Passion, Tradition, and Innovation in the Construction Industry
In this insightful interview, Ron Nussbaum sits down with Eric Helitzer, the founder and CEO of Subbase, to discuss the evolving landscape of construction technology. As a 3rd generation builder, Eric shares his unique perspective on the industry, highlighting the importance of passion, tradition, and innovation.
The Roots of a Construction Champion
Eric's journey in the construction industry began at a young age, as he was exposed to the family business from an early age. He fondly recalls his father and grandfather pointing out every building they had constructed, instilling a deep appreciation for the craft. This passion for building has been a driving force throughout Eric's career, leading him to study construction in college and eventually transition into the construction technology space.
"What I love about it is the just the love and passion that I've had for it since I was a kid."
Bridging the Gap: Adopting Construction Technology
One of the key challenges facing the construction industry is the adoption of new technologies. Eric emphasizes the importance of understanding the existing workflows and processes before introducing any disruptive changes. By taking a gradual, collaborative approach, construction technology companies can seamlessly integrate their solutions into the industry's existing practices.
"You can't come into a business and tell them that for the last 30 years, they're ordering materials the wrong way. But what you do is you really understand the process and you figure out how to wedge into the workflow and slowly diminish the amount of manual entry and give them a better experience but keeping the same feel."
The Power of Data and Artificial Intelligence
As the construction industry generates vast amounts of data, the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize the industry becomes increasingly apparent. Eric highlights the use of AI in areas such as invoice reconciliation, material ordering, and bridging the communication gap between the field and the office.
"Artificial intelligence will eventually solve for. And that's some of the things that we're working on today is how do you make that so seamless that the field guy can stick to what he calls that 2 by 4 lumber the office knows what it is when they have to potentially reconcile an invoice, and then a vendor can stick to his system, but still be able to correlate it to."
The Future of Construction Technology
The construction industry has long been perceived as lagging behind in technological advancements, but Eric believes that the tide is turning. By embracing construction-specific software solutions and leveraging the power of data and AI, the industry can unlock new levels of efficiency, profitability, and innovation.
"It's up to us as being construction champions and getting out there, taking the steps to bridge the adoption rate in the construction industry and move us to not be in 15, 10, 15 years behind when it comes technology, but becoming at the forefront."
Watch the entire interview today!
As the construction industry continues to evolve, the role of passionate, experienced professionals like Eric will be crucial in driving the adoption of transformative technologies. By bridging the gap between tradition and innovation, the construction champions of today are paving the way for a more efficient, data-driven, and technologically advanced future.
Unlocking the Power of Construction Technology: An Interview with a 3rd Generation Builder
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