AI in construction: closer than you think

One of the most discussed innovations of the past year is undoubtedly artificial intelligence (AI). AI is also receiving increasing attention in the construction industry. After all, AI in construction can support companies in working on-site and in the office. We list some applications in this blog. And some are closer than you think!

The ChatGPT effect

Wherever you look, you cannot ignore the advance of artificial intelligence (AI). Suddenly, everyone asks ChatGPT for help plotting the perfect holiday, writing witty out-of-office messages and summarising emails into bullet points. For many people, artificial intelligence is therefore synonymous with handy chatbots, but it is so much more!

AI in construction, civil engineering, and plant engineering, for example, can help plan resources for projects more efficiently or support project managers in project management and work preparation based on data from previous projects.

Preparing projects with machine learning

The New York Times delved deeper into the world of AI in construction and described some great examples of companies that focus entirely on optimising business processes in construction using artificial intelligence. One of these companies is nPlan. This consulting firm collected data from more than 750,000 past construction projects. With this data, they help companies in the construction industry predict project outcomes and potential risks.

This AI solution is now being deployed in the UK to make the project around major track maintenance as efficient as possible. It is expected to save almost 5% of those costs on this $11 billion project.

AI accessible to all with Microsoft Copilot

At 4PS, we are very much looking forward to the introduction of Microsoft Copilot in Microsoft 365. This is because Microsoft Copilot makes AI accessible to everyone. It is also low-threshold because Copilot will be integrated into the various Microsoft 365 applications. For example, Copilot helps in Word to write a project plan based on available data from a PowerPoint presentation and OneNote minutes. But Copilot can also create a PowerPoint presentation for you based on input from a Word document. Or summarise an endless e-mail conversation into a few bullet points for you.

Microsoft Copilot in our software 4PS Construct

Because we build our ERP solution 4PS Construct on the Microsoft Business Central platform, our customers will soon also benefit from Copilot in 4PS Construct! Via a chat window in the ERP, users can ask questions about the data available in the ERP. Ask, for example, which projects are currently running. Or which tenders are open.

With Copilot, you get to the data in the business software that helps you move forward much faster. And that is exactly what AI in construction is all about –  working more efficiently so that you get more out of your working day, both in the office and on the construction site.

Want to know more about working more efficiently in construction?

Want to know more about how you can use technology to work more efficiently in construction? Then also read our whitepaper ‘Work Smarter, Not Harder in Construction’ or get in touch. As a digitisation partner for construction, we can help too!

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