Technology to the rescue
The pandemic has challenged the work culture of every organization, including infrastructure companies and manufacturers. It has forced them to think out-of-the-box, optimize their administration and production processes, and incorporate technologies and innovations in their operations.
The rules of doing business have changed: now, virtual meetings, presentations, training, monitoring equipment, plants and managing projects remotely, have become the ‘new normal’. The accelerated use of automation and digital technologies is helping developers, contractors, equipment manufacturers, project managers, and service providers to stay connected with their customers, vendors, and employees, and make every effort possible to keep their businesses going.
In fact, from now on, along with investing in plants and machinery, R&D, and expansion, infra builders, OEMs, contractors, and other service providers will seriously consider investing in digital technologies such as cloud computing, IoT, Telematics, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, BIM, Blockchain, Robotics, and other Autonomous Systems, given that Industry 4.0 will increase manufacturing capability, productivity, and efficiency.
In the adoption of such technologies, a key aspect is to create a skilled workforce to drive the change. This is a big opportunity for Young India, but also a concern given the employability challenges due to the gap in the skill sets available. The Government, the Industry, and the Academia must together formulate a framework to address this issue.
While collating information on the latest trends in the Infra Industry in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic for the 27th Anniversary issue of NBM&CW, we interacted with many OEMs, builders, contractors, and technology companies. And the sum of our interactions is that despite all odds, the industry is readying itself for the new normal and meeting all the challenges head-on.
While most of the CEOs expressed confidence that good times lay ahead, they also voiced their concerns on the unprecedented high price of steel and cement. The cost escalation of equipment due to steel prices, along with the mandatory BSIV implementation, will put extra pressure on the OEMs and buyers alike.
The Government can help ease the situation by offering sops such as tax relaxations, and incentives like the production-based incentive scheme PLI to the OEMs, else it might put a dampener on the growth prospects of the Industry. OEMs will also suffer a setback due to the global competitiveness, which would slow down the Government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat mission.
In the following pages, leading OEMs, Builders, Contractors, and Technology Solution Providers share their views on how technology has become a gamechanger in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, and why they are adopting tech-based solutions to sustain their business operations and to ensure timely completion of construction projects.
JCB India: Deepak Shetty, CEO and Managing Director
Today, there is significant focus on digital technology across our operations and we feel that the Indian Construction Equipment sector will have a more digital influx over Read More...
Tata Hitachi: Sandeep Singh, Managing Director
We are continually investing in technologies and R&D for improving equipment performance and are deploying automation for increased efficiencies at our factory Read More...
Larsen & Toubro: Arvind K Garg, Executive Vice-President and Head Construction & Mining Machinery Business
Increasing adoption of Digital Technologies, Alternate Fuels, Cost Effectiveness, Custom Built Solutions, and Versatility of Machines, are some of the key areas that the Read More...
Puzzolana: Abhijeet Pai, President
We are looking at newer ways of manufacturing our products by using new-age technologies, processes, and materials, and bringing more cost and performance value to our Read More...
Gayatri Projects: Sandeep Reddy, Managing Director
We have always looked at adopting technology ahead of the competition, but the main challenges are with respect to finding the right fit with the sites. Most technologies need Read More...
Terex Materials Processing India: Jaideep Shekhar, Managing Director (Asia & EMEAR)
We are excited to begin development of state-of-the-art large capacity machines, which will further increase our capability to cater to the ever-growing demand for aggregates Read More...
Ashoka Buildcon: Sanjay Londhe, Director & CEO - Projects
Our company has always been equipped with the latest construction methods and advanced technologies – one of the reasons why we are able to complete projects ahead Read More...
Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology India: Manojit Haldar, Managing Director
While many companies have been forced to make difficult decisions about costs and spending, but at a deeper level, many are also opting to innovate and digitise at a faster pace Read More...
Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corp.: Kumar Keshav, Managing Director
The impact of the pandemic had directly or indirectly impacted the timeline of the Kanpur and Agra Metro projects, despite which, the management undertook all the possible Read More...
Escorts Construction Equipment: Ajay Mandahr, CEO
Keeping in mind project site complexities, stricter emission norms, higher production output, need for precision and safety, companies will have to keep abreast of the evolving Read More...
CDE Asia: Manish Bhartia, Promoter & Managing Director
It has been a year of many new developments for us - we have set up offices in Jakarta, Indonesia and Bengaluru, and warehouses in Gurugram and Bengaluru, to improve Read More...
Dholera Industrial City Development Ltd. (DICDL): Dilip Brahmbhatt, General Manager
Rapid adoption of technology in the industry has led to safer and more efficient job sites, reduced costs, faster job completion, and increased profits. The industry is counting Read More...
