The obstacles noted by GCs and subcontractors reflect their overall adoption status, with GCs challenged more by the implementation of useful software compared to subcontractors reporting more concerns directly related to the hardware.

General Contractors

GCs are stymied by software and usage barriers that prevent devices from contributing effectively to improved productivity. Their top concern is the lack of adoption of these technologies by other firms on the project team. Combined with the earlier findings on the greater prevalence of use by GCs of project document sharing than subcontractors, the survey results reveal that a significant pain point for GCs is the ability to interact with other companies. Their second most important factor is the lack of interoperability with existing hardware and software, which limits usefulness of the devices.

The only significant difference in usage concerns between larger and smaller GCs is related to privacy and security—33% of larger firms report this concern compared to only 21% of smaller ones. The greater risks to larger firms likely drives this result.

Subcontractors

The top obstacle limiting or preventing subcontractor investment in mobile devices is their cost. This finding appears to be at odds with their practice of using premium Apple products more frequently than the offerings of Apple's competitors, which often offer lower prices.

The second factor, wireless network access, is one related directly to the use of the device itself rather than the software it runs.

Finally, lack of interoperability is a major problem for subcontractors as well, as it is for the general contractors. All of the other software issues were selected by far fewer subcontractors as a significant obstacle to investment.

Intensive Users of Mobile Devices

There are some notable differences between firms using mobile devices on nearly all of their projects (75% or more) compared to less intensive users. Across the board, they cite more obstacles overall, suggesting that their sophistication may make them more demanding with regard to future investments.

Factors Impacting Contractors' Investment in Mobile Tools

The ability to share project documents is a major factor in GC and subcontractor investment in mobile tools, both in the investments they have already made and in investments they intend to make in the future. Other consistently important features vary between GCs and subcontractors.

GC Investment Priorities

Affordability of devices and ability to work collaboratively remain consistently important to GCs, both in technologies where they've already made investments and in the technology investments they will make over the next three years. Notably, over half of GCs report communication drove their choices to invest in the past, yet it drops to 33% this year (see chart), which suggests that current technologies may be meeting this need.

Four factors emerge that increase in importance in driving GCs to invest in mobile tools: good project management capabilities, an ability to tap into cloud-based software, interoperability with existing hardware and software, and more construction-related apps. Clearly, for GCs, the next major frontier is the availability of useful software.

As might be expected, smaller GCs mention affordability more often than larger GCs (50% versus 35% respectively) as a driver to mobile tool investments—mimicking the percentage of subcontractors reporting cost as a priority.

Subcontractor Investment Priorities

Affordability had the largest percentage increase of subcontractors who consider it a high priority for their future mobile device investments. Many in the industry believe that subcontractors have struggled significantly with the impact of the recession on the construction industry, and affordability may be critical for them to consider making investments in the next few years.

Good scheduling and project management software also is considered important by nearly a third of subcontractors for their future investments.

Looking Forward: More Benefits Ahead