Just The Fax

I spent this week looking at a new phone system for the business and given the rapid changes in the telecommunications industry, there is a lot to consider. One development that has taken ten years to become a reliable option is Voice Over Internet Protocol or VoIP. Under this technology, phone calls are made using an Internet or private network connection. As I was considering changing my well-seasoned, hardwired system to this more flexible and less expensive alternative, I was confronted with what I should do with the fax line. I felt very uncomfortable in pulling the plug on this old-school warrior. It wasn’t long ago that the fax line was the lifeline for many construction-related businesses. Although today it is used primarily as a clearing house for discounted vacations, everyone still prints their fax number on their business cards. This made me wonder why we have become so attached to old technologies and habits when they no longer serve us and ponder other opportunities for change in the construction industry.

It wasn’t long ago that the fax machine was the best thing since sliced bread for business. Instead of using the US mail system, we could now receive bid invites, send out bids and communications, and even sign contracts via this wonderful machine. Written communication with the fax machine was virtually instantaneous, or at least much faster than the US mail or FedEx options. With the universal usage of e-mail, however, the trusty fax machine has been retired to the same pasture as the buggy whip and video rental stores. Why would you mess with a fax when you can command the transfer of information, documents, and pictures right from your desktop? What are some of the other technologies that are rendering our current practices obsolete?

It is amazing how bogged down our industry was in managing the masses of paperwork in the past. Now, cloud-based applications and online use of construction data has revolutionized how we communicate in the industry. The growth of online plan rooms to publicize projects that are bidding and to relay the construction documents and addenda has cut costs, increased exposure, and reduced the time it takes to bid a job. Programs like Textura that provide an array of programs that facilitate project communication, subcontractor qualification process, and invoice payment do a great deal to streamline what was once a cumbersome process of communication. And online banking has contributed immensely to the faster flow of funds to all parties. For those of us who have embraced these technological tools, life is so much more productive and easier to manage.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) has been a major breakthrough for how projects are designed and constructed. In the past, architects, contractors, and subcontractors worked as separate entities, only coming together when the building was being constructed. With BIM as the platform, now the design and construction team can work together more effectively to design, estimate, construct, and problem solve. This technology is creating an entirely new way of looking at the construction process. The benefits are lower costs, faster delivery, and fewer errors.

Advances in technological hardware have changed the way we work in construction. Jobsite computer systems and tablet computers enable the team to be equipped with the latest information on the project. New developments in Google Glass and Oculus virtual reality technology will most likely offer benefits to our current work processes. Another technology that is quickly gaining acceptance is 3D laser scanning. Architectural and engineering firms are using this developing technology to map out existing facilities with incredible precision or to serve as quality control of installed elements. Re-View has used laser mapping equipment to determine existing window sizes and shapes in historic structures. This has enabled us to manufacture historic window replicas with incredible precision.

What we are talking about here is changing the tools of the trade. Just as carpenters have put down hand saws and screw drivers for power tools, the entire industry needs to change to more powerful technological tools. I may love my old framing hammer, but it doesn’t hold up to modern nailers. So in that spirit, I think I’ll finally remove my fax number from my business card.