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Everyone in construction has heard the promise: “Boost productivity by 30%”. But real productivity isn’t a number on a slide. It’s measured in the dust, sweat, and decisions of daily work. It shows up when a job is done right the first time, when fewer people are needed on site, and when machines spend more time working than waiting.
This article won’t hand you another one-size-fits-all promise. Instead, it shares how contractors themselves define productivity in their own terms, what it looks like on the job, and how technology have paid off in real projects.
For most contractors, adopting technology isn’t about a single project gone wrong — it’s the realisation that old methods can’t keep up. Sometimes it’s the scale of a job. Other times, it’s simply seeing that technology has already become the benchmark across the industry.
“We had a big project that came in and we said surely there’s a better way to do this. It always came down to time. The engineer was spending way too much time outside marking out. Even the money we spent on spray paint — just imagine how many boxes we’d use on a big project.” — Jack Power, Power & Rock, Owner
Whether it’s saving engineering hours or cutting unnecessary costs, contractors agree: efficiency today depends on technology.
Construction has always been built on craft and tradition. That’s why new technology can feel like a big shift. But for contractors who’ve adopted it, the payoff is clear: less reliance on extra people on site, and less time lost to machines standing still.
Technology frees workers from repetitive tasks so they can spend time on what drives the project forward.
The old-school way of doing our project would be to mark out pegs, engineers everywhere on site marking out stuff, creating higher labor costs. Now, with technology instead of stuff taking a week, it's taking one or two days. — Patrick Quinn, P. Quinn Construction, Lead Shaper & Owner
With fewer people tied up, projects run faster and at lower labor costs.
When machines sit idle, profit disappears. Every hour of waiting for engineers, for project designs, for lines to be marked - eats directly into margins.
The main challenge we found was getting engineers to mark out ahead of time rather than forcing us to sit there waiting in the machines. Now, we have the 3D models on our Unicontrol system. Reducing machine downtime was my main reason for integrating technology into the processes. Jack Power, Power & Rock, Owner
By freeing up workers for more important tasks and keeping machines moving, technology doesn’t just make jobs easier — it protects profit. Day after day, the savings in labor and downtime add up, proving why technology pays off in the long run.
For most contractors, the big question isn’t whether technology works — it’s whether it pays off. Investing in machine control is a financial risk, and contractors expect it to prove its value from day one.
You have to do an outlay of an investment to purchase the system. But if you did it the old school way, you'd have a man on the ground with a measuring tape or a rotating laser. You're eliminating his wages or he can be doing something else. You're maximizing your profits as much as possible. More “fun productivity” - more money! — Ritchie, Subcontractor, Ger Gubbins
Unlike labor, which is a continuous expense, technology is a one-time investment — and the savings grow year after year. For many contractors, technology doesn’t just pay for itself — it keeps paying back.
For contractors, productivity comes down to simple terms: less downtime, fewer people tied up on site, and lower labor costs. Technology has made that possible — turning daily efficiency into lasting gains.
“For someone that doesn’t have technology on their machine, I would say go for it. It’s the way forward — I think technology is going to bring you further forward. There is an outlay initially, but it will pay for itself.” — Padraig Conway, Rotanev Ltd., Owner
Ready to see how 3D machine control can make a difference in your work?
Learn the basics: Visit our how-to section to see exactly how the software works on site.
Run the numbers: Try our calculator to discover how much you can save with technology.
Talk to us: Want advice tailored to your business? Fill out the form, and we will get back to you quickly.
