Modern Contractor Solutions January 2025 - 27

The mindset is changing. Many
contractors are examining their costs and
noting that their input costs are high, and
they know there are opportunities to save.
Fifteen years ago, many people didn't
think battery-powered cars would last,
viewing them more as a fad. They're still
here, and the vehicle industry is looking at
improving hybrid vehicles and delivering
the next generation. Once electric
equipment outperforms its traditionally
fuel-powered equipment, people will say,
" I want the machine that outperforms, and
if it's 'better for the environment,' that's a
win-win. "
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
The coup de grâce may be the increased
deployment of artificial intelligence (AI).
It's no secret that AI is becoming
increasingly leveraged across solutions. While
many in the industry have been intrigued
about its potential, it's not enough for
companies to deploy AI haphazardly and say
they rely on the latest technology.
AI can help companies tackle the problems
that have long plagued their business, and
there are two parts to how organizations might
deploy AI. One side focuses on productivity,
while the second is on people.
Companies must understand how to keep
assets and teams safer while making them
more productive. AI-enabled solutions can
instantaneously track tasks, ensuring teams
focus on the right tasks at any given moment
and ensuring projects are completed on time
without rework.
Concurrently, AI can help prevent damage
from jobsite accidents, ranging from smaller
mishaps, from minor equipment collisions
to full-blown catastrophes that result from
jobsite safety infractions.
According to the United States National
Library of Medicine, construction injuries cost
billions of dollars annually. Aside from the
monetary costs, they slow the work progress
and have an emotional toll on teams, often
leading to additional costs.
Leveraging AI allows contractors to level
the playing field and close the widening
gaps between increasing costs and
decreasing profits. Technology has long
enabled opportunities and a safer, more
modern jobsite.
Experimenting with new approaches could
lead to solutions that finally help the industry
overcome its longstanding challenges,
whether the prolonged labor shortage or
increased costs. Whether it's alternative
fuels that reduce costs and result in a more
sustainable jobsite or AI that leads to a safer
jobsite, in 2025, the industry will be elevating
its game, and that's a prospect everyone
should relish.
about the author
Troy Dahlin serves as the vice president for
the heavy construction segment of Leica
Geosystems, part of Hexagon, in North
America. He is responsible for the growth of the
business through increased sales and market
share. For more about Leica Geosystems, visit
www.leica-geosystems.com.
www.mcsmag.com
JANUARY 2025
27
http://www.leica-geosystems.com https://www.uline.com/ http://www.mcsmag.com
Modern Contractor Solutions January 2025

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