For over 35 years, Trimble has created unique products that help customers grow their business. Its portfolio includes over 1,100 patents and is growing. Roshan Purohit, India Regional Sales Manager, Trimble, shares more on the digital technology trends in construction equipment.

How is digital technology evolving in construction equipment industry?
Digital technologies are consistently cited across markets and industries for delivering increased efficiencies to businesses - and, the construction industry is no exception. Digitalisation in construction ranges from the use of advanced mapping tools (such as the use of drones) to the possibilities of mixed reality (such as augmented reality) on the jobsite. These innovations are providing opportunities for the construction industry that will change how companies work, cut costs and reduce time-to-completion.

How important is adopting new technologies in construction?
In order to break the trend and achieve growth, the construction industry must embrace new technologies. Advances in BIM and mixed reality technologies, when combined with the power of a cloud-based data and digital transmission system, allow for increased collaboration, reduced costs and less rework on projects. When you also add automated processes, which increase safety and eliminate human error, it is easy to see the potential answers to problems that have plagued the industry for years. The onus now lies with firms to accept and embrace these changes or face the prospect of being left behind by their competitors who do.

What are the key digital features and solutions offered by Trimble?
For over 35 years, Trimble has created unique products that help customers grow their business. Our portfolio includes over 1,100 patents and growing, serving as the basis for the broadest innovation in the industry. We are always looking to innovate and are constantly developing new solutions that improve the efficiency and competitiveness of the construction market. We have recently made a number of announcements to our core product suite (including the Trimble Earthworks Grade Control Platform, Trimble Earthworks GO! Grade Control Platform and Trimble Business Center) that aim to increase productivity on jobsites through integration and automation.

Do you provide digital solution as inbuilt or optional feature for machines?
We want all our customers to benefit from digitalisation and have made significant upgrades to our platforms to ensure these new capabilities are available to all. As an example, we recently launched the Trimble Earthworks GO! Grade Control Platform, a 2D grade control solution for compact machine attachments. This product enables high-accuracy grading in an easy-to-use, portable platform. This is the only Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) compact machine control solution that runs on Android or iOS smartphones making it highly familiar and intuitive to contractors, who can use the technology with little training. Trimble Earthworks GO! can be used by contractors involved in general construction, site preparation and utility work for grading flat and simple slopes.

What are the advantages of your digital solutions?
In addition to improved safety, increased job satisfaction and environmental benefits, our technologies are helping contractors run their businesses more efficiently and more profitably.

How do you look at the demand trend for digital solutions in construction equipment?
The demand for digital solutions in construction is real and is rising fast. Those who will be at the forefront of adopting this technology are already realising the benefits of the technology that is moving us closer every day to full autonomy, which includes machine control, constructible models, unmanned aerial vehicles, augmented reality and other innovations.