Innovation is a key piece for the growth of any company. In construction, this is still a challenge, but it is already possible to find good examples of innovative initiatives that are transforming activities and the culture of the sector.

This was the main theme of the 2nd edition of Construct IN Talks, which took place on September 14th in São Paulo, providing a lot of learning and networking among industry professionals.

For this, the event featured the participation of the Head of Innovation of HTB, Shirlei D’Amico, who presented real cases from the company on how to improve management and execution processes of works through the effective implementation of new technologies.

Below, learn about the strategies and actions implemented by the innovation area of Grupo HTB in its processes and on the job sites.

Innovation Strategy at Grupo HTB

With over 50 years of operation in the Brazilian market, Grupo HTB, of German origin, has extensive experience in the private markets of buildings, industrial, and infrastructure, also operating in other Latin American countries.

Innovation is in the company’s DNA and, more than adopting advanced technologies, it is an indispensable part of its culture and business strategy.

Innovating is a long and delicate process that requires many cultural and strategic changes. Even with all the challenges, Grupo HTB has established a dedicated innovation area to promote this transformation.

The strategy involves the integration of innovation in all stages of the company’s business process, from customer prospecting to their loyalty.

The four pillars of innovation at Grupo HTB

For there to be a true transformation in the sector or in a specific company, it is necessary to act from end to end with innovation.

At Grupo HTB, there is a strategic base that assists in this process and ensures that results are achieved. Innovation, therefore, is supported by four pillars:

1. Culture of innovation

The company recognizes that innovation is driven by people, because there is no point in bringing in all the technology if they are not prepared for it. For this reason, it is important to prepare employees so that transformation can occur.

There are numerous actions that are worked on in this pillar to bring innovation into day-to-day operations of the teams, happening organically within the company.

2. Knowledge management

In an environment with so much information and activities happening, the company works on effective knowledge management.

This involves filtering, organizing, and making information available internally to ensure that all employees have access to the necessary knowledge to promote innovation and thus have better communication.

3. Marca do Grupo HTB

Innovation is not just an internal transformation; it is also an opportunity to highlight the company in the market.

Grupo HTB showcases its innovative efforts to suppliers, customers, and the entire ecosystem, reinforcing its brand as innovative over these 57 years of history.

4. Specific Research and Development (R&D):

This pillar focuses on research and development of projects, use of technology, process improvements, and data analysis to drive innovation.

Grupo HTB is committed to looking towards the future and staying updated with the latest trends in the sector.

Organizational Structure for Innovation

The organizational structure of Grupo HTB emphasizes that “innovation = people.” As seen in the innovation culture pillar, everything will happen if there are people prepared for such transformation. Therefore, all employees are considered the foundation of innovation.

It is not expected that a single team will be responsible for this or that initiatives will be made in isolation by areas. The company’s innovation sector acts as a facilitator, but the ones who will truly make it happen are all employees, being a strategic area composed of many people.

Innovation Actions

Grupo HTB has adopted several concrete initiatives for innovation to drive its progress. Among them are:

Innovation Portal

HTB created an internal portal to centralize materials on innovation. This facilitates access and dissemination of information regarding innovation actions within the company. This measure is closely linked to the knowledge management pillar, which aims to optimize communication.

HTB Connect

An open innovation program where startups and suppliers can present solutions to the company dynamically. This simplifies communication and the selection of tools or innovative initiatives.

Internal e-book

The contents of HTB Connect are also recorded in a digital e-book, which is made available to employees. This way, everyone can consult the information more simply and quickly.

Digital Solutions HUB

The HUB consists of managing all solutions and digital tools used by Grupo HTB for the digitization of construction sites, improving operational efficiency and facilitating informed decision-making.

Remote Construction Management: A Success Case

One of the notable examples of innovation at Grupo HTB is remote construction management in 360° with the Visi platform by Construct IN.

Despite initial challenges, the company began to reap the benefits, including:

360° Management and Documentation

Weekly captures of the construction site allow teams to follow the progress of the work from a distance, ensuring complete documentation of projects through 360º images.

What used to be done through thousands of photos taken on the cell phone of all environments, having to extract, save, and organize records of work manually, is now done automatically and centrally on the platform, with 360° photos organized chronologically.

Travel Savings

Remote management reduced the need for physical visits to worksites, saving time and resources. Previously, the project manager would have to periodically visit the sites, and with the 360° construction management platform, they only go when they need to resolve something technical in person, being able to follow along and conduct online meetings.

The same applies to the entire corporate board that needs to oversee and can now do so with the technology from Construct IN.

Progress Meetings

Another application of the tool is to hold monthly progress meetings for the Grupo HTB project. The system also allows for selecting any period of the work and making comparisons between different dates.

This ultimately engages all professionals and brings much more productivity to the day-to-day operations of the different areas involved in a project.

Client Transparency

The company can provide updated information quickly and effectively, avoiding wear and improving the relationship with clients.

Additionally, the platform is also being used for proof of delivery of the environment to the client, especially when it comes to retrofits, where deliveries are made in stages.

Data Integration

The integration of systems has facilitated access and data analysis, contributing to more informed decision-making. Other solutions from the HTB hub, in addition to Construct IN, include the platforms from ConstruCode and Construflow.