How can we be AI ready when we're still sending tender documents in the post?

Here's a question that cuts to the heart of why construction remains stubbornly resistant to change: if we've been predicting digital transformation in this industry for three decades, why are companies still passing tender documents around in physical envelopes?

That observation comes from Iain Curtis, a chartered civil engineer who has spent four decades watching construction attempts, has largely failed to evolve. He witnessed the dot-com boom of the late 1990s, worked inside a pioneering online tendering platform when 56K dial-up modems were the cutting edge of internet connectivity, and has now spent 15 years building data analytics software specifically designed for construction businesses. His conclusion? The industry hasn't fundamentally changed since he started his career in 1982, despite a relentless stream of new technologies that promise to revolutionise everything.

Yet Curtis isn't pessimistic. He's frustrated. The productive kind of frustration that comes from seeing a problem clearly and knowing exactly what needs to happen to solve it. His company, Single Point Solutions, tackles something that sounds mundane but proves transformative: helping construction firms understand how their actual business runs, not just what's happening on site. This subtle yet crucial distinction explains why many digital initiatives in the construction industry produce impressive dashboards yet fail to significantly impact profitability or efficiency.

In this episode of the Project Flux podcast, Iain Curtis, CEO of Single Point Solutions, discusses the evolution of the construction industry, the importance of data strategy, and the role of AI in reducing risk and improving decision-making.

 He emphasises the need for a cultural shift within the industry to embrace technology and data analytics, while also addressing the challenges of bureaucracy and corporate inertia. The conversation highlights the potential of AI to enhance productivity and efficiency, but also the necessity of human oversight and a clear data strategy to ensure successful implementation.

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See you soon,

James, Yoshi and Aaron—Project Flux