[DPC] The Business Improvement Imperative and Avoiding the ConTech Dilemma

The Data-Powered Construction Sprint is a 6-week journey to help you overcome construction technology frustrations and unlock your company’s potential.

With the majority of the Sprint lessons complete, we now have the essence of the data-powered construction playbook. The critical concept to takeaway: business improvement is the objective.

Business Improvement is the Objective

Construction firms invest in technology to improve business outcomes—efficiency, productivity, reduced risk, and profitability.

Many construction companies get stuck in the 'ConTech Dilemma,' where technology investments become costly distractions rather than the means for improvement.

Persistent Barriers to ConTech Success:

• Data Silos: trapped and isolated data limits effective operations.

• Manual Data Entry: repetitive, error-prone, low-value tasks.

• Compromised Operational Insight: hidden risks and missed opportunities.

• Limited IT Capacity: insufficient IT resources lead to poor tech adoption.

• Underwhelming Results: overpromised technologies underdeliver, creating skepticism—the crux of the ConTech dilemma.

The Key to Breaking Free: Information Over Technology

Shifting the focus from technology itself to the insights it provides—Information over Technology (I > T)—is crucial for overcoming the ConTech Dilemma.

While technology is the enabler, real value comes from transforming data into actionable insights that drive decision-making.

By prioritizing information, companies can ensure technology serves their business outcomes, making it a tool for sustained improvement.

Two Paths to Extract Business Value from Data (there are only two)

There are two (and only two) fundamental ways to derive business value from data.

Make the business run:

1. Cheaper - Reduce data management costs and complexity.

2. Better - Improve insight to enhance decision-making.

That's it.

• How can we streamline and reduce data management costs?

• How can we improve operational insight to enhance business outcomes?

Simple.

Quantifying Improvement Potential: Seeing the Impact Over the Horizon

Simplicity leads to clarity, and clarity is power.

By distilling complex operational and technical challenges into two clear paths of business impact, construction leaders - trailblazers - can determine whether an improvement initiative is "worth it".

Teams can quantify, in dollars, the potential business impact of the improvement - we call this the Impact Horizon.

With the Impact Horizon and power of clarity companies can achieve:

• Organizational Alignment: teams see the tangible value of technology initiatives, getting them onboard and energizing them to pursue high-impact investments.

• Focused Action: leaders prioritize initiatives with the highest potential for impact, moving beyond vague ROI promises to concrete opportunities.

• Planning to Results: Clear estimates allow teams to turn plans into actions that align with business goals, acting with confidence toward improvement.

• Guesswork to Strategy: focus on strategic actions that align with business objectives, rallying the team around a clear vision of success.

By estimating cost savings and operational improvements through the Impact Horizon, construction leaders can envision the value of their initiatives and make informed investment decisions for maximum impact.

Avoiding the ConTech Dilemma by Prioritizing Business Improvement

To escape the ConTech Dilemma, construction firms must prioritize business improvement as the ultimate goal.

Estimating the impact of initiatives—including cost savings and operational gains—helps ensure technology supports strategic objectives.

Focusing on business impact drives smarter decisions and effective investments, enabling measurable improvements. By maintaining this focus, teams can avoid distractions and confidently pursue initiatives that create lasting value.

The alternative is to stay stuck.