2022 is projected to be a year of growth in the construction industry, despite ongoing global obstacles related to the supply chain. To succeed, construction companies must continue to adapt to and incorporate new technologies and proactively manage challenges for success. For the remainder of this year and moving into 2023, we see the industry continuing its emphasis on sustainable growth, connected construction, and cutting-edge technologies that save time and money.

Supply Chain And Labor Shortages

Global supply chain shortages impacted nearly every industry beginning in 2020, from small restaurants to national construction contractors. Projections for the remainder of 2022 suggest supply shortages must be anticipated and managed in critical areas, such as steel, lumber, and cement.

Employees are one of the most valuable resources in the construction industry. At Branco, we pride ourselves on having multiple long-term employees at every level. There’s always a need for new talent. We’ve found that partnering with community colleges to provide students with practical work experience, speaking to classes, and showing up for career days helps us maintain our talent base in this critical time of shortages in many industries.

Historically, the construction industry has employed men primarily, and standard-issue protective equipment fitting female employees was an issue. Branco provides a variety of safety equipment for workers of every body type and gender. A diverse workforce is a strong workforce, and we believe everyone deserves to be protected while being as comfortable as possible.

Connected Construction And Sustainability

The construction industry must address sustainability as a significant, ongoing concern. One construction trend related to sustainability we see growing is connected construction. This refers to eco-friendly, efficient planning and building. Connected construction plans reduce downtime and increase efficiency.

Connected construction may play a significant role in the “smart cities” of the future, where plans minimize carbon footprints while adding to the general quality of life.

Emphasis on New Technologies

We see breakthroughs in 3D printing for the construction industry, where technology can manufacture home components and be used to create other materials such as asphalt. Technology is also helping automate certain aspects of construction like digital data collection and brick-laying robots.

Technologies like automation and 3D printing can fill in gaps created by labor and supply shortages. It can also reduce the risk of workplace accidents by adding additional layers of monitoring and protection for workers.

Construction That Stays Ahead of the Curve

The coming year and beyond will continue to see advances in construction technologies. Branco is always looking for ways to adapt and change to attract and retain the best talent, employ the latest strategies to improve safety, diversify the workforce, compress timelines, protect the environment and help complete projects for our customers on time and on budget.