Uncovering the Missing in Construction

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Uncovering the "Missing" in Construction

The curious incident of the dog that didn’t bark!

Sherlock Holmes famously solved a mystery by seeing what others couldn’t. Sometimes the biggest clues aren’t what we see—but recognizing what is missing.

There are many theories on the 'big mystery of construction'—the ConTech Dilemma—the unsolved conundrum of what’s holding the industry back from moving forward.

But what if the technology problem isn’t really about the tech? What if it’s about the piece we’re just not seeing?

Frustrations of a Growth-Oriented CEO

Last week, I had a conversation (over an adult beverage) with the head of a large trade contractor. He’s a razor-sharp visionary—a trailblazer who has an uncanny ability to get straight to the heart of the matter.

As we talked business, he got animated:

In an industry where every project is a “make or break” affair, he lamented the toll of pulling strong operators out of the heart of the business to focus on tech rollouts.

He was pointing to a larger issue: the gap between technology outcomes and construction outcomes. The 'missing' that we can’t see—but everyone can feel.

Rewind One Week...

A week earlier, I was in a business workshop, getting worked into fighting shape by the godfather of category design. As we delved into the Aedo story, he lit up, instantly recognizing a familiar disconnect—the major divide between internal teams and misaligned interests in organizations.

With his signature, 'to make a long story longer,' he dove into how this divide had stifled growth and short-change outcomes.

The solution?

Revenue Operations (RevOps).

RevOps is a strategic framework that brings together all revenue-related activities in an organization. This includes aligning marketing, sales, customer success, and finance under one umbrella to drive business growth. RevOps ensures that every team across the revenue-generating lifecycle is pulling in the same direction, using consistent processes and technology.

It’s a simple idea, but one that completely transformed how these companies approached growth.

Which got me thinking: What if construction had its own version—a function dedicated to aligning technology and project operations to drive better outcomes?

The Concept: Construction Information Operations (CIOps)

What if the missing piece in construction wasn't technology, but rather a focus on the information needed to "power" project operations and create outcome?

The emphasis is on the "I" rather than the "T." Having technology serve as the means to achieve the desired construction information outcomes.

Construction Information Operations (CIOps) isn't about piling on more technology that results in more trapped data. Nor is it about "seamless integration" that just moves the bottleneck from one place to the next.

CIOps is about purposefully designing data flows to create the business outcomes we’re aiming for—ensuring that information reaches where it needs to be, when it needs to be there.

• Reduced manual data entry and costs: Less manual work means lower labor costs and fewer errors.

• Fewer chokepoints and accelerated processes: Streamlined data flow eliminates bottlenecks, keeping projects on track.

• Better decisions with timely business insights: Reliable data at the right time empowers faster, smarter decision-making.

The best part: these all have measurable P&L benefits, directly impacting the bottom line.

The Potential of CIOps and Data-Powered Construction

Think of CIOps as the backbone and engine of Data-Powered Construction:

1. Technology as the means—not the solution. CIOps ensures your tech works to serve your business goals, not the other way around.

2. Data flow matters more than system integration. CIOps focuses on how information moves between systems, teams, and decision-makers to eliminate friction and inefficiencies.

3. Clarity is the superpower. With actionable insights driving decision-making, CIOps turns messy data into real business impact.

Bridging the Divide

Remember the CEO who mentioned losing critical operations people to IT?

Construction is already hard enough without the added frustration of technology pulling teams in different directions.

CIOps just might be the missing link—the bridge that lets your project team stay focused on what they do best, while equipping them with the best information possible.

CIOps eliminates the tug of war between technology rollouts and construction outcomes by systematically aligning your projects, people, and data to ensure smooth and efficient collaboration.

We've identified the "missing"—the gap between technology and operational outcomes that has been holding us back. And by seeing it clearly, we can begin moving forward with purpose.

Where are the obvious opportunities—the "barking dogs"—to start improving your business today?

Let's get after it!