4 ways mobile technology and 5G are taking the construction industry to the next level.

Mobile technology is a necessity for those in the construction industry that want to stay safe, productive, and connected while keeping an eye on the bottom line. It’s no wonder that 60% of venture funding in the construction technology sector is allocated to mobile solutions. According to McKinsey, the low cost of mobile technology and connectivity "has ushered in a new generation of 'mobile first' cloud-based crew mobility apps that can be deployed, even on remote construction sites, with real-time updates.¹

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were 2.8 million non-fatal private construction site accidents in the U.S. in 2019.² And on the job fatalities hit a 12 year high in 2019, at 1,061.³ The serious nature of this situation has moved safety to the highest priority for construction firms. It’s considered so important that some insurance companies give discounts to those in the construction industry once they prove they have updated and kept their safety measures current.

With mobile technology, it’s no longer necessary to carry contracts, blueprints, and work orders around to different stakeholders. Digital forms can be routed for review and sign-off on location to a worker’s smartphone, tablet, or laptop. The efficiency gains in effort and time from mobile timekeeping, material tracking, and incident reporting add up quickly.

Another efficiency booster is the ability to automate processes, such as the gathering of data for more informed decision-making and process standardization. Sensors in equipment, cameras on work sites, wearable technologies measuring bodily and environmental conditions, and other Internet of Things (IoT) devices can transmit data to analytics programs to monitor productivity, provide proactive maintenance and repair recommendations, monitor safety, and populate regulatory compliance forms.

Drones connected to wireless networks are becoming increasingly popular to provide on-site asset and materials tracking, inventory management, continuous spatial inspection (e.g., shape, size, location of geography), and progress monitoring.

Mobile technology also enhances quality and accuracy. Data that once took days or even weeks to shuttle to and from the field or office locations is instantly available via smartphone, tablets or laptops with the speed provided by 4G and 5G network connections. Project managers don’t have to drive to an offsite location to pull reporting. Instead, all the information needed can be retrieved in the field or from a remote home office, saving time, while allowing employees to work safely from home if necessary, eliminating errors based on insufficient information, and thereby enhancing the quality of work.

The use of mobile technology on the job site will only continue to increase in significance.  Globally, construction industry investments hit $7.6 billion in information technology and communications in 2020. The commitment to increasing the use of mobile tech is evident with these types of expenditures forecast to increase each year through 2025.⁶

The newest generation of tech-savvy construction workers expects and the latest cutting-edge technology for use in the field. Looking ahead, companies that use mobile, wearables, and Internet of Things technologies on the job may provide a leg up in recruiting and retaining the next generation of workers.

Let’s explore how some of the different layers of 5G may support the construction industry.

• Low-band cellular wavelengths have great range and are not affected by obstacles, allowing for greater geographic coverage. It is used above ground at construction sites and provides long-distance connectivity to vehicles to monitor bad driving, to prevent unauthorized workers in a lockout/tagout (LOTO) area, to transmit digital forms, track valuable equipment assets, and other uses.
• Mid-band cellular wavelengths balance speed and range, covering a broader area larger than high band. Mid-band provides faster speeds and greater capacity than low-band and a much larger coverage area than high-band millimeter-wave spectrum. For construction, mid-band connectivity is ideal for data capture for OSHA compliance reporting, helping ensure worker safety with real-time monitoring, and using mid-band makes it possible to manage and train people remotely.

Mobile technology and 5G are changing the face of the construction industry as we know it today. As the technology rapidly evolves, those that embrace the opportunity to reinvent the industry will be better able to compete and have an exciting future in store for them.

T-Mobile for Business delivers a wide array of connectivity solutions that can be scaled to fit the needs of businesses of any size. Whether you are a sub-contractor or a larger enterprise, America’s largest and fastest 5G network, can help construction companies almost anywhere the next job takes them.

Visit T-Mobile for Business Solutions Overview for more information about the wide range of innovative solutions available to support your business on site and wherever you need to connect.