Your Foreman Doesn’t Hate Tech — He Hates Wasting Time.

Build-Better-Ways
May 9
3 min read

Why Field Technology Fails (and What to Do About It)

The problem isn’t that your field teams are “too old-school” to embrace technology — it’s that too many tech rollouts ignore the most important part of the process: the human factor.

Construction technology has exploded in recent years. From mobile project management tools like Procore and Autodesk Build, to wearables and drones, the potential to streamline workflows and reduce rework is massive.

According to the 2023 State of the Industry Construction Technology Report by IronPros, over 90% of construction professionals now use smartphones on-site, with tablets and laptops following closely behind.

Yet adoption rates still fall flat where it matters most — in the field. When superintendents and foremen don’t consistently use digital tools, the data breaks down, workflows stall, and ROI goes out the window.

The Problem Isn’t the Tools — It’s the Rollout

Field crews aren’t resistant to change — they’re resistant to inefficiency. If new tools slow them down, feel like “extra steps,” or weren’t designed with their input in mind, guess what? They won’t use them.

In fact, a study by FMI and Procore found that 35% of construction professionals spend more than 14 hours per week on non-optimal activities like tracking down project data or correcting mistakes. Layer a clunky tech solution on top of that, and you’ve just doubled the frustration.

Three Reasons Field Tech Adoption Fails

Top-Down Implementation Without Buy-In: (Fun Fact) Telling your supers to “just use it” because corporate said so? is asking for them to become disengaged. You need early champions in the field involved before go-live — especially the informal leaders that everyone listens to.
Training That Doesn’t Fit the Workflow: Training videos or conference room sessions won’t cut it. Field leaders need real time, role-specific learning that connects to their actual daily problems — not a theoretical walkthrough.
No Accountability or Feedback Loops: If no one’s following up, tracking usage, or making adjustments based on field feedback, adoption fizzles. This is where you standard operating procedures and communication strategy comes into play.

So How Do You Actually Get Field Teams to Use the Tools?

Here’s what works :

✅ Start With Why: Tie the tech directly to their pain points. Show how it cuts back on rework, helps them get home earlier, or keeps them from getting yelled at over missing paperwork.

✅ Pick the Right Champions: Find tech-positive superintendents or foremen and turn them into early adopters. Have them teach others NOT IT or someone else they are unfamiliar with.

✅ Integrate Training Into Their World: Think QR codes on job boxes, 5-minute standup demos, mobile-friendly microlearning. Make adoption part of the job, not a separate chore.

✅ Create a Feedback Loop: Use adoption scorecards, shout-outs in meetings, and most importantly, update workflows when field teams give input. This builds trust and long-term engagement.

✅ Track, Adjust, Repeat: Use data to track real-time usage and tie it to outcomes like reduced RFIs, faster inspections, or less rework. When people see wins, they stick with it.

Bottom Line

You can buy the best platform on the market, but if your supers and foremen aren’t using it, you’re paying for a very expensive spreadsheet.

Tech adoption in the field isn’t about the software. It’s about strategy, empathy, and execution. And when done right, it can lead to better builds, faster closeouts, and a more empowered workforce.

💡 Want to roll out tech that actually sticks on your jobsite?💡

Reach out to our team — we specialize in helping contractors turn digital investments into real-world adoption, without the burnout or backlash.

Works Cited

IronPros. (2023). 2023 State of the Industry Construction Technology Report.
FMI Corporation & Procore Technologies. (2018). Construction Disconnected: The High Cost of Poor Data and Miscommunication.
McKinsey & Company. (2020). The Next Normal in Construction.