The ConTechCrew

EPISODE 400: Imagine managing your project with construction technology solutions that complement your business needs–it's like efficiency and collaboration on the next level. But how do we inspire people to become paperless builders?In this week's episode, my co-host Nathan Wood and I sit down with Hamzah Shanbari, an avid listener of our show and now the Director of Innovation at Haskell. He's here to talk about Dysruptek's approach to technology evaluation and implementation in the industry and how it drives innovation.Dysruptek is Haskell's venture arm, dedicated to scouting, piloting, and investing in emerging construction technologies and capitalizing on Haskell's diverse employee base.Hamzah shares his journey to becoming Haskell's Director of Innovation, highlighting the importance of culture in his transformation. He also breaks down Dysruptek's innovative and strategic process, the pros and cons of building or buying technology, and more. Let's dive in!Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00)Meet Hamzah Shanbari and his construction journey (05:48)How culture played a role in Hamzah's transformation (10:11)Positioning the three different pillars: invest, invent, and innovate (13:24)On dealing with the depth and objectivity of technology evaluation reports (18:00)Dysruptek's unique way of measuring rollout success (24:55)Building vs. buying technology (27:41)Finding the right people to build Dysruptek's dedicated innovation team (31:53)What's next for Hamzah and his team? (37:49)Construction technology news of the week (41:52)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at https://thecontechcrew.com Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew — Follow Hamzah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamzah-shanbari/Visit Haskell's official website for more information: https://www.haskell.com/Preorder your copy of Hamzah's upcoming book, Paperless Builders: https://hamzah-shanbari.presale.manuscripts.com/register/registration/selectCheck out Paperless Builders for more information: https://paperless.builders/— See this week's news articles!

EPISODE 399: Are you tired of dealing with project delays and inaccuracies in construction?In this week's episode, my co-host Charlie Dunn and I sit down with Dave Mitchell, the founder and CEO of XYZ Reality.XYZ Reality specializes in augmented reality solutions for construction and real-time project controls.After spending numerous years in the field, Dave grew increasingly frustrated with the limitations of constructing from 2D drawings. His frustration sparked the vision of holographic representations in construction.In collaboration with a tech specialist in 2015, Dave and his team successfully developed Construction AR (augmented reality) technology, which is now used worldwide.Today, Dave shares his journey in revolutionizing construction through his AR technology. Discover how XYZ Reality's technology fosters collaboration, enhances on-site productivity, eliminates inaccuracies, and streamlines project costs.Don't miss out on this one!Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00)Meet Dave Mitchell (03:37)The making of XYZ Reality (08:35)Concept of paperless construction and its challenges (12:13)Overcoming hardware calibration challenges for augmented reality (21:32)Integrating hardware, platform, and field expertise (26:44)On measuring waste reduction rework and its impact on project costs (35:42)Future developments and enhancements for XYZ Reality's platform (46:01)How XYZ Reality's technology is improving project schedule accuracy (48:48)The strategic focus on data centers and critical infrastructure projects (53:51)Episode wrap-up (1:02:13)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at https://thecontechcrew.com Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew—Follow Dave on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mitchell-xyz/Visit XYZ Reality for more information: https://www.xyzreality.com/—The ConTech Crew is a construction news podcast dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest in construction technology.Give us a follow so you never miss an episode!

EPISODE 398: Are you feeling overwhelmed by the demands of the construction industry? In this week's eye-opening Pause for the Cause episode, I sit down with construction tech influencers and hosts of the “No BS with Jen and Jess” show, Jennifer Lacy and Jesus (Jesse) Hernandez.No BS with Jen and Jess is a platform that serves as a community for individuals to connect, elevate each other, and build meaningful relationships within the construction industry, all while applying the principles of Lean methodology.Join us as we tackle the industry's pressing issues, such as mental health, substance abuse, and the power of vulnerability and human connection. Discover how their innovative approaches, from applying Lean methodology to personal relationships, drive positive changes in businesses and workspaces.Don't miss out on this insightful conversation. Tune in now!Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00)Meet Jennifer Lacy and Jesus (Jesse) Hernandez (04:03)How “No BS with Jen and Jess” started and its community impact (11:02)The 5S Lean methodology and its application beyond work (14:14)What is emotional bungee jumping? (19:57)Challenges of non-solution-based listening and staying connected (24:46)The significance of how being human is good for business (35:47)What is vulnerability all about? (38:08)The observer role's impact in professional settings (43:05)Keep up with Jen and Jesse (52:08)Episode wrap-up (53:59)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at https://thecontechcrew.com Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew — Follow Jesse on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessedepthbuilder/Follow Jen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferlacy/Grab a copy of Lean & Love: https://www.amazon.com/Lean-Love-Letters-Relationships-RipplesOfImpact/dp/B0B2TYD58G— The ConTech Crew is a construction news podcast dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest in construction technology. Give us a follow so you never miss an episode!

