Construction Industry Trends To Watch in 2022

After several years of uncertainty and fluctuations caused in part by COVID-19, the construction industry looks to grow in 2022 and beyond, despite the challenges posed by labor shortages and rising prices. Construction is the largest industry in the world, but also one that isn’t growing as rapidly as other industries. In this post, we look at the trends to watch for in 2022 and beyond that will boost the construction industry’s growth potential, efficiency, and profitability.

Virtual Technologies

New technologies like virtual design and visualization software are poised to help the construction industry grow over the next five years. The ability to use specialized software to plan, engineer, and design projects before groundbreaking will be a driving force in speeding up job completion, minimizing mistakes, and reducing overall costs.

When we talk of virtual design, we’re talking about something more powerful than traditional CAD technologies. The virtual design software today runs on everything from computers to phones, giving construction firms more, less expensive options for project completion.

Modular Construction

Many construction companies and their customers are turning to modular and pre-fab construction because it reduces costs and building time compared to traditional construction. Modular projects can reduce costs by up to 20%, and the high quality of materials used means customers get sturdy, durable structures that go up more quickly than building from scratch.

Robots

It’s easy for many people to discount robots because they see them as replacing specific jobs done by humans; however, the construction industry will benefit from robots and machines that make job sites more efficient and safer. For example, it’s better to have a robot transport heavy or hazardous materials instead of risking a valuable employee. And rather than replace those employees, today’s robots allow construction companies to use those people in other, less dangerous roles, which increases productivity and ensures everyone goes home safe at night.

3D Printing

3D printing is a game changer for many industries, but especially for construction. Using 3D printing technology on the job site allows construction companies to quickly create replacement parts or make changes on the fly as designs change due to circumstances.

Drones

Another technology that’s proving to be a game changer in many industries is drone usage. Drones are quickly becoming a must-have resource for construction companies, and the industry has seen a 239% growth in their use over the past few years. Drones can save construction companies time and money by providing topographic mapping and land surveys, equipment tracking, progress monitoring, security surveillance, safety, and inspection. Drones are so cost-effective they’re a must-have in any construction company’s box.

Material Costs

If you ask any owner of a construction company what challenges they face, most will say the rising cost of materials is probably near the top of their list. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show increasing costs of materials like concrete, crushed and broken stone, sand, gravel, etc., and the trend looks to continue. Many construction companies combat this using aforementioned technologies like drones and virtual design, but also through implementing materials like self-healing concrete, which are more expensive at the outset, but will save money over time.

Labor

As efficient as robots and machines are, you still need a labor force for construction projects, but as we’ve seen, high-quality labor is in short supply. As robots and machines become more prevalent on construction sites, construction companies must look to hire educated workers to manage data and use the technology. Many construction companies are targeting trade school graduates who have hands-on training with many of the technologies used today.

About New Horizon Construction Services

Although the construction industry faces growth challenges, New Horizon is one of the few that’s growing. We provide construction and FF&E services throughout Florida and across the country. We’re a full-service contractor, providing our clients with project completion options like:

– Competitive bid pricing
– Design and architectural input scheduling
– Estimating
– Budgeting and cost modeling
– Regulatory research
– Value engineering
– Green building and planning
– Zoning and code compliance
– Light Demolition
– Construction management
– Safety management

– Construction waste control
– Logistics support
– And more

Whether you have a large, medium, or small construction project, you can count on our expert team of highly trained professionals to do the job right the first time. Contact us today at 407-574-2164 and let us show you why we’re the right team for the job.