You’ve seen the numbers and you’ve felt it on the ground. The industry is in a strange spot. The Associated Builders and Contractors’ Construction Backlog Indicator is robust, signaling months, even years, of secured work. Yet, new project starts have tapped the brakes. High interest rates and a dose of economic uncertainty have created a lull in the market, a collective pause before the next big push.
It feels like a calm, but any seasoned GC knows this is the deep breath before the plunge. Forecasts point to an acceleration in construction starts as we head into 2026. When that dam breaks, the flood of new projects will be immense.
Great news. But the question is: will you be ready to ride the wave, or will you be swept away?
The Danger of Doing Nothing
It’s tempting to use this quiet period to simply catch up and maintain the status quo. But sticking to the old ways of paper-based systems, manual check-ins, and disconnected communication channels is a recipe for disaster when the market turns.
When the pace picks up, these outdated methods will quickly become bottlenecks. You’ll face:
- Wasted time as foremen and project managers are buried in paperwork instead of managing the site.
- Increased safety risks from poor communication and a lack of real-time oversight.
- Costly delays as information fails to flow efficiently from the field to the office.
- Lost bids to competitors who are more agile, efficient, and technologically advanced.
The coming boom will favor the prepared. Those who can manage more projects, more efficiently, and with greater control over safety and quality will win.
Seize the Calm: Your Window to Upgrade Is Now
This “calm before the storm” isn’t a break; it’s a strategic opportunity. Now is the ideal time to invest in the digital tools that will future-proof your business. Why now?
- Less Disruption: Implementing new technology, like a digital check-in or project management system, is far easier when you’re not juggling a dozen active projects at peak capacity. You have the bandwidth to do it right.
- Proper Training: This period allows for thorough team training. You can ensure everyone, from the tech-savvy PM to the veteran superintendent, is comfortable and proficient with the new tools before the pressure is on.
- Strategic Rollout: You can pilot new software on a few projects, work out the kinks, and develop best practices for a company-wide rollout.
By the time the market roars back to life in 2026, your team won’t be learning a new system; they’ll be leveraging a powerful advantage.
Navigating the Talent Tightrope: Workforce Management in the New Era
The chronic trade labor shortage continues to plague our industry. As GCs scramble to staff projects, we’re seeing an increased reliance on a diverse workforce, including those with varying immigration statuses. This, coupled with heightened scrutiny on hiring practices, makes robust workforce management more critical than ever.
The “calm” period offers a golden opportunity to strengthen your systems for:
- Automated Background Checks: Integrate digital solutions that streamline background checks, ensuring compliance and peace of mind without creating administrative headaches when time is short.
- Immigration Document Verification: Prepare for increased scrutiny by digitizing and automating the verification and tracking of immigration documents. This mitigates compliance risks and ensures you can quickly verify workers’ eligibility as regulations evolve.
- Certification and Training Tracking: With a diverse workforce, maintaining up-to-date records for safety certifications, specialized training, and licensing becomes complex. Digital platforms can flag expiring documents, remind workers of renewals, and ensure everyone on-site meets the necessary qualifications. This is crucial for both safety and avoiding costly project delays or penalties.
These aren’t just bureaucratic hurdles; they are foundational elements of a resilient and compliant workforce strategy. When every minute counts, you can’t afford to be bogged down by manual verification or risk non-compliance.
What Does “Going Digital” Mean?
Upgrading your tech stack doesn’t have to be an overwhelming overhaul. It starts with identifying your biggest pain points and finding targeted solutions. For most GCs, the highest-impact areas are:
- Site & Safety Management: Transition from paper sign-in sheets to a digital check-in system. This not only streamlines compliance and improves security but also provides real-time data on who is on-site, automates safety orientations, and ensures everyone has the required certifications. This directly supports the need for robust workforce verification.
- Project Management Software: Centralize communication, scheduling, and document management to keep everyone on the same page.
- Financial & Bidding Tools: Automate estimating and accounting to improve accuracy and save time.
- Field Data Collection: Utilize drones and mobile apps for progress tracking, site mapping, and quality control.
The goal is to connect your operations, from the trailer to the field to the main office, creating a seamless flow of information that boosts efficiency and reduces risk.
This market lull won’t last. The backlogs are a clear indicator of the massive potential energy building up in the construction industry. Use this time wisely. Invest in the digital tools that will not only help you weather the coming storm but empower you to command it. The time to act is now.
David Brian Ward is a CEO and Founder of Safe Site Check In LLC, a digital jobsite management platform launched in 2020 for the Construction industry. With over 40 years of experience in the technology industry, having launched and grown several successful companies. Mr. Ward is a now a SaaS entrepreneur and innovation leader in the Construction industry.
