What’s really driving productivity in construction today? How can we have more authentic conversations about mental health? Can technology alone move the industry forward?

Welcome to The Power of Construction, a new podcast from Procore—the construction technology firm that brought the industry a central collaboration hub connecting project teams throughout the entire project lifecycle.

In this audio and video series, Procore offers an exclusive, first-hand look at the people and ideas dramatically reshaping the $13 trillion industry. Follow along as we talk with leaders on the cutting edge of construction about how the sector is getting ahead as rapidly evolving labor, technology and design challenges rewrite the playbook of how we build.

When we get the chance to sit down with the people doing this work, we like to pick their brains as much as they’ll let us. At the end of each episode, we ask our guests a few questions about the books they’re reading, what they do when they need perspective and the advice they’d give their younger selves starting out in the industry. 

We also ask what innovation or technology they think will change our industry. 

Here’s what they said: 

“My three that I live by are the ‘-ations’—digitalization, industrialization, electrification. But I truly hope that electrification is the one; that we start to look at projects as not just the cost to design and construct but the cost to operate and maintain that facility over its life, and that we all holistically learn how to better think about this. With building performance standards coming online … whether you like that politically or not, it’s going to create a better built environment. And I think that’s a really good thing for the construction and design industry.” – Josh Bone, Executive Director of ELECTRI International.

“Electrification is super important because how we build matters almost more than what we're building today, especially if we're recruiting that next generation. They want to know that the jobs they're doing are having a positive impact; not just the building itself being good, but how we build matters to them. … Digitalization is really, for me, it's data. How does data then feed into AI that feeds into how we can be more efficient? … If we can get to a place where we start understanding what data can do for us and how it can actually support our job sites differently, … when we can move away from that to using it as part of the solution to how we build, I think that's going to be a huge moment for us.” – Peter Tateishi, CEO of AGC of California.

Learn practical ways construction leaders can overcome labor and workflow constraints (and counteract common workforce myths) to build a workforce ready for change. Listen to Episode 1: What’s really behind the construction productivity gap? 

“We're implementing Procore right now, and just seeing data analytics and being able to get all that information in one place and the story it's going to tell. I think we have a lot of lessons that we're going to learn.” – Mel Renfrow, VP of Strategic Development and Marketing at Performance Contracting Inc. (PCI). 

Hear how “betting on talent” supercharged operational efficiency, worker engagement and business performance for PCI—and how your company can implement these ideas today. Listen to Episode 2: How do modern leadership styles accelerate the construction industry? 

“[Artificial intelligence.] The ability to process massive amounts of data in shorter amounts of time, in meaningful ways. The computing power available to us and the data that is training systems to understand—that, I think, is No. 1. You’ll see it manifest in lots of different ways, but it’ll be that little kernel.” – Eric Whobrey, VP of Innovation at ARCO Ventures. 

What can better data do for your business? A whole lot. Hear how ARCO uses data to perfect workflows, simplify processes and improve decision-making across the project lifecycle. Listen to Episode 3: How can we bridge the data gap in construction?

“The embodiment of AI and robotics, because we can stop putting people in very dangerous conditions and send them home to their families.” – Todd Wynne, Chief Innovation Officer for Rogers-O’Brien.

Technology is billed as a solution to many of the problems in construction today. How much can technology alone accomplish, and how can contractors ensure the tools and systems they deploy can truly help their teams level up? Listen to Episode 4: Can technology rebuild construction’s image?

“The diversity of the industry as it evolves … different perspectives, different ways of doing things, different viewpoints. As humans, we naturally get into tunnel vision mode. It’s how we’ve always done it. It’s the only way to do it. And I think the diversity aspect, all aspects of diversity, is going to revolutionize the industry.” – Brandon Anderson, Vice President of Safety, AGC of Missouri.

Tune in on Wednesday, Dec. 18, to hear Brandon Anderson, Vice President of Safety for AGC of Missouri, explain why the industry needs to start having better conversations about the mental health of its workforce—and how to get there.

You can watch or listen to all episodes from The Power of Construction at Procore.com/Podcast.