How the architecture, engineering, and construction industries can benefit from a digital transformation

How the architecture, engineering, and construction industries can benefit from a digital transformation partner

Historically, architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) organisations have faced many of the same uncertainties and obstacles as other professional services industries, as well as many that are specific to their field. However, the COVID-19 pandemic was a turning point that changed the global corporate scene, hastening the development of digital technologies and our ability to deliver work remotely, and that brought substantial changes to the way architecture, engineering, and construction leveraged information technology.

AEC firms aiming to grow and retain a competitive advantage over their competitors, need to embrace digital transformation that can address the security, network, and cloud challenges they face so that existing challenges are solved, and new opportunities are unlocked.

With modest resources, IT teams at AEC firms are faced with the challenge of figuring out how to leverage technology to ensure project management, data backup, multi-site connectivity, and security are all seamlessly working, and it is a challenging task.

IT Challenges faced by the AEC organisations.

1. Remote working and multi-site operations

How do they ensure that all employees working remotely and across multiple sites are connected and can access the hosted solutions and data seamlessly?

2. Cybersecurity

How can they ensure that their networks, applications, and data are secure? How can they authenticate the identities of users? How can they harden their security posture and prevent ransomware?

3. Adopting a cloud solution

How can the organisation embrace and get the most out of cloud services, migrate their infrastructure to the cloud, and have better connectivity to their public and privately hosted infrastructure?

4. Project control and regulatory compliance

How can the IT systems ensure frictionless project control with project management and tracking solutions that are in line with the necessary compliance regarding confidentiality, security, and accessibility between all stakeholders?

5. File sharing and collaboration

How can AEC organisations effectively share large files that involve complex designs and documents and effectively collaborate among all the stakeholders and with their clients?

6. Data Backup and Management

How can they ensure that all the data, which includes complex designs and drawings, confidential contracts, and other operating data, is archived, backed up, and accessed as needed effectively?

Your Digital Transformation Journey.

Every organisation will be at a different level in its digital transformation journey, and the challenges they face will be specific to the sector they operate in and stakeholders the operate with, but broadly speaking the challenges can be clubbed into connectivity, virtualisation and security of their IT estate.

Understanding each of these challenges in detail will help the senior IT leadership in this sector address them effectively, so let us get an overview of these challenges with a brief description of solutions that can address those challenges.

1. Remote working and multi-site operations

The architecture, construction, and engineering (ACE) industry heavily relies on teams that are spread across different locations, working remotely, or managing multi-site operations; this presents its own set of IT challenges such as connectivity issues, latency, and endpoint security.

With offices and teams scattered across different locations, managing network infrastructure becomes an intricate challenge for IT managers. Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) offers a solution by simplifying network management and providing centralised control over multiple sites. By utilising SD-WAN technology, IT managers in ACE firms can optimise network connectivity, reduce latency issues, and enhance overall performance, ultimately boosting productivity for distributed teams.

This translates to a consistent user experience, central management of the network, and higher resilience to contingencies or threats, with the added benefit of being highly scalable and cost-effective.

Another significant challenge for IT managers within ACE firms is managing the diverse range of devices that employees use to connect to the network. From laptops and tablets to smartphones and specialised equipment, the variety of devices introduces compatibility and security challenges. So, combining SD-Wan with zero-trust network access and device management strategies, such as mobile device management (MDM) solutions, can help IT managers streamline device provisioning, enforce security policies, and ensure secure access to network resources.

The aim is not just multi-site, multi-device connectivity but secure multi-site, multi-device, connectivity. The use of Secure site solutions utilising Next-generation firewalls and unified threat management is strongly recommended in today’s business environment.

2. Cybersecurity.

There are three key elements to cybersecurity challenges in the AEC sector: the security of the data, the network through which it is transferred, and the users who have access to the said data.

Unauthorised access is a major concern among AEC firms, as drafts, estimates, and other documents related to projects are subject to strict non-disclosure agreements. Even if they do not get hacked directly, anyone in their project chain, be they consultants or contractors, can get hacked, and the organisation will be exposed to all the associated risks.

A ransomware attack is expensive. According to a report by cloud content security and governance provider Egnyte, nearly one-third (31%) of AEC organisations that were victims of ransomware were targeted at least twice within 16 months, with a tiny percentage targeted even more frequently.

Other than the high cost of the ransom, the damage to reputation and loss of customer confidence are risks no organisation should take.

Microsoft Office 365 offers encryption for all files in rest and transit. When combined with a unified threat management (UTM) solution, you get multiple security features or services that are combined into a single solution within your network.

