Civil Contractors Remaining Optimistic Despite Severe Supply Chain Challenges

Rhea-AI Summary

The latest issue of The Civil Quarterly from Dodge Data & Analytics highlights significant supply chain challenges for civil contractors, with 92% reporting project impacts due to construction material cost fluctuations. Despite concerns about rising costs, 53% anticipate revenue growth, and 63% expect stable or improved profit margins over the next year. The report also discusses cybersecurity risks, with small contractors underestimating potential cyber threats, and the usage of reality capture tools, which enhance project management and quality improvements.

Positive

• 53% of civil contractors expect revenue increases in the next year.
• 63% anticipate their profit margins will hold steady or grow.
• 71% of contractors are optimistic about project volume for the coming year.
• Reality capture tools used by contractors lead to improved project tracking and quality.

Negative

• 92% of contractors have faced project disruptions due to material cost fluctuations.
• 89% express concerns about further cost increases for materials in the next six months.
• 43% of small contractors believe cyberattacks are unlikely, indicating a lack of preparedness.

HAMILTON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The latest issue of the Civil Quarterly (TCQ) from Dodge Data & Analytics reveals a dramatic increase in supply chain challenges faced by civil contractors. However, contractors remain optimistic about the state of their industry in the near future despite adversity.

The report, based on a quarterly survey of civil contractors, engineers and owners, shows that the vast majority of civil contractors (92%) have had projects impacted by fluctuations in the cost of construction materials in 2021. The latest report also found that 89% expressed concerns about cost increases for materials over the next six months, including prices for steel, piping, paving materials, lumber and aggregates.

Despite these concerns, over half (53%) expect to see increases in revenue and nearly two thirds (63%) expect to see their profit margins hold steady or grow in the next year. This is likely due to the fact that nearly three quarters (71%) are highly optimistic about the volume of work they expect in the next year.

The report also features new data from the survey about cybersecurity and reality capture.

Cybersecurity

The current TCQ finds that civil construction project owners are more likely to consider a cyberattack possible or likely than civil contractors or engineers. Among civil contractors, only large firms frequently consider the risk of cyberattacks a likely possibility. In fact, nearly half (43%) of small contractors with revenues under $10M believe such an attack is unlikely to hit their firms.

Not surprisingly, there is also a direct correlation between those who consider an attack more likely and the degree to which they are prepared for such an attack. For example, owners and large companies are far more likely to have documented cybersecurity policies, engage in cybersecurity training and employ numerous other means of protecting themselves against cyberattacks, including having a mobile device plan, protected IoT devices or creating an incident response playbook.

With the overall increase in cybersecurity attacks, the leading obstacle among contractors to widen investment in cybersecurity is that they do not think the level of risk for their companies warrants further investment.

Reality Capture

On the topic of reality capture, the findings reveal that there are a wide range of reality capture tools employed on civil jobsites. Use of drones, aerial mapping and digital cameras are widespread, but a range of other tools are also emerging in use, including project site webcams, laser scanners and GPS rovers, among others.

Civil contractors who use these reality capture tools are finding wide applications for the data they gather from them, with earthwork calculations, quality control verification and progress documentation being the most common. Not surprisingly, these numerous applications lead to some critical project benefits with over half of those who use these reality capture tools reporting improved ability to track work progress, improved ability to manage schedules and budget, and improved quality on their projects.

The Civil Quarterly provides a quarterly snapshot of the current business health of contractors operating in this dynamic environment and explores trends in the industry: The report is the result of a partnership with Founding partner Infotech^®, Platinum partner Hexagon and Gold partners Command Alkon and Digital Construction Works, and is based on original research collected from civil contractors and engineers. It is available for free download to help all those who have a stake in the U.S. civil construction industry. Future editions will continue to address a wide range of related topics providing a comprehensive view of this complex and ever-changing segment of the construction economy. Click here to download a copy: https://www.infotechinc.com/thecivilquarterly/.