EPISODE 397: Is AI the future of the AEC industry?Join me and my co-host Ariel Castillo as we discover how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the architecture, engineering, and construction industries with this week's guest, Mehdi Nourbakhsh, a former structural engineer turned AI expert and CEO of YegaTech.With decades of experience, Mehdi dives deep into the transformative potential of AI–from automating mundane tasks to crafting sustainable futures.He shares his transition from structural engineering to the forefront of AI development, highlighting how AI is not just a tool but a game-changer in design, construction, and operational efficiency.We also explore the evolution of AI technologies, their current applications in the industry, the future of the AEC industry, and how people can overcome resistance and fear to leverage AI effectively.Let's get started!Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00)From structural engineering to AI in the AEC industry (05:05)Evolution of AI technologies over the last two decades (10:48)Defining AI in the context of the AEC industry (13:55)Opportunities for leveraging AI in AEC companies (16:24)Examples of AI applications on the corporate side of AEC (20:35)Steps for organizations to start leveraging AI (24:47)How to address employee fears about AI (28:47)Real-world consequences of resistance to AI adoption (34:09)Importance of data governance and strategy in AI implementation (39:19)Resources for companies interested in AI (42:19)Construction technology news of the week (44:17)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at https://thecontechcrew.com Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew — Follow Mehdi Nourbakhsh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mehdinour/Check out YegaTech for more information: https://yegatech.com/— See this week's news articles!

EPISODE 396: Could there be a solution to one of construction's biggest challenges–cash flow issues?Join us in this week's episode as my co-host, Jacob D'Albora, and I sit down with Anwar Ghauche, the founder of Constrafor.Constrafor, an innovative construction procurement company, is elevating construction productivity to new heights.Today, Anwar discusses Contrafor's groundbreaking early pay program and software solutions designed to boost productivity and profitability for contractors and subcontractors.We also talk about the power of AI technology in automating compliance documentation, a new approach to enhancing risk management, and so much more.Let's dive in!Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00)Meet Anwar Ghauche and his journey to founding Constrafor (06:00)Identifying subcontractors financing projects as a major issue (08:05)Overview of Constrafor's early pay program (14:08)How Constrafor has helped GCs in terms of job performance (19:20)Other ways to leverage Constrafor's platform (21:29)Introduction of AI to automate compliance documentation (24:55)Exploring the impact of timely payments on project costs (30:39)What's next for Constrafor? (32:48)Keep up with Anwar and Constrafor (34:39)Construction technology news of the week (35:47)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at https://thecontechcrew.com Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew —Follow Anwar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anwar-ghauche/Visit Constrafor for more information: https://www.constrafor.com/— See this week's news articles!

In today's episode, we are joined by Michael Filippakis, CEO and co-founder of Loris!Michael's passion for construction began when he was a child, helping his own father to renovate their house, before later deciding to study Construction Management at Ohio State University.After graduating, Michael worked for Turner for over a decade in a number of roles. Michael also worked on Ohio State Campus Hospital, a $600 million project, which was the largest in Ohio State History at the time.But in 2018, Michael started Loris to help build a leaner, safer, and greener job site for everyone.Today we discuss his background, what Loris does, as well as the latest construction news of the week.Check it out!Key Takeaways:Intro (00:00)Michael's background (06:35)What problems does Loris solve? (09:12)What's coming in the future (24:15)Automating data capture (32:17)What's coming up in the next 19 months (40:10)Weekly news round-up (51:54)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at http://thecontechcrew.comFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew–Check out the work Loris do here: https://www.getloris.com/Check Michael out on Linkedin here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-filippakis-86a79858/–See this week's news articles!