Wired to Build Avicado Construction Technology Services

In this episode, Nick Caravella and Avi Levin interviews Andy Steele, the Chief Strategy Officer at Buildots, about the challenges and opportunity around progress tracking on projects. Throughout the conversation, we explore the importance of progress tracking, and the many ways to measure progress, to help teams stay on schedule. By leveraging technology solutions, Owners can avoid delays, mitigate risk, and help drive performance and accountability across their vendors. In addition, we explore the impacts of construction scheduling and how building a transparent approach for teams can ultimately improve outcomes and improve the mental health of the construction profession.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction and Overview

(01:25) Driving Efficiency and Service Excellence in the Public Sector

(03:11) The Importance of Data Points in Project Delivery

(04:04) Introducing Andy and His Background in Construction

(08:46) The Role of Technology in Construction

(14:15) Buildots' Focus on Productivity in Construction

(19:04) The Impact of Progress Tracking on Project Timelines

(21:30) Understanding Productivity Rates in Construction

(24:24) The Integration of Progress Tracking with Digital Twin Technology

(27:12) The Importance of Data for Building Safety and Compliance

(28:12) The Need for Data Management and Accountability in Construction

(29:39) The Future of Progress Tracking and Accountability in Construction

(34:56) Technology as a Catalyst for Change in Construction

(45:36) Prioritizing Health and Safety in the Industry

(54:01) Collaboration and Cultural Change in Construction

Welcome to another episode of Wired to Build! In today’s discussion, I’m joined by Christy Hunt, our expert in partnerships at Avicado, and Matthew Sprague, the Industry Strategy Director for Government at Trimble. We delve deep into the world of construction project management and explore the transition towards comprehensive asset lifecycle management.

In this episode:


Christy shares insights on the importance of integrating technology with team dynamics and how Avicado enhances these connections.
Matthew discusses his journey from a full-time soccer coach to influencing digital transformation in the public sector through asset lifecycle management.
We discuss the significant shifts in managing construction projects to considering the full lifecycle of assets, highlighting how technology can be leveraged to optimize this process.
Learn about the challenges and strategies of implementing technology across various stages of asset management and the potential impact of recent infrastructure investments.

Key Moments:


[00:00:11] Introduction to the episode
[02:13:16] Christy’s introduction and her role at Avocado
[06:27:69] Matt talks about his career shift and the importance of asset lifecycle management
[24:13:67] Deep dive into asset-centric approaches in the public sector
[42:57:42] Discussion on the integration of technology and its benefits to asset management
[50:44:14] Closing thoughts and the impact of new technologies on future projects

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Episode Summary
In this episode, Nick Caravella and Avi Levin celebrates Avicado Construction Technology Services' ninth birthday and discusses the milestones achieved over the years. They are joined by Nathan Wood, the Executive Director of the Construction Progress Coalition, who shares his journey and the formation of the coalition.

The conversation delves into the importance of real-time data and the need for a common data exchange framework. Listeners will learn about the challenges of data standards and the value of tagging and categorizing information.

The conversation covers subjects such as project health, sustainability, design thinking, asset life cycle management, DEI, ESG, resource problems, the cost of inexperience, vulnerability, data culture, collaborative decision-making, measurement, and empathy for owners. The conversation concludes with a discussion of upcoming events and the importance of staying Wired to Build.

Key Terms

CDX - Common Data Exchange

AECO - Architect, Engineer, Contractor, Owner

RCA - Root Cause Analysis

DEI - Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

ESG - Environmental, Social, Governance

RFI - Request For Information

Takeaways


Avicado Construction Technology Services celebrates its ninth birthday and reflects on its milestones.
Real-time data and integrated project delivery are crucial for driving change in the construction industry.
The Construction Progress Coalition aims to facilitate collaboration and connectivity in the industry through the common data exchange framework.
Tagging and categorizing RFIs can improve data quality and streamline communication among stakeholders. Interoperability and data-driven decision making are crucial in the AEC industry.
Project health should be measured holistically, considering factors such as sustainability and mental health.
Understanding the motivations and perspectives of stakeholders is essential in promoting DEI and driving change.
ESG metrics can provide valuable insights into program and portfolio health.
Data culture and transparency are key indicators of organizational maturity.
Collaborative decision-making and a focus on measurement can lead to improved project outcomes.
Context and good RCA processes are necessary for effective data-driven decision making.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Avicado's Milestones

