrier to the consumer. As the emergence in technology has allowed delivery of hyper-personalized experiences, so do the expectations for insurance carriers to operate in a digital world. In a highly competitive industry with the highest client acquisition costs, client retention through differentiation is king, and www.insightssuccess.com

the battle to retain clients will be won based on user experience.

Outside of price, the ability for insurers to help their policy holders proactively protect themselves from emerging risks was cited as the top factor (55%) in their decision making when it comes purchase and renewal decisions, according to Deloitte. Insurers that are able to meet and exceed their client’s expectations receive a number of benefits including: higher likelihood of buying additional coverage, lower sensitivity to price increase, increased referral rate and lower frequency/severity of claims just to name a few.

At in2vate, we work with our coverage providers to develop a technology infrastructure that allows for a digital distribution of resources specific to coverage or business type. These resources are agnostic, meaning that they can be provided by in2vate, the carrier, or the policyholder themselves leading to a platform individualization unique to the needs of each organization. This tailored approach helps the user experience and reduces risk, which will help increase client retention and support loss prevention on a granular and global scale.

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As a result, our partners have increased their ability to reach significantly more policyholders at a fraction of the cost by utilizing digital labor. With an average rating of 9/10 in customer value derived from our system, our partners have experienced a measurable increase in user experience.

Increased engagement and user experience, however, aren’t the only benefits of implementing a digital ecosystem of services.

Not only does the system allow for a dynamic and agile platform to deliver personalized services, but it also acts as a data aggregator to support internal core processes. These de-siloed data pools can be distributed to any relevant stakeholder throughout the value chain. Loss control to look at individual and aggregate data to adverse trends for resource allocation, underwriters to write profitable risk, producers to upsell and cross sell relevant policies, and executive leadership a birds-eye view of it all.

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Loss control reps and agencies can improve meaningful engagement with their policyholders by monitoring positive engagement with services, underwriters are able to improve their insight into the actions an insured is taking to protect their organization and prevent losses, and decision makers throughout the value chain are better able to implement strategy based on actionable data derived through usage and a decrease in frequency and severity in claims through improved policyholder behavior.

While there is no one silver bullet, carriers who are actively investing in user experience through digital engagement capabilities are not only setting themselves up for today’s hardening market, but the ability and agility to shift to whatever challenges tomorrow may bring as well.

If these challenges and opportunities are on your radar, contact Nick Duffield at nduffield@in2vate.com and we would love to talk and see if there is an opportunity for us to help you as well.

www.insightssuccess.com