Episode 29: Johnathon Marsh from SteelToe Consulting

Episode #29 features Jonathan who is a Construction Technologist and consultant to MEP Contractors for technology stack reviews, VDC workflows, and Prefab shop enhancements.  

The Meaning of #PowerToTheTrades  

We discussed his thoughts about the many meanings of the word power in regards to the construction industry and specifically to Craft Workers and Trade Contractors.  

What does “Power to the Trades” mean to him?  Jonathan said “some of the things that if you looked at technology two years ago, look again because some of the things that didn’t work two years ago, work just fine now. You know, you need a little time out there. You know, you need some people on them that know how to build, you know, and that’s sort of that evolution of technology especially in construction, technology comes out and it comes from tech producers. And then we hand it to people in the trades that know how to build, you know, your tagline power to the trades man. That’s what it means to me is that we hand technology to people that know how to build and they show us how to use these tools.” 

How has technology powered the operations of contractors you have worked with?  

We discussed the impact of technology on Trade Contractors for improving company operations. Jonathan explained “I think where technology is really empowered, everything is in… is in the realm of communication and culture.” 

“So we had a situation and construction in which communication between those planning and those executing was non-existent and the communication tools that… that happened when a contract or digitizes like that’s the first thing I see that’s the first time I see them laid up is when the communication starts to really work.” 

Wrap up 

This was another excellent discussion about the use case of technology in the construction industry, and how we can improve moving forward this year!  

To all the trade contractors out there reading or listening, keep up your incredible work, and thank you for building and servicing the world we live in! 

Let’s continue to bring #PowerToTheTrades!