The Tech Stage at Digital Construction Week delivers quick-fire sessions on the very latest tech, hosted by skilled technical practitioners.

We catch up with Chris Knight, Global Construction and Engineering Industry Director for IFS Cloud, who are proudly sponsoring the Tech Stage this year.

Tell us more about what IFS offers…

IFS Cloud is a project and asset focussed ERP solution, therefore designed to support the full project and asset lifecycle. To that end, IFS have customers that operate within different stages of this lifecycle.

For example, organisations that design, that construct, operate, and maintain complex assets and facilities, as well as organisations that are responsible for multiple stages of this lifecycle and are able to manage the entire process within IFS. With this in mind, IFS Cloud provides solutions for:

  • General Contractors
  • Speciality & Engineering Contractors
  • Residential & Property Developers
  • Modular & Prefabricated Manufacturers
  • Facilities Management Providers

Why is it important for IFS to sponsor the Tech Stage at DCW?

Innovation is key for IFS and we are proud of our position in the industry so the chance to showcase that on the Tech Stage is perfect for IFS to do that.

What role do you think trade shows like DCW play in the lives of industry professionals?

Having the opportunity to meet and talk to real people again has been really missed by many people.  Being able to spend time with people in the construction industry across such a widespread of products and services, and all in one space at the same time is very rare.

What is IFS working on right now?

We have a new eBook which explores how there’s never been a better time for engineering and construction companies to adopt a digital ERP backbone. I invite you to talk to IFS and see how the next generation Construction ERP solution can streamline and optimise your business like never before.

What issues have you identified with other ERP solutions?

There are many factors that impact the success of an ERP implementation, such as the level of commitment the organisation makes to implement the new system and business processes. Success can only be achieved if the project is driven from the top with strong governance and a fully committed team.

The other issue is whether the Construction ERP solutions used by many organisations do not fully support the necessary business processes required by the construction industry. There are many solutions out there and they vary by geography. They tend to fall into two categories:

  • Construction Industry ERP solutions – e.g. Coins, CMIC, Viewpoint
  • General ERP Solutions – e.g. Microsoft, Oracle, SAP, Infor, Sage

IFS offers a real modern cloud-native alternative to these solutions.

How do you think construction has changed now we are emerging out of the pandemic?

And as we (hopefully) continue to step away from the pandemic, we’re seeing more investment in infrastructure. That’s because it’s an easy, long-established way to stimulate an economy. And by making roads and railways that reliably carry passengers and goods from A to B, the economy becomes more efficient.

But over the last 10 years, we’ve seen a huge rise in the standard of infrastructure. Roads, for example, have improved massively. What was once simply tarmac and asphalt, are now ‘smart’ connected networks.

Infrastructure is predicted to overtake residential as the number one form of construction. And historically, construction & engineering (C&E) outfits with fingers in the infrastructure pie have tended to be fire-fighters – not planners.

IFS develops and delivers cloud enterprise software for companies around the world who manufacture and distribute goods, build and maintain assets, and manage service-focused operations. Visit the IFS website.