With the growing need for real-time monitoring and control of equipment fleet and operations, use of digital technologies in construction equipment operation and maintenance is gaining more traction in the current scenario. <p></p><p> Construction and infrastructure sector in India is aiming its focus on productivity and speed. When the government is pushing for faster execution of projects, it demands all the processes on fast track. Technology plays a key role in faster execution by using construction equipment with advanced features. IoT and GPS-based technologies have now been started using significantly for improved performance of the machines and overall construction process. </p><p> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pushing growth </span><br />Digitalisation in construction equipment helps improve the monitoring and control of the equipment operation and fleet at various projects. It has helped contractors with optimum utilisation of the equipment leading to improved productivity and efficiency of the machine. In spite of added cost, digital technology will ultimately provide benefit to the user due to enhanced productivity. These have led OEMs focus more on digital features in their equipment. </p><p> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Evolving market</span><br />Digital technologies are consistently cited across markets and industries for delivering increased efficiencies to businesses - and, the construction industry is no exception. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Roshan Purohit, India Regional Sales Manager, Trimble, </span>elaborates, &quot;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.&quot;</p><p>According to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Aditya Paranjpe, Head - IoT, Kloudq Technologies, IoT and Big data </span>are incorporating different construction activities that are currently working in silos in the equipment industry. &quot;IoT backed by powerful analytics is being used to monitor equipment usage, fuel usage and maintenance, and construction equipment manufacturers are investing in intelligent machines today more than ever,&quot; he adds.</p><p> Being a cost-conscious industry, the construction industry stakeholders were shying away from investing in new technologies due to added cost. The trend is now changing, considering the improved productivity these technologies can bring in, helping in faster return on investment and long-term benefits.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Saurabh Kulkarni, Mobile Automation Expert, India, B&amp;R Industrial Automation,</span> elaborates, &quot;Since the last couple of years, big players have started leveraging technologies such as Industrial IoT (IIoT) for real-time data monitoring, data analytics, predictive maintenance for enhancing efficiency and boosting margins. We expect use of digital technologies to become widespread among construction equipment manufacturers of all sizes in the coming years.&quot;</p><p> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Digital steps</span><br />Though IT and digital revolution has evolved in many industry segments in India, it has started in an organised way in construction equipment industry only in the past two years only. Though monitoring and control technologies such as telematics started years back, it was slowly picking up over these years. It was only recently that the digital features started playing major roles in the operations of construction equipment, after the increased use of IIoT-based solutions. Many construction equipment OEMs have been introducing IIoT and GPS-based features to their equipment for the past few years and updating the features. In the recently concluded bauma CONEXPO INDIA 2018, this was visible as OEMs have introduced machines with latest digital features. JCB India for example, launched its 'intelli'gent series of machines at the expo by integrating digital technologies to its machines. According to JCB, the company is leveraging digital technology by integrating Big Data and IoT in its products and services. The 'Intelli' technologies - the Intelli-Control, Intelli-Compaction and the Intelli-Load, all having been designed keeping the customer in focus.</p><p>With an aim to offer a better operational efficiency and security to the customer, CASE India now offers an advanced version of its Eagle Eye telematics. This version will provide live tracking for the operating machine and will assist in geofencing by setting a predefined area on a map, beyond which the machine will not work. This will help in alerting the user to any kind of theft or unauthorised usage of the machine along with device tempering alerts, the company claims. </p><p>L&amp;T showcased the Komatsu range of products that come with the inbuilt tracking system Komtrax that helps the users monitor the machine anytime, anywhere and helps with improving machine performance as well as reduce fuel usage. The features include colour monitor with advanced machine monitoring function and improved visibility and resolution with large TFT LCD. </p><p> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Demand drivers</span><br />Time-bound project execution under the stipulated quality norms has become the norm in today's infrastructure projects. Government and agencies have now set stricter guidelines to meet these requirements. Once the project is cleared of the policy level approvals, the next big thing is to do the execution of the project within the specified time period and quality. Technology of course plays the lead role in this. Digitalisation has brought technology to the next level, enabling customers to control and monitor everything virtually. </p><p>According to Paranjpe, a variety of factors drive manufacturers towards digitalisation - typical goals involving cost reduction, increasing efficiency, improving safety, meeting compliance requirements, and product innovation. &quot;Easy accessibility and operability, increased safety, improved viability, asset lifecycle of equipment, and reduced risks are some of the other factors driving digitalisation in this sector,' says Kulkarni.</p><p>Purohit explains, &quot;Organisations and governments are starting to understand the potential of technology to improve productivity, increase jobsite safety and positively impact the bottom line - and are eager to leverage it more to drive sustainable and efficient development.&quot;</p><p> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Market outlook</span><br />At a time, the country is going through a digital revolution in many sectors, it is high time construction sector also plunge into the revolution considering the way the country's infrastructure development is progressing. For the past couple of years, the stakeholders of construction industry have started experiencing the benefits of digital technology. Of late, the advancements in IoT and GPS-based technologies have created new vistas of growth for the construction equipment industry. According to Purohit, the demand for digital solutions in construction is real and is rising fast. Paranjpe says, &quot;Digitalisation only makes it easier for organisations by empowering them to transform their business objectives and focus better on newer revenue streams.&quot; </p><p>Kulkarni is of the view, &quot;Strong economic growth in India is providing support to big government projects such as Sagarmala, Bharatmala, Jal Marg Vikas project, etc, and is expected to continue to grow at strong rates over the next decade. To keep pace with market trends and demands, construction industry is increasingly turning towards automation and networked equipment.&quot; </p><p>With many big ticket projects in the pipeline in the country, the role of technology is gaining more importance and digital technologies will have increased presence going forward. </p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">- Sudheer Vathiyath</span></p>