A variety of sessions at Command Alkon’s Elevate 2018 Conference brought a deeper look into innovation and its effects on the construction industry, which was illustrated well by the second Keynote Speaker, Anne Ellis. Ms. Ellis is the founder and CEO of Ellis Global, an engineering and construction consulting company who focuses on technological innovation as a metric for success.
Ellis prompted the audience to consider technical disruption, pertaining specifically to the lack of innovation in the construction industry. To illustrate this lack of innovation, she illustrated the 20-year anniversary of the computer mouse and its evolution in comparison to the 100-year anniversary of the slump cone that has undergone no change.
During this session, Ellis recalled events during her career where a lack of communication created an initial lack of acceptance rather than the disruptive technology itself being the focal point. Examples included the introduction of supplementary cementitious materials and admixtures to concrete mix designs. Ellis encouraged the spectators to embrace disruptive technology and prepare for paradigm shifts to advance the construction industry.
In utilizing and accepting technological advances in the construction industry, companies can expect to enhance productivity. The key takeaway is simple: technological disruption should be encouraged and embraced in areas where potential for improvement exists.
