Survey highlights key Construction IT survival tactics

The number one tactic to survive the market conditions for most respondents (37%) will be cost reductions, while the second largest proportion (22%) cite improved efficiency through IT.

Plus:

- 71% of respondents believed the green concept of a 'paperless office' was at least achievable to an extent

- Over the next 12 months, 53% of respondents will have green initiatives as key objectives over 2009, compared to 61% last year, while 39% will focus on improving employee skills and training

- While 93% last year predicted a growth in revenue over the following year, 75% now predict a drop, but an optimistic 11% predict an upturn.

Union Square, the construction IT specialist, has found that for the 160 contractors, architects and construction consultancies surveyed in November 2008, the principal strategies (attracting a combined 59% of the votes) to combat the current challenging market conditions will be the reduction of costs and improved efficiency through IT.

Commenting on this trend, Will Yandell, Director of Union Square, says: "It is not surprising that cost reductions take such a prominent position in the minds of the construction industry, given the economic climate. What is reassuring is the high recognition that an effective and appropriate use of IT can provide a viable route to improved internal efficiencies. This can manifest itself as electronic archiving, wider access to email, remote access or improved document management."

Conducted at the annual Union Square User Group, the survey also showed a rapidly reducing green lobby within the construction industry, with emphasis seeming to shift towards training and retaining staff. Compared to last year, 8% fewer respondents will have green initiatives as key objectives over the next 12 months, now reaching a level of only 53%, while the majority of the remainder (39%) will focus on improving employee skills instead.

Yandell continues: "It is of course disappointing that green initiatives such as reducing carbon footprints and the increased use of sustainable materials have slipped down the agenda. However, whilst environmental concerns may not consciously be top of the list, in the process of reducing costs and relying more heavily on IT, many will actually find that their new processes are green nonetheless. Typical ways of reducing costs, certainly in an office environment, often revolve around reducing use of materials, transport cuts and limited energy usage - all of which simultaneously represent realistic green advantages."

Union Square also found an almost equal split between those respondents focusing on current customers and those focusing on attracting new business. Will Yandell, Director at Union Square, comments: "In the face of the current economic climate, there really is no right or wrong approach in order to survive or even grow. Every business has different strengths, targets and skill sets and so the ways in which they react to adverse market conditions will inevitably result in a split such as this.

"It is certainly more than reassuring to see that the industry is not batoning down the hatches and is still actively seeking new projects and business ventures. After all, it is essential that organisations act positively to improve their competitive position and ensure the business is well set to maximise the opportunities presented when confidence returns to the economy."