In recent years, the growing trend of digitization has gone beyond the IT and digital industries, becoming ever more present in the physical world and revolutionizing industries ranging from heavy machinery to agriculture. This trend became one of the main talking points at Huawei’s Industrial Digital and Intelligent Transformation Summit to be held in October 2024 in Dubai. i His insightful presentationHuawei’s corporate senior vice president noted that, while traditional industries cannot be transformed overnight, digital transformation is inevitable, and companies need to incorporate data-driven processes into their work, with industry-specific solutions. It takes hard work to prepare. The construction industry provides a clear example of this process. Ksenia Zagorskaya, a project manager with more than a decade of experience, recent Bentley University (‘2024) MSBA graduate, and creator of an original cloud-based construction management software, digitalization trends and their growing role in construction. Explains his point of view. as well as other industries.

“One of the key challenges facing the construction industry in recent years is the need to find the most efficient ways to operate in the face of supply chain and labor shortages,” she explains. While these challenges have existed for a long time, they were exacerbated by the pandemic, and have continued to hamper the entire industry ever since. Ksenia Zagorskaya developed a solution, which increases efficiency in an innovative way, namely by implementing Internet of Things solutions.

His project, The Tres Hilos, integrates advanced technologies to improve construction fleet management and efficiency. Through sensors strategically placed on key components of construction vehicles, real-time data is collected, providing clients with unprecedented insight and control, allowing them to monitor vehicle operations in greater detail and more. can achieve greater optimization and efficiency than The automation and digitization feature of the software allows enterprises to streamline complex industrial processes and digitize document flows, with blockchain contracting reducing manual efforts and reducing the risk of construction project overruns and multiple Providing opportunities for operational cost savings.

Tres Hilos stands out by providing a robust set of functionalities that cater to diverse stakeholders within the architecture ecosystem. With real-time vehicle tracking and analytics, the software provides actionable insights, empowering company executives, management teams, and on-site staff to make data-driven decisions. The ability to forecast work plans, track deviations between expected and actual production, and assess the profitability of projects ahead of commitments ensures operational transparency and financial prudence. The integration of IoT-enabled sensors and AI-powered forecasting further expands its capabilities, enabling predictive maintenance and improving fleet efficiency.

Additionally, the deployment of blockchain technology within its operations introduces smart contract functionality and secure fleet leasing arrangements, ensuring smooth and tamper-proof documentation. By incorporating non-standard sensors to track specific vehicle activities—such as the precise movement of an excavator bucket—The Tres Hilos provides an innovative and tailored solution that makes it a leader in telematics and heavy equipment fleet management. Gives the status of a leader.

With a focus on predictive analytics and advanced forecasting, the platform offers actionable recommendations to mitigate risks, optimize schedules and reduce costs. By addressing both strategic and on-the-ground needs, The Tres Hilos empowers businesses to achieve greater productivity, operational flexibility and a competitive edge in the industry.

Currently, the project is at a minimum working prototype stage, the core technology is copyrighted and currently being implemented by several companies. The performance of The Tres Hilos has already been proven in practice, helping startup clients improve their decision-making and reduce operational costs.

The further development of the Trace Halos startup is of particular importance in the context of recently published analyzes of the current state of the construction sector conducted by leading consulting firms. According to Deloitte “2024 Engineering and Construction Industry Outlook”digitalization and the development of generative AI have become key areas that can help engineering and construction firms meet expected industry growth and unexpected challenges. “Imagining the Digital Future of Construction,” Outlines five trends that will shape construction and investment projects, including the development of digital spatial leaders and the rapid adoption of digital mapping and estimating technologies.

Additionally, the US government recognizes the critical role of digital transformation in increasing the efficiency and productivity of the construction industry. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), enacted in 2021, allocates substantial funding for infrastructure modernization, emphasizing the integration of advanced technology into construction projects. The initiative aims to improve project delivery, reduce costs and ensure longevity of infrastructure investments.

These approaches indicate a concerted effort to transform the construction industry, leveraging digital technology to increase its efficiency, sustainability and resilience. The Tres Hilos project clearly embodied this trend, providing construction companies with advanced tools to reduce operational costs and streamline complex processes.

It is worth noting that this project is not the first time that Ksenia Zagorskaya has implemented effective digital solutions for an industry that primarily operates in the physical world and not in the digital space. In her previous position at Russian fashion atelier Wash Razmer, she implemented an innovative online service that allowed clients to order alteration and fitting services online from the comfort of their own homes. This solution, unprecedented in the market, brought a 5% increase in the company’s profits and made the service even easier for customers.

Data-driven decision-making becomes increasingly important for running a business successfully in any industry, be it construction, fashion or anything else. She continues that, while solutions must be tailored to the demands and specifications of a particular industry, there are methods that can be applied globally. Evidence of this, for example, is another service he developed for a fashion atelier, a management dashboard with data collection and real-time updates and reports, which was later adopted with some modifications by a transport company. .

Ksenia Zagorskaya comments that developing and implementing digital solutions with the ability to be universal requires continuous learning, exploring different perspectives, and expanding one’s understanding of the market to a broader and more specific scope. is required. Up until that point, he had earned four degrees, beginning his studies with a BSc in Economics in Moscow and continuing to study in London and the US, to gain a deeper understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of business operations. Bentley University in 2021-2024.

However, the process of implementing digital solutions, such as industrial applications of IoT, also has its disadvantages. As digitalization becomes an important trend in many industries, companies want to implement new technologies for their sake, which They may promote in the short term, but will not be beneficial in the long term. Ksenia Zagorskaya notes that before implementing a digital service in a business operation, thorough research should be done that will reveal the points where innovative solutions Applying will yield maximum profit. This is how she works with her clients, finding ways to apply IoT and digital tools in ways that are unique to them. are most useful for

“Bridging the gap between operations in the digital world and the physical world is what makes technology effective at the end of the day,” concludes Ksenia Zagorskaya, “I hope to bring innovative solutions to industries in which this Time is short, and I will help my clients not only achieve increased profits but be efficient and sustainable in the long run.” Currently, she is already working on the next version of the Tres Hilos project, implementing improvements based on previous experience and establishing partnerships with US-based collaborators. It is hoped that this project, along with other solutions mentioned above, will help foster a new, more sustainable way for the industry to operate.