Promote Leadership and Training

From a lessons learned perspective, customers that have been successful in adopting and executing an effective machine control and guidance strategy seem to have some common themes. There is generally an executive sponsor. This is someone who has observed, read and recognized they either are going to adopt the technology or compete against someone that has adopted the technology.

With that decision made, this leader hires or assigns the role of a “technology champion” to one of his team members. This individual tends to be of a younger generation or have a real interest in technology and software. Individuals with a civil engineering, surveying or GPS/military background seem to adapt easily to this role. This individual helps to make sure everyone understands what the organization is doing, why they are doing it, and where to go for help.

The contractor also must establish a strategic partnership with its machine/technology provider for training and support. There is a need to ensure that everyone is properly trained, including office personnel, foremen, operators and support staff. You want everyone on board, and you want to allow them the opportunity to express their fears and ask their questions in a non-threatening environment. The last thing you need is someone to be sabotaging the execution after the investment has been made. Training is extremely important.

—Dave Pinaire, global strategic consultant in earthmoving and excavation for Caterpillar Inc.

Estimate Return on Investment

The return-on-investment question is the first question that should be on everyone’s mind when contemplating making an investment in new equipment or new technology. But the present global economic picture creates a real opportunity to those positive, creative and forward-thinking construction operators. Getting directly to the point: There’s absolutely no better time than right now to invest in around-the-corner technology.

Practically everyone agrees that technological advances—we’re talking instruments, hardware, software—will speed up production. The main question is, then, “How much? How long to pay off?” It takes commitment to make the change and it depends on how you utilize the technology on the jobsite.

Every situation is different and every operation is different. In business, there are few guarantees about return-on-investment; people are different, machines are different, every jobsite has unique characteristics. But contractors can use basic questions to decide for themselves what technological advances can mean to them.

•    How much would it cost to stake out a job? 

•    How much could you save if you could eliminate stakes completely?

•    How could you adjust your bid and how much money could you save if you could reduce the number of machines needed on the job, get on grade faster and work twice as fast as your competition?

It’s not easy to take the time to study all the information out in the marketplace about new technology and how machine control can change your life by saving time, saving money and dropping more money to the bottom line. But the technology today is worth the time it takes to find out about it.

—Murray Lodge, vice president of construction sales for Topcon

Take Baby Steps to Start Using Technology

For the people who haven’t gotten engaged yet, take baby steps. There’s a lot of talk about machine control, but there’s also a lot of technology besides the machines.

If you don’t have any technology and you want to get into GPS, rather than outfitting a machine, maybe consider starting with a GPS base and rover. Start with this offboard equipment and get completely used to the system. The impact on your business may be less dramatic initially, but if you’ve never bought any technology before, it might be best to start here.

It’s a less risky learning curve. And at this level it’s somewhat cheaper to evaluate the dealer and the product. So have that conversation with your dealer. Have him help you evaluate your needs and capacity to adopt technology, and make sure you feel comfortable that he understands your business needs and he’s not just selling you a system for his benefit.

Don’t bite off more than you can chew, but you have to start chewing at some point. Then you’re on your way on that learning curve and you’ll never go back.

—Johan Smet, director of marketing for heavy and highway construction for Trimble