Using UTM, your network's users are protected with several different features, including antivirus, application control, identity access management, content filtering, email and web filtering, anti-spam, and more. It is a centralised and holistic approach to hardening your security position across networks and devices.

3. Adopting a cloud solution

As mentioned above in the previous sections, ACE companies can benefit from adopting off-site cloud solutions, be they dedicated private cloud-based solutions, hosted project management solutions, file sharing and collaboration tools, or security solutions with data backup and management solutions. The ability to migrate the infrastructure to the cloud helps firms revolutionise their operations, enhance connectivity, and achieve improved levels of staff and cost efficiency.

With hosted applications updating, patching and backing up are seamless and this removes the resource drain on managing and supporting the applications.

Organisations can opt for a private cloud or public cloud infrastructure based on their priorities; a public cloud often offers greater scalability, while a private cloud offers more cost efficiency, control, security, and customization. There is no one-size-fits-all solution and based on the use case of the organisation and by clearly mapping their applications, needs, and usage, a public, private, or hybrid cloud migration can be recommended. Below is a list of scenarios in which these firms can maximise their IT infrastructure by adopting virtualization.

• Private cloud hosting offers ACE firms the perfect balance between predictable cost, security, control, and scalability. By leveraging private cloud infrastructure, businesses can ensure that their sensitive data and confidential designs remain protected within their dedicated cloud environment.​
• Managed Azure and AWS services relieve the burden of managing and monitoring complex cloud infrastructure, allowing firms to focus on their core competencies and deliver exceptional services. With the support of specialised cloud service providers, architecture, construction, and engineering firms can seamlessly migrate their infrastructure to these industry-leading cloud platforms.
• By embracing Microsoft 365, teams can break down physical and geographical barriers, enabling real-time collaboration on design blueprints, project plans, and critical documentation. With seamless integration across multiple devices, Microsoft 365 empowers firms to access, edit, and share files securely, both internally and with external stakeholders, ensuring rapid decision-making and enhanced project delivery timelines.
• Cloud backup and cloud DR replication offer robust solutions to protect critical data, ensuring seamless business continuity. By backing up data to the cloud, firms safeguard against hardware failures, ransomware attacks, and natural disasters, mitigating potential risks. Additionally, cloud DR replication enables firms to restore their server infrastructure quickly, minimising downtime and maximising productivity.
   

4. Project Control

Between architects and engineers, the process of reviewing and finalising specifications and construction documents has long been a pain point, with many architects saying they lack an effective way to track project progress and changes so they can make any adjustments or course corrections during projects as well as complete design and specification reviews efficiently.

This is a similar concern among organisations in the construction and engineering industry where coordination with many stakeholders adds to the complexity of managing projects.

With building codes, regulations, and certifications all having a role in the design and factoring in regional variances, it can become quite daunting for firms just to ensure they can complete projects on time and in compliance with norms, rules, and regulations. Add to this mix the fact that some local regulatory authorities are frequently behind in technology and still use paper-based systems in many circumstances, and you have a quagmire.

Cloud-based project management systems can assist architects and other stakeholders in effectively managing projects and ensuring profit margins. These systems enable real-time monitoring of project progress, resource allocation, and task management. With clear visibility into every aspect of the project, stakeholders can make informed decisions and take timely actions to keep projects on track.

Microsoft Project with Microsoft Teams, mentioned below, is one solution that can help organisations manage their projects effectively, link resources and files, and act as a single platform to manage their projects, when combined with role-based access control, only authorised individuals will have access to specific project data, ensuring adherence to regulatory compliance.

5. File sharing and collaboration

AEC firms need an efficient method for sharing information and collaborating on project documentation with external stakeholders such as engineers, contractors, consultants, and others. All these project participants need a "single version of truth," or the most updated and correct version of documents, and a streamlined method for managing change requests for all upstream, downstream, and linked documents. They want to be able to send and amend plans, contracts, or blueprints automatically, as well as link RFIs and submittals back to initial drawings for reference.

Along with the complexity and interconnectedness of the documents, they also need to categorise, archive, and store all the rich media files with significant sizes from multiple solutions such as AutoCAD, Vectorworks, ArchiCAD, Revit, Staad Pro, SketchUp, Maya, Etabs, Risa, and Primavera, to name a few.

So robust file sharing and collaboration tools like Microsoft One Drive and Microsoft Teams will massively help organisations work and collaborate effectively on their projects, and as One Drive is a cloud-based solution, storage size and retrieval speeds are not a concern. The best thing is that all users can receive notifications when updates are made or when someone needs to act on a specific task or document.

6. Data Backup and Management

As highlighted in the collaboration challenge, we know that architecture, construction, and engineering firms generate substantial amounts of data. Effectively managing, protecting, ensuring compliance, and backing up this data is becoming increasingly challenging for IT managers in the industry.