03:12 The Evolution of Avicado and the Future

04:32 Introduction to Nate and the Construction Progress Coalition

06:13 Nate's Journey and the Formation of the Construction Progress Coalition

08:01 Integrated Project Delivery and Lessons Learned

09:43 Real-Time Data and Process Improvement

12:23 The Common Data Exchange Framework

14:13 Standards and the CDX Framework

20:17 The Value of CDX and Reporting

22:40 RFI Management and Data Standards

25:02 Tagging and Categorizing RFIs

26:24 Measuring RFIs and Data Quality

28:42 Topics at the AEC Integrations Summit

29:29 Project Health and Sustainability

30:20 Design Thinking and Innovation

31:28 Asset Life Cycle Management

32:16 The Importance of DEI and Motivators

32:57 ESG and Program/Portfolio Health

33:52 Resource Problems and Data

35:02 The Cost of Inexperience

36:14 Learning from Mistakes and Knowledge Gap

37:30 Vulnerability and Maturity in Construction

38:20 The Importance of Data Culture

39:05 The Role of the Owner Project Manager

39:56 Lessons Learned and Building Intelligence

40:33 Being Vulnerable and Fear of Lawsuits

41:23 Collaborative Decision-Making and Expertise

42:34 Good Project Health and Public Dashboards

43:47 Measurement and Critical Success Factors

45:09 Context and RCA in Data-Driven Decision Making

46:22 Creating Measurements and Refining Them

47:47 Understanding Objectives and Integration

49:13 Empathy for Owners and Decision-Making

50:39 Passion for Building and Making an Impact

53:42 Closing Thoughts and Future Events

Summary

In this conversation, Nick and Avi interview Chelsea Cohen, a senior consultant at Avicado, about her journey from industry professional to tech innovator. The conversation follows Chelsea and her journey from Client to Consultant and how a passion for innovation took her from helping improve how projects are managed to enhancing how people manage projects.

Takeaways


How to move from "this is how it's always been done" to "this is the way we can do it"
How creating data culture in your organization can streamline administrative tasks and improve reporting.
How collaboration and communication are key to successfully implementing technology and ensuring buy-in from all stakeholders.
How administrators can build partnerships with consultants to deliver on special projects and create value in their organization.


How to convince others in your organization for the need to improve processes and adopt new technology.



Chapters

00:00 - Introduction To The Episode

04:00 - Welcoming Chelsea Cohen

05:26 - Improving Your Business With Assessments

07:16 - Convincing Project Managers To Adopt Technology

11:38 - How Have We Changed How We Respond To Change

15:36 - The Daunting-ness Of Data In Construction

17:20 - Moving From Administration To Collaboration

19:03 - The Shift To A Data Culture

21:55 - Moving From Projects To People

26:16 - The A-ha Moment For Project Managers

29:16 - Working with Administrative Teams

33:32 - From Administration To Team Support

37:30 - How Do You Advocate For Improving Technology

39:12 - What Helps You Stay Wired To Build?

41:09 - Closing Remarks and What's Next?

Join the team at Avicado as we welcome our first guest of the New Year, Kristina Henkai.



Kristina and her team at the Society for Built Experiences (SoBuilt) is focused on helping the industry reflect and act on how people fit within how we deliver the built world.



Join us as we learn how gamification and play has a role in construction and innovation and what people need to succeed in the AECO industry.

This episode's speakers include:

Avidahn Levin, CEO of Avicado

Steve Jones, Snr. Dir. of Industry Research of Dodge Construction Network



For our inaugural episode of Wired to Build we kick things off with the conversation that started it all. After 8 years of serving owners in the construction industry, Avicado partnered with Dodge Construction Network to conduct a survey to learn more about how Owner's are taking a focus on their technology stack. Avi and Steve got together at the 2023 Spring Conference to discuss how Owner's are using technology across business processes, the challenges and opportunities they face with technology adoption, and where they feel the industry is heading in the near-term.



Learn more about the survey by reading our SmartMarket Brief here

Learn more about Avicado here