“The trap of innovation is this idea that it’s a very broad thing, but people think about it very narrowly. They think it’s got to be technology-related and this big Shark Tank idea.”
In today’s episode of Corporate Innovations from the Bricks & Bytes Podcast, we had Dana Erdman, VP of Technology and Innovation at Bulley & Andrews, and we got to learn about how a construction company approaches innovation, technology adoption challenges, and building relationships with startups!
Tune in to find out about:
✅ Why the best innovations often come from people doing the day-to-day work
✅ The importance of onboarding support when implementing new technology
✅ Why per-project pricing models can be deal-breakers for construction companies
✅ How to approach AI adoption in the construction industry with caution
Listen now on Spotify to hear Dana’s insights on technology in the renovation space and advice for founders looking to sell to contractors.
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Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Dana Erdman and Bully and Andrews
03:06 Understanding Innovation in Construction
06:01 Challenges in Technology Adoption
08:49 Pain Points in the Field and Office
11:57 The Labor Shortage Dilemma
15:00 Successful Technology Implementation
17:58 Evaluating New Technologies
20:56 Pilot Programs and Implementation Strategies
24:00 Defining Success in Technology Pilots
26:53 Pricing Conversations with Technology Providers
32:01 Navigating Pricing Conversations
34:55 Building Relationships Over Sales
39:03 The Role of Technology in Construction
43:01 Cautious Optimism Towards AI
48:10 Understanding Supply Chain Challenges
50:58 Collaboration vs. Silos in Construction
51:58 The Impact of Company Culture on Innovation
55:00 The Future of General Contracting
