b'TCA AGMTHECASE FOREMBRACINGTECHNOLOGYCONSTRUCTCONNECTS MARK CASALETTO FOCUSES ON THE IMPORTANCE OF TECHNOLOGY AT THIS YEARS AGMBy Warren HeeleyEMBRACING TECHNOLOGY wasCasaletto provided an overview of howskilled workers. Casaletto said, The fact the topic of interest at TCAs 152ndtechnology has been changing thethat more people left the construction Annual General Meeting held Februaryindustry in the last few years, notingsector than those that entered the sector 20 at Woodbine Racetrack. Keynotethe fact that recent changes outweighfor the first time in 2015 is a telling tale of speaker Mark Casaletto, president ofall the changes in the industry over thethis problem.ConstructConnect Canada and a directorlast 20 years. He emphasized that more on the TCA Board, gave a presentationand more of these technologies areProductivity has also been a large issue outlining the need for the constructioninvading the construction industry andfor the construction industry: for more industry to continue to embraceparticipants from all sectors need to bethan 100 years the sector has seen very technology. He also touched on the TCA/ determining how these technologies canlittle productivity gains. The essence ConstructConnect strategic partnershipmake their businesses more productiveof the problem is the unwillingness of on a new electronic plans room platform.and profitable. the industry to change and adopt new technology. If construction companies The new platform was announced atA key issue facing the constructionwant to stay competitive, they have to Construct Canada last December andindustry is the shortage of skilledstart looking at technologies to improve labour, which all industries are findingtheir productivity.is now available to all TCA members. Inchallenging. In a market like the GTA, his introduction, John Mollenhauer, TCAwhere construction is currently boomingCasaletto then pointed to the general president and CEO, stated, TCA looked atand predicted to continue this way intoglobal view of Canada as a market open a long list of companies that provide plansthe future, companies must find waysfor business. Increasing numbers of room software. The ConstructConnectto embrace technology to fill the gapsforeign companies are coming into product was by far the best platform oncreated by a smaller pool of workers andthe country, including construction the market. competition from other industries forcompanies bringing with them up-to-date 28Quarter 1 2020 BUILDERSDIGEST'