What’s high of thoughts for contractors in 2025? We questioned the identical factor. That is why we went to the World of Concrete tradeshow and spoke straight with building professionals. Their solutions uncovered the most important operational roadblocks to be careful for and the methods they’re planning to implement to get forward. And we have compiled our findings into our complete 2025 State of Development Operations report.
Full of actionable insights, this report will make it easier to perceive the development panorama right this moment and see how one can make strikes to enhance your operations this 12 months. So let’s bounce proper in.
What’s holding building groups again?
After we surveyed contractors final 12 months for our 2024 Development Developments and Challenges survey, it revealed that instrument and gear loss was the primary operational problem for the business. And this 12 months? It retains its spot on the high. Nevertheless it seems to be like issues are altering for the higher.
Final 12 months, 41% of oldsters flagged asset loss as their largest operational downside. Quick-forward to this 12 months, the quantity has been practically halved to 22%. The sharp decline suggests many companies confronted the difficulty head-on and adopted options akin to wi-fi monitoring or GPS to observe stock.
However with progress, the highlight is now shifting. Actual-time visibility and workforce productiveness have now taken the silver and bronze medals for the most important operational problem in 2025. Here is why:
Gaps in real-time visibility
Development in any respect phases depends on precision. Nevertheless, it’s onerous to maintain monitor of all of the shifting items throughout the sphere, warehouse, and again workplace. From our expertise working with building companies for over thirty years, we have seen two massive issues are available the way in which of operational visibility:
1. Paper-based processes: the act of manually documenting challenge data results in inevitable human error and would not give entry to the data crews want instantly. As an alternative, they should name up managers to search out essential data wanted to get the job performed.
2. Disconnected know-how: many contractors have constructed out their tech stacks. However when software program is not correctly built-in, data can simply change into siloed and inaccessible to the individuals who want in.
Operational blind spots can simply add as much as pricey delays as crews strive their finest to search out solutions to their questions. In truth, when taking a look at delays, we discovered that for many companies, 10-30% of tasks are affected by delays, disrupting timelines and budgets.
Workforce productiveness points
Your crew is arguably your most precious useful resource. And these days, what issues greater than hiring is studying easy methods to enhance the productiveness of your group safely. The numbers converse for themselves: 50% of contractors report that their crew spends 1-3 hours per week on non-productive duties akin to ready for property, trying to find data, or coping with communication breakdowns.
Does not seem to be quite a bit? Effectively, right here is an instance of what this time loss may imply in your backside line:
Small points akin to an hour misplaced right here or there can add up fairly shortly. Development companies are actively in search of options. Fortunately, for each building downside, there’s a know-how answer. Let’s take take a look at what contractors’ tech stacks seem like right this moment and their plans for enchancment in 2025.
The plan for building know-how
It is no secret that contractors lean on know-how. However it’s now not a nice-to-have in building. It is a must-have. From monitoring property to managing challenge duties, digital instruments have elevated how tasks are deliberate, analyzed, and executed. Here’s what it is best to know.
Contractors are including new software program to their tech stacks
Most contractors we spoke to are already utilizing seven or extra tech options to handle their operations. These instruments tackle a wide range of wants for his or her groups, from scheduling and gear monitoring to security monitoring and compliance reporting. All of it will be performed digitally right this moment.
However right here’s the development: building companies aren’t performed but. The vast majority of contractors are actively exploring new applied sciences so as to add to their tech stacks in 2025. Why? As a result of the business’s challenges are evolving—and staying aggressive means staying forward with the assistance of know-how.
For a lot of, the main target has shifted from fixing yesterday’s points to addressing right this moment’s—and tomorrow’s—challenges. Contractors are prioritizing instruments that may deal with:
- Actual-time monitoring of property and gear: This minimizes delays, reduces prices, and helps groups maximize useful resource utilization.
- Superior communication instruments: With tasks spanning a number of areas and groups, streamlined communication is essential for sustaining alignment and effectivity.
- Information analytics and insights: Platforms that may present real-time reporting on productiveness, security, and useful resource allocation have gotten non-negotiable for strategic decision-making.
- Workflow automation: Automating repetitive duties, akin to scheduling and stock administration, permits groups to concentrate on higher-value work and increase general productiveness.
Contractors aren’t simply fixing issues —they’re proactively optimizing their operations. This shift displays a rising consciousness of the significance of “future-proofing” their companies by investing in scalable, adaptable options.
What it is best to think about earlier than shopping for new tech this 12 months
We’re excited in regards to the steady development of know-how adoption. However we additionally perceive that there’s a lot to think about earlier than introducing new tech to your group. Based mostly on our survey outcomes, the highest obstacles to implementing building software program embody: prices and an inner resistance to alter.
This is the reason extra contractors are in search of know-how companions—not simply software program suppliers. A real companion will:
- Guarantee seamless integration together with your present methods and full assist getting you arrange
- Present ongoing coaching and assist to assist groups undertake the instruments successfully
- Supply a transparent implementation plan that minimizes downtime and operational affect
Investing in know-how isn’t simply in regards to the instruments themselves—it’s in regards to the long-term ROI and the flexibility to navigate future challenges with confidence. So, take your time as you consider your know-how choices this 12 months to search out the very best match for you and your crew.
The place contractors are centered in 2025
Effectivity is the secret in building this 12 months. And contractors are laser-focused on taking advantage of their operations. When requested what they might do to work smarter in 2025, this is what they stated:
Consolidate tech stacks
The most important precedence for contractors in 2025 is consolidating their tech stacks to simplify operations for his or her group. With the typical contractor already utilizing a number of instruments, they’re looking out for options that combine or merge their instruments to offer one place to handle all of it.
An built-in tech stack would assist groups to:
- Share real-time information seamlessly throughout departments, lowering redundancies
- Enhance visibility into operations, from gear utilization to workforce productiveness
- Make sooner, data-driven selections that hold tasks on monitor and below funds
Enhance information assortment and reporting
Contractors are prioritizing information assortment and reporting to realize a clearer understanding of their operations and establish areas for enchancment. Nevertheless it’s not nearly gathering extra information—it’s about gathering higher information.
Prime metrics contractors wish to monitor extra intently in 2025 embody:
- Asset utilization: How successfully are instruments and gear getting used? Monitoring this metric helps forestall underutilization, establish bottlenecks, and maximize ROI on costly property.
- Prices: With rising materials and labor bills, contractors are scrutinizing each greenback spent to take care of profitability whereas delivering high quality work.
By investing in methods that supply real-time information visualization and reporting, contractors can shift from reactive problem-solving to proactive planning. These insights don’t simply inform each day selections—they form long-term methods.
Take management of your operations
Taking a proactive method to your building operations means not solely recognizing the potential obstacles dealing with the business but additionally actively searching for options and implementing methods to beat them. To study extra in regards to the options and methods obtainable to you, try our Useful resource Middle to see how one can function smarter this 12 months.