About Dodge Data & Analytics: Dodge Data & Analytics is North America’s leading provider of commercial construction project data, market forecasting & analytics services and workflow integration solutions for the construction industry. Building product manufacturers, architects, engineers, contractors, and service providers leverage Dodge to identify and pursue unseen growth opportunities that help them grow their business. On a local, regional or national level, Dodge empowers its customers to better understand their markets, uncover key relationships, seize growth opportunities, and pursue specific sales opportunities with success. The company’s construction project information is the most comprehensive and verified in the industry.

As of April 15th, Dodge Data & Analytics and The Blue Book -- the largest, most active network in the U.S. commercial construction industry -- combined their businesses in a merger. The Blue Book Network delivers three unparalleled databases of companies, projects, and people.

Dodge and The Blue Book offer 10+ billion data elements and 14+ million project and document searches. Together, they provide a unified approach for new business generation, business planning, research, and marketing services users can leverage to find the best partners to complete projects and to engage with customers and prospects to promote projects, products, and services. To learn more, visit: construction.com and thebluebook.com.

About Infotech®: Info Tech, Inc., DBA Infotech (Infotech) is a leading SaaS solutions provider for the infrastructure construction industry. Informed by DOT relationships and decades of experience, Infotech develops software solutions that bridge the gaps between owners, consultants, contractors, and other project stakeholders. Whether it be tools for construction administration and inspection or secure online bidding, all of Infotech’s solutions are built to increase transparency, productivity and the availability of data. Infotech is the developer of Appia^®, Bid Express^®, and Doc Express^®, as well as the official contractor for AASHTOWare Project™. For more information, visit infotechinc.com.

About Hexagon: Hexagon is a global leader in digital reality solutions, combining sensor, software and autonomous technologies. We are putting data to work to boost efficiency, productivity, quality and safety across industrial, manufacturing, infrastructure, public sector, and mobility applications. Our technologies are shaping production and people related ecosystems to become increasingly connected and autonomous - ensuring a scalable, sustainable future.

Hexagon (Nasdaq Stockholm: HEXA B) has approximately 21,000 employees in 50 countries and net sales of approximately 3.8bn EUR. Learn more at hexagon.com and follow us @HexagonAB.

About Command Alkon: As the provider of the leading Supplier Collaboration Platform for Heavy Work, Command Alkon solutions deliver supply chain digital collaboration across the heavy construction community. CONNEX, a technology platform built for the industry, enables business partners to automate and integrate business process, capture real-time visibility into heavy material orders and deliveries, and share knowledge to promote certainty of outcomes. Command Alkon is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama and has offices in locations around the globe. For more information, visit commandalkon.com.

About Digital Construction Works: Digital Construction Works (DCW) is a leading industry application and technology integration services and solution company. We help owner-operators and constructors accelerate the adoption and use of digital workflows, incorporate digital twins of assets, implement best practices, and, if needed, include the right combination of fit-for-purpose third-party technology to improve construction planning, design-build, operations, and project outcomes. We take current disparate third-party applications and integrate them so they all work together, and they can be managed in a single, secure, integrated platform with project insights. Learn more: www.digitalconstructionworks.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211013005823/en/

Cailey Henderson

dodge@104west.com

Source: Dodge Construction Network

FAQ

What challenges do civil contractors face according to the latest Civil Quarterly report?

Civil contractors face significant supply chain challenges, with 92% reporting project impacts from construction material cost fluctuations.

What percentage of civil contractors expect revenue growth in the next year?

53% of civil contractors expect revenue increases in the upcoming year.

How do contractors perceive cybersecurity risks?

Contractors, especially small ones, often underestimate cyberattack risks, with 43% believing such attacks are unlikely.

What tools do civil contractors use for reality capture?

Contractors employ various reality capture tools, including drones, aerial mapping, and digital cameras to enhance project management.

What is the outlook for profit margins in the civil construction industry?

63% of civil contractors expect their profit margins to hold steady or grow in the next year.