Looking Ahead: People Plus Tech
That’s what construction companies need to succeed. We hear it all around us, all the time, right? Labor shortage. Skilled worker shortage. Falling behind on leveraging technology in the office and in the field. Instead of thinking of people and technology as two separate challenges to address, perhaps it’s time to think about what centering a “people plus tech” approach can achieve?
Innovation and Excitement
Possibilities. Something new. Being part of making good things happen. These feelings matter to workers, whether or not they put them into words. Unfortunately, potential employees may not associate construction with innovation, and that might be keeping great people, including those with the tech skills you’ve been seeking, away. That’s why, as Brian Bohman of Wipfli LLP points out, attention to creating a culture of innovation and excitement at your construction company likely deserves more of your attention:
Given the choice between two job opportunities of roughly equal pay, people will usually pick the company that makes them feel more valued, appreciated and like a part of something positive….Ask yourself: How can you create more of that feeling inside your own business? This question isn’t just fluff. Your answer will help determine whether you can successfully appeal to a younger generation and give your business a forward trajectory. …Many young adults are drowning in student loan debt. Construction offers the opposite: the chance to learn a valuable trade while getting paid to do it. Does your company create those opportunities? And while you’ll hear a lot in 2026 about how you need to upgrade your technology…getting the most out of your systems also starts with culture. Even AI will do nothing for you without the human element — people willing to experiment, question…and explore how new solutions can better solve old problems.
As you embrace new possibilities for building your team and invigorating your work culture, take care not to stymie the energy. As Jerry Aliberti reminds us, a culture of permission is not the hallmark of a thriving business:
Your senior leaders have stopped bringing you solutions because they’ve learned you’ll just make the decision anyway. They’ve become order takers instead of owners, and you resent them for it even though you created the dynamic. The talented Project Manager you were grooming…just took a job with your competitor because they could see there was no real path up as long as you’re in everything … .The culture you’re building is one of permission instead of ownership. People wait instead of acting. They bring problems instead of solutions. They protect themselves instead of taking smart risks. And worst of all, you’re becoming the bottleneck to your own growth. You can’t take on that next big project because you don’t trust your team….You can’t pursue that acquisition opportunity because you’re too buried in operations to even think strategically.
Good To Know: Ripple Effect?
Even if you are a small construction company, don’t be too quick to count yourself out of the national boom in building data centers. Pros point out that data center builds are creating ripple effects: “Large construction firms are feasting on data center contracts. But the data center boom holds promise for smaller firms as well. With larger rivals tied up doing data center work, there is often less competition for smaller projects, leaving middle-market construction companies free to split the spoils between themselves.”
When you are eager to grow (and why be in business if you’re not), keep in mind that in addition to attention to people plus tech, you’ll need ever greater focus on cash flow and financial clarity, as Bohman also emphasizes: “Having a solid balance sheet is critical, as firms are facing more scrutiny on financial health from lenders, sureties, owners, and general contractors. Understanding your costs, putting a higher focus on billing and collection hygiene and diligent project management will be crucial to mitigate potential cash shortfalls and help ensure financial stability.”
Team Up For The Win
Teamwork is the secret sauce of most success stories—and Colonial Surety is here to help you succeed. Our Hometown Bond Program helps local builders get credit based underwriting bonds for up to $250k—no financial statements required.
Growing from there, construction business owners can get in on more action by qualifying for The Partnership Account® for Contractors. Once qualified, you’ll use our power of attorney to issue your own bid bonds, in minutes. Order performance bonds with speed and ease too. Plus, you’ll bid and win more than ever as you leverage your:
- surety line of credit—in writing;
- private digital dashboard;
- daily snapshot of single and aggregate limits
- ability to update work on hand
Surety Bond programs for construction businesses of every size are right here: Bonding Programs at Colonial Surety Company
Founded in 1930, Colonial Surety Company is a leading direct seller and writer of surety bonds and insurance products across the USA. Colonial is rated “A Excellent” by A.M. Best Company and U.S. Treasury listed. Let’s connect today: Colonial Surety Company.
