This is the first in our new series of Digital Toolbox blogs, lifting the lid on some helpful tips towards using digital tools and upskilling. We start with Dennis Weeks, Manging Director of North London Loft Rooms and one of the driving forces behind a new free Solving Tech for Small Builders course – where you can upskill and learn how using new technology in your business can help you to grow.
What one digital tool would you recommend to builder starting their journey?
Understand your business structure and how everything works together to identify the processes you have and the ones you are missing, this will help you understand what digital tools are going to work for you. The Solving Tech for Small Builders course is a great place to start with this.
Which app do you find yourself using the most?
I use Buildertrend the most it’s a custom made app for project management and we have used it to integrate everything into one place. This is a key mission in most businesses
What new tech you are using onsite?
This is an emerging area where we are seeing more tools becoming smarter and easier to use but I think we will see a far greater involvement in the very near future.
I am currently starting to use AI tech supplied in Buildertrend to analyse and help make better choices in our management processes.
What part of going digital have you found the most beneficial?
The vastness of the possibilities is the most astounding and how it can help you streamline so much of the business. The course really helps you focus, I had to do it the hard way so the course should make other people’s journeys a lot easier.
What’s been your biggest challenge?
Team integration is the hardest part – a great system isn’t great if everyone isn’t involved and believes in it. Persuading people and training them is a real challenge.
What’s on your podcast list/Spotify playlist?
I listen to all sorts I like a lot of comedians but also a bit of politics as well as industry experts. I’m a bit of a nerd for skilled tradesmen showing off their skills.
You can register for the Solving Tech for Small Builders course here: https://constructioncoach.co.uk/solving-tech-for-small-businesses-sign-up/
Authors
Tom Peardon
Tom represents the London membership of the FMB championing their interests to key industry stakeholders in London and providing a support to the membership.
Tom has eighteen years of experience working commercially in construction media including fifteen years on the CIOB publications Construction Management and BIMplus. Tom has also worked on the Architects’ Journal, the Architectural Review and the Association for Project Safety publication the Project Safety Journal.
Tom holds a degree in English and Philosophy from the University of Roehampton.
