Why be a Slow Adopter When You Can be a Technology Leader?

By Lauren White, RCS Assistant Editor.

This RLW is packed with valuable information about technology that can help transform the roofing industry.

In order for contractors to consume information and learn from other industry professionals how they want and when they want, RoofersCoffeeShop® (RCS) developed RLW, which stands for Read, Listen, Watch.  Now, contractors can read a transcript before bed, listen to a podcast on their morning commute, or watch a webinar while enjoying their morning coffee. 

John Kenney, chief operating officer and technical director for Cotney Consulting Group, joined Heidi J. Ellsworth, RCS partner, for our latest RLW.  During the webinar, Adopting Technology That Makes Sense for Roofing, John shares about important technology for each department within a company, the benefits of augmented reality and VPNs and much more.

Roofing has always been a slow adopter when it comes to technology, and when the coronavirus pandemic forced people to work from home and alter their business practices, many in the roofing industry had to quickly implement new technologies and procedures to continue working.

A fan of data, John explains that on a couple of studies concerning technology use throughout all industries, construction ranked second-to-last, with hunting and agriculture being last on the list.  And roofing is at the bottom of the construction category, which John describes as “scary and crazy at the same time.”  He continued, “Every other industry in the world and in our nation is above us except for planting and farm animals, so that’s very crazy.”

“COVID put us in a position besides the lockdowns, they were tough enough, but we had to learn to communicate with our jobs, with our field, with our admin employees working from home; we had a whole new change that came in overnight,” John explained.  Many roofing companies have adopted technologies that help with their efficiency, communication and organization, but a majority have not, which challenged these companies.  John shares, “It all comes down to having the processes in place on how to use the technology.  Those who had them in place prior to COVID absolutely had the least amount of issue navigating throughout the first 60 to 90 days.”

One technology that Cotney Consulting Group has been utilizing throughout the pandemic is Smartsheet.  Through its cloud-based collaboration, anyone with a device and an internet connection allows workers to connect to the “office.”  According to John, “We can do everything in there to get you online collaborating from your human resources, to your administration, purchasing, contract administration and the most amazing part is to get your field involved in this.”

The coronavirus pandemic caused the roofing industry to fast-track its technology adoption.  When the studies about technology adoption are done in a couple years, it is John’s hope that construction and roofing will be towards the top of technology leadership. 

To Read, Listen or Watch more from John Kenney about adopting technology for roofing, visit RoofersCoffeeShop RLW. 

Learn more about Cotney Consulting Group in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory.