The tech boom has influenced more than cell phones and ride sharing. Big tech brands are bringing out the best in construction companies with their desire for bigger, cooler and technologically advanced buildings. As innovative structures push the construction industry forward, contractors show how creative they can be. The latest example of structural innovation can be seen in the new headquarters Apple recently opened in Cupertino, California.
It is officially named Apple Park, but it is known, affectionately, as The Spaceship because of its circular shape and futuristic appearance. The building sits on 175 acres, stretches across 2.8 million square feet and houses roughly 12,000 Apple employees. Projects like this that push state of the art construction forward, present unique challenges to contractors and scaffolding teams.
But, before a contractor can land a job to work on an inventive project, they need to set themselves apart from the competition. The bidding process for technology companies like Google, Apple and Amazon can be more difficult than the average process. So, here are three things every contractor should consider before bidding on these increasingly common, boundary-pushing, tech projects.
HIRE WELL
When tech tycoons come calling, contractors have to be ready to execute at the highest level and on a strict deadline. After all, tech industry leaders like Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and Google’s Sundar Pichai reach the pinnacle of their careers by creating an environment that allows people to get the most out of their work. They want greatness from their company, and they will want greatness from their contractors.
Projects like Apple Park have strict non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), and they want to know the people on the job aren’t going to take advantage of their situation. So, be prepared by hiring quality workers to execute on these innovative construction projects. Deploying services like strict drug tests and thorough background checks can help staff companies with workers who have exceptional work profiles.
DIFFERENTIATE YOUR BID
Right now, money is flowing through the construction industry at a feverish pace. Having the lowest price tag no longer puts a bid at the top of the pile. When working with large and sophisticated companies, price isn’t the only thing that will land you the contract.
Companies pay close attention to detail and want to know that they are dealing with the highest level of contractors and subcontractors. If contractors can prove that their business carries all necessary certifications with highly skilled and trained employees, cutting-edge companies will know they can put the future of their business in your hands. There are services that keep a company’s certifications, compliance, insurance, health safety and training information in a central location. This ease of use and speed of this may make a company’s bid more attractive than one whose company must manually show proof of train, insurance and certifications.
HAVE A STRONG PARTNER
One more way to assure contractors can handle the demands of big tech firms is to align with a strong partner who can be a guide through daunting situations. Choosing an insurance partner should involve more than the price of the premium. They can add value to a business by giving a contractor access to a wealth of industry experience and information.
Insurance carriers, particularly specialty insurance companies, have intimate knowledge of the industries they serve and the companies they work with. While a contractor may not have been involved in sophisticated projects, chances are, a good insurance carrier was involved. They can help mitigate risk, keep contractors up-to-date on the industry’s latest trends and connect a contractor to others in the same industry who can share advice.
STAY READY
The construction industry is evolving, but not as fast as the tech sector. If contractors want to keep up with the construction demands, they need to hire well, differentiate and have a strong insurance partner. The size and scope of big tech projects is growing quickly, and jobs like this can bring notoriety to the companies involved. Contractors should make sure they can set themselves apart from the competition enabling them to be a part of construction innovation.
Source: Associated General Contractors