Microsoft 365 ensures data protection with built-in security measures and compliance features. Through Microsoft 365, IT managers gain access to advanced security tools, including data encryption, access controls, and multi-factor authentication. But with regards to scalability, it has its constraints and Microsoft itself advises clients to use third-party backups for such data.

The constant influx of large files, complex designs, and project documentation would do well with cloud-based platforms like private cloud hosting, managed Azure, and managed AWS that offer the flexibility and scalability required to accommodate ever-increasing data volumes with the ability to scale up or down depending on project requirements, effectively solving most, if not all scalability challenges.

Disaster recovery and business continuity are other key requirement for ACE firms, as a major data loss event or system failure can halt operations, causing significant financial losses and reputational damage.

There are regulatory requirements too; the expanded limitation periods for claims under the Defective Premises Act (DPA) enacted in last year's Building Safety Act may force architects to reconsider how and for how long they keep their records. So, whether on paper or electronically, architecture firms must keep records for 15 years, regardless of any corporate winding-up or business reorganisation that may have occurred.

So, defining a clear data backup and management strategy and deploying a robust solution fully managed by an expert technology partner ensures compliance and recovery in any adversarial situation.

Download the "Acing the IT Challenges by Architecture, Construction and Engineering Firms" Use Case

Look for partners, not vendors.

Compared to vendors who offer piecemeal services or a few amalgamated services; It is better to choose a technology solutions partner who can work with the key leaders and stakeholders to analyse, propose, and implement the optimisation of your IT estate.

Implementing IT solutions has an impact on the organisation, and no matter how efficiently handled, it will create some disruption to the users and the processes in the organisation. Unless there is a clear roadmap, the outcome might just turn out to be sporadic and disconnected improvements to your infrastructure, which will remain inefficient.

A mature partner should be able to provide fully managed network, security, and virtualization solutions within a clear framework that is scalable, reliable, and cost-effective. Once built, this framework can be used to constantly optimise the IT estate and even make incorporating new technology or vendors a breeze.

Change is the only constant in the technological landscape.

In this ever-evolving digital landscape, harnessing network, cloud, and security solutions has become the need of the hour to stay ahead of the competition and ensure long-term success.

Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the challenges organisations might face if they do not have a technology framework to necessitate operations in adversarial markets or geo-political situations, and it is becoming increasingly clear that embracing these technologies is not merely an option but a necessity. The "new normal" demands that firms adapt to remote working and digital collaboration methods.

Embracing these technologies allows for greater flexibility, productivity, and operational efficiency, ultimately leading to improved project outcomes and client satisfaction. All of this translates to a “Digital Differentiator” something that helps you stand apart from your competitors.

hSo can provide the key elements you need to successfully optimise your IT infrastructure.

Connectivity: We can connect your sites with leased lines that deliver the bandwidth necessary to handle simultaneous connections from hundreds or thousands of end-users or devices and even deploy an SD-WAN solution for optimised performance. We also provide business broadband connections for smaller sites or backup purposes, connecting these to the Internet, offices, or WANs. 

Security: We can deploy Unified Threat Management (UTM) tools that help protect your users and your network from attacks and inappropriate network use.

Encryption and Authentication: We offer both SSL VPNs and IPsec VPNs to protect your confidential data and can integrate these with Active Directory.

Cloud Solutions: We help you make the most of public clouds, private clouds, and hybrid clouds. We enable organisations to embrace and get the most out of cloud services.

Back-up and DR solutions: We offer cloud backup, storage, and disaster recovery solutions that help you ensure you do not lose any critical data and that, in the event of a contingency, you can be back up and running in the shortest time possible.

Collaboration Tools: We offer several unified communications options that help end users collaborate with features such as instant messaging, audio conferencing, video conferencing, and screen sharing.
 

All these hSo services are backed by service level agreements and are supported 24x7 by our UK Customer Support Centre.

Why are we the ideal cloud and IT infrastructure service partner?

• We will understand your needs and offer guidance in selecting appropriate cloud solutions.

• Enterprise-class data centres ensure a high standard of service consistency, technical support, and application uptime.

• Fully managed service from deployment, advanced monitoring, and migration support to disaster recovery

• Expertise in advanced data and communication technologies and a thought leader in innovative solutions

• Service Level Agreements with your needs in mind and emphasising our level of commitment to you.

• A London-based team of technical experts on call 24/7/365 to support you anytime, anywhere.

• Trusted by leading UK organisations for over 23 years.

To learn more, call us on 020 7847 4510 or fill in the contact form below.