Your EVP Needs Tech to Back It

April 24, 2023

ARTICLES

Recently, I’ve had clients complain about candidates exiting the interview process once they’ve seen the systems and technology the company uses. And the thing is, the candidates aren’t necessarily in the wrong. We do have an issue with companies failing to use the right technology in the construction industry and this affects the calibre of talent you attract (and retain!) in the long run.

Welcome back to Behind the Exterior with me, Ellis Morris. Today, we’ll be discussing your employee value proposition (EVP) and how, in 2023, it could heavily rely on the technology you work with.

Here are just some of the things I’ve seen happening with tech in construction:

Companies still using Excel to estimate. It makes the whole process take longer and discourages Estimators from wanting to work for you.
No central cloud system for documents. This makes integration between departments difficult and adds unnecessary work for everyone.
Out-of-date software. I had a candidate years ago who was given a computer with Windows XP and an outdated version of AutoCad to work with, making his job almost impossible.
Not using Revit. The construction industry needs to push towards BIM that allows for better integration across trades.

More than anything, candidates want the ability to do their jobs well

It’s not about having AI at your fingertips or offering the latest gadgets for employees to play around with. What people want is to be able to do their jobs without having to take additional unnecessary steps because of out-of-date technology. We’re not talking about luxuries, we’re talking about standard industry equipment and software.

Take the time to look over each department and compare your current systems to the industry standard. Is your technology on par with what your competitors are using? Improving on the tech you use not only helps with talent attraction, it also saves you time and money in the long run.

I’ve seen companies promising all the bells and whistles and then failing to deliver

Recently, companies have avoided mentioning they’re using outdated tech or even go as far as to cover up that fact. And then the candidate joins and discovers they don’t have the right tools to work effectively and are given software that hasn’t been relevant in 10 years.

Updating your tech can only benefit your business… and your EVP

Using current technologies will streamline your processes and make your business more effective. Sure, onboarding new tech may take some time and effort, but it will be worth it in the long run. People want to work with tech that makes their lives easier, so they can be more efficient and productive. If they’re enjoying their work, they’ll also be more likely to talk positively about your company to their peers.

Word gets around in the construction industry and you don’t want to put off candidates because you’re still using software from 2010 to conduct business.

Want to chat more about how you can attract the best candidates in the US construction industry? Send me a message!

Until next time,

Ellis