Action Construction Equipment: Sorab Agarwal, Executive Director
It is my firm belief that, going forward, use of technology will not only provide economically viable solutions for the manufacturers, operators, and customers, but also Read More...
Ammann India: Anand Sundaresan, Managing Director
There is so much to do in India with respect to Infrastructure development, therefore, organisations with long-term commitments will definitely invest in expansion Read More...
Louis Berger: Kshitish Nadgauda, Senior VP & MD Asia
By adapting to WFH our employees have mitigated the negative impact of the pandemic. Now, retaining WFH post-pandemic in a partial manner, will boost employee Read More...
DYNAPAC India: Abhijit Som, MD, Fayat Road Equipment Division
We are going ahead with the introduction of our CEV IV compliant machine as planned. We will also continue to invest in new developments to meet both local and global Read More...
Sterling Developers: Ramani Sastri, Chairman & Managing Director
Efficient adoption of relevant technologies will be a boon for real estate companies in the future as it will boost productivity and simplify processes. The real estate industry Read More...
Propel Industries: V. Senthilkumar, Managing Director
The recent policies of the Indian government have been structured to benefit infra sectors. Budget 2021 which focused on construction and Capex-led economic recovery Read More...
Prestige Constructions: V. Gopal, Executive Director - Projects & Planning
While the world continues to deal with the repercussions of the pandemic, the involuntary digital transformation has brought to light the need for industry-wide innovations Read More...
KYB Conmat: Premraj Keshyep, Managing Director
We are positive about the demand trend of construction equipment in FY 22, backed by the investment plans of the Central and State Governments, and the backlog Read More...
Schwing Stetter India: V.G. Sakthikumar, Managing Director
Schwing Stetter India will easily reach its pre-Covid levels in terms of production capacity and sales by August-September 2021, in fact, we have been seeing a consistent rise in Read More...
Sany Heavy Industry India Pvt Ltd: Dheeraj Panda, Director – Sales, Marketing & Customer Support
As an OEM, we cannot lose sight of the industry’s changing needs including the new emission norms. Technological innovation is the only way forward to produce more Read More...
SOBHA Limited: Raghu Balan, Executive Vice President & Head QST
A counter cyclic investment in Technology and Equipment is a challenge, especially during uncertain times; but we believe that innovation germinates in the middle Read More...
CASE Construction Equipment: Sandeep Mathur, Brand Leader - India & SAARC
We are fully geared to meet impending demand with our full range of equipment, including our newest CX220C 22-ton crawler excavator, which, like all our machines Read More...
Aparna Constructions & Estates: Rakesh Reddy, Director
We have designed systems that incorporate best practices for increasing efficiency and mitigating risk. Aparna Constructions is also at the forefront of using digital tools to enable Read More...
Pacific Group: Abhishek Bansal, Executive Director
Challenges will always be there whenever there is a shift to a newer technology; but as a progressive player in real estate and construction, we always look at how to Read More...
House of Hiranandani: Prashin Jhobalia, VP Marketing Strategy
Cutting-edge, ground-breaking technology has always been at the forefront when it comes to creating a paradigm shift; so technological advancements will act as Read More...
ILC Group: Rehan Huck, VP-Retail
Advanced technologies like prefab and steel frame construction double the cost of the projects but reduce completion time by more than half; so, one has to take a wise call Read More...
Spectrum Metro: Sagar Saxena, Project Head
The real estate sector is embracing advanced technologies to create colossal structures, well within the stipulated timelines. The real estate sector cannot function Read More...
MJ Shah Group: Shreyans Shah, Managing Director
Large investments into the realty sector along with international building technology, and the benefits of lean construction have improved the quality of construction Read More...
Bentley Systems India
Bentley develops software solutions for infrastructure engineering with the understanding that integrated project controls can be achieved only if the solution is project Read More...
Bennet & Bernard Group: Lindsay Bernard Rodrigues, Co-Founder and Director
Advances in technology have touched every aspect of life, from revolutionizing business performances to opening new ways to drive innovation. As technology Read More...
Trimble Solutions: Paul Wallett, Regional Director
With the launch of Tekla 2021, Trimble’s flagship solution Tekla Structures now sports new features and enhancements to drive data-driven and connected workflows designed Read More...
Highbar Technocrat Limited: Ashok Wani, Head of Technology & Innovation
It is the best time now to transition to a modern intelligent ERP for any growing business. Highbar’s IoT solutions are helping construction and real estate companies to monitor Read More...
Tactive Software Systems: Devarajan Chinnusamy, CMD
Covid–19 has taught us the need for remote operations and management of construction activities. The time is ripe for contractors to catch the early wave of Read More...
