Preconstruction Takeaways from Reddit and GameStop
If you’ve been paying any attention at all to the news lately, you’ve probably heard of the current shenanigans going on in regard to Wall Street, Reddit, and GameStop stocks. While we’re not here to take any sides, we are here to point out a few takeaways those of us in preconstruction can glean from the headlines.
Common Place to Collaborate
One of the biggest lessons? Well, let’s go back to one of the driving forces behind this hubbub: Reddit. Reddit is a host for a variety of online communities, typically known for producing a plethora of memes about any and every current event, as well as being an encyclopedia of information ranging from the useless to the mind-blowing. But in the case of GameStop and Wall Street, Reddit has turned out to be a huge indicator that people across the globe, united only by an Internet platform, can come together and make not just a single viral moment of change, but a significant impact that has the potential to alter industries permanently and even change the way they operate for the foreseeable future.
It’s not hard to see how this translates into preconstruction. One of the biggest buzzwords right now is “collaboration,” right up there with “standardizing preconstruction.” But you can’t truly accomplish either of those things without knowing the right people. Are you connecting with your peers - over conferences, in the break room, on LinkedIn? Do you know who the movers and shakers are in your industry, and are you following them on social platforms (i.e., LinkedIn) so you can bring back ideas and lessons to your own preconstruction efforts?
Platform to Organize Data
Secondly, what are you doing to increase collaboration within your own estimating department? Do your team members have access to tools that encourage brainstorming together? For example, do you have a centralized estimating tool with a database that everyone on your team can access, or is data scattered across dozens of platforms, siloed in a hundred different locations? Make sure that you’re creating an environment where anyone in your company can reach out to their fellow estimators and share an idea, solution, or potential obstacle, no matter where they are.
Roundtable Ideas
Lastly, don’t forget to keep tabs on preconstruction software vendors, because you never know when you might have a chance to collaborate with them - or collaborate with other fellow estimators through them. Prior to 2020, Beck Technology hosted a series of preconstruction roadshows, where professionals representing general contractors, project owners, and subcontractors had a chance to come together and discuss common challenges in preconstruction as well as potential solutions. In 2021, we’re planning to bring this event back virtually, keeping it limited just like we did when we hosted them in person so that we can foster as much discussion as possible.
And in the meantime, keep an eye on our events page, and follow us to see who you need to be watching in the precon industry for innovation and progress.
