Tag: <span>Technology</span>

Tag: Technology

Immersive Experiences at the Oracle Innovation Lab

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RT3 members explore technology in one of the most innovative labs in the world.

The Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3) is committed to learning about new, emerging technologies and how these technologies may be leveraged in the roofing industry. They meet several times a year to experience the latest innovations and understand how they might advance the roofing industry as a whole.

On May 16 RT3 members met at the Oracle Innovation Lab in Deerfield, Illinois to participate in immersive experiences at the lab. According to an information sheet provided by Oracle, “The Oracle Industry Lab is a unique idea incubator designed to help businesses in a variety of industries tackle their most complex challenges. At locations around the world, we work side by side with our customers and technology partners in hands-on simulated industry settings to turn bold ideas into powerful solutions they can implement and use today.”

Manufacturing and AI

One of the experiences was a manufacturing and transportation focus, where artificial intelligence was being used for quality control in a manufacturing environment. Strategically positioned cameras would monitor the production of materials and issue an alert if abnormalities were spotted in the item being made. Drones were deployed to fly autonomous missions to count inventory. In the use case in the lab, the drone would fly to a stack of pipes, take a photo and count the number of pipes, delivering the count to inventory software in the lab.

Models demonstrated how fleets of trucks could be outfitted with technology to monitor their performance, efficiency, locations and health. The technology can alert the company to potential delays or problems before they happen, allowing them to take action.

Mark Mortimer tries the exoskeleton

Connected Tools

Oracle partner Hilti was on site to demonstrate their line of connected tools. They have eliminated the need for electric cords by using smart batteries to power the tools. The tools are able to be monitored using an app on a smartphone that provides detailed information about the use of the tool and the GPS capabilities of the battery can provide the tool’s exact location. This feature was extremely helpful lto one contractor whose tools were stolen from their truck. The app was able to provide information on their whereabouts and the contractor was able to recover the stolen items. 

Hilti also has an exoskeleton that helps support the upper body when doing repetitive work overhead. Members were able to try on the exoskeleton and experience the difference. The company has another exoskeleton in the works that will provide support for the knees, hips and lower body.

Greg Bloom experiencing VR in a building model.

Virtual Reality and Wearables

VR headsets were donned by members as they experienced how a digital model of the Innovation Lab was used to identify a potential issue and correct it during the design phase – before construction was even started.

New Oracle partner RealWear had a hardhat equipped with a smart eye that allowed the person wearing the hat to use voice commands to take photos and share data about the condition of a roof or a job site. By freeing up both hands and eliminating the need to enter data into a smartphone or tablet, the user is safer on the job and more efficient.

Smart Suite

The energy and utilities section of the lab featured a model of a smart kitchen and living area that helps consumers understand their energy usage and ways that they might be more sustainable and energy smart. A Tesla battery wall stores electricity generated by the solar panels on the roof of the lab and holds enough electricity to power the lab for four hours should they experience a power outage.

Smart Scheduling

The command center at the lab has state-of the-art monitors and technology where the Primavera P6 scheduling software was demonstrated. Integrations with Esri and other data sources allow for the identification of potential issues that could arise during a project. The example was for the installation of a utility line, where upon examining the data, we were able to determine that there was farm that would experience disruption as well as a creek that would need navigated during the installation. This allowed for adjustment of the schedule with a more accurate timeline to allow for those issues to be addressed.

After the immersive experiences, members gathered to discuss what was learned throughout the morning and how it might translate into roofing. They also identified challenges that the industry may face in adopting some of these concepts and plan to work on providing information and education to help the industry integrate tech solutions more efficiently.

If you’d like to learn more about becoming a member or participating in future meetups, visit rt3thinktank.com and choose Join RT3.

RT3 Member Owens Corning Recognizes Quality Discount Roofing, LLC with Pinnacle Innovation Award

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The company received the award for their innovative technology that has benefitted the industry. 

Quality Discount Roofing, LLC, a residential & commercial contractor specializing in roofing, siding and gutters, was awarded the 2023 Owens Corning Pinnacle Innovation Award at the company’s annual North American Platinum Preferred Contractors Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Quality Discount Roofing, LLC has utilized an assortment of technology offerings to create an innovative experience for not only homeowners but their employees as well. From an online onboarding program to virtually train new employees, an automated messaging system to notify customers through the project timeline and the implementation of a state-of-the-art estimating tool that with automation as well, simplifies the estimating process for the sales employees and saves paper along the way. These processes have saved time and money for the business while increasing the overall experience on both sides and led to an increase in overall customer satisfaction.

“We have always tried to be early adopters of new technologies in the marketplace. We study other industries away from the construction industry to give us insight into what technology can help us to continue our growth. If customers experience technology from Amazon, they will desire to feel the same elsewhere where they make a purchase. Our goal has been to save time while also increasing the customer experience. New technologies shouldn’t only be for our customers but also for our employees. We found a way for them to benefit everyone,” said Stephen Knuth, Director of Sales for Quality Discount Roofing, LLC.

Jimmy Soderlund, Owner & CEO of Quality Discount Roofing, LLC says, “These technologies are available from industry leading providers. Our goal is always to provide top quality customer service, technology has been a tool that makes that process easier in todays changing world.”

“Owens Corning cares about technology and always being the best. They have the same focus on technology that we do and that is one of the reasons why we love having them as a partner,” says Stephen Knuth.

About Quality Discount Roofing, LLC

Quality Discount Roofing, LLC has been in business since 2011. They exist in the Northern Florida market and are proud to be partners with Owens Corning Roofing to provide an excellent product to their customers. QDR has won the 2020 Owens Corning Roofing MVP Award and voted the Bold City Best Roofer 5 of the last 7 years by Jacksonville.com. 

RT3 Member Mycocycle Joins Chicago H1-B Connect to Support Displaced Tech Workers

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The member companies have come together to reinforce that Chicago is a welcoming city for all.

(Bolingbrook, Illinois) January 30, 2023 – Mycocycle, Inc., a leader in using mycoremediation to process toxins out of waste, announced that it has joined Chicago H1-B Connect, a coalition of Chicagoland companies who are willing to sponsor the H1-B visas for technology workers who have been displaced in the nationwide technology industry layoffs.

According to the website Layoffs.fyi, over 157,000 tech workers lost their jobs in 2022, and the tech layoff rate isn’t slowing down. Over 50,000 workers at U.S.-based tech companies have been laid off this year alone. When an H1-B technology worker loses their job, they are left with 60 days to find a new one and the company must be willing to sponsor their visa.

“We are proud to be a member of this coalition and demonstrate our commitment to support and attract H-1B visa holders to the Chicago area,” stated Joanne Rodriguez, Mycocycle founder and CEO. “For foreign workers on H-1B status, losing their job jeopardizes their ability to stay in the U.S. Being part of this program is a win for all parties involved as companies benefit from the skills these workers bring to our businesses and the workers benefit by being able to continue living and working in this country.”

About Mycocycle

Mycocycle, Inc. was founded in October 2018. It is a woman-owned, early stage cleantech company using mycoremediation to process toxins out of waste. Mycocycle was one-of-seventeen companies worldwide selected to The Circulars Accelerator in 2022 through the World Economic Forum and Accenture, was the winner of the 2021 1871 Momentum Awards as an Industry Disrupter and Chicago Innovation “Up and Comer” Award, recognized as a Finalist in FastCompany’s “2021 World Changing Ideas” Awards issue, recognized as a Forbes “Next1000” Entrepreneur and Energy+Environment Top 100 Leader, selected as a Top 100 Global Deeptech Pioneer by Hello Tomorrow, and a 2020 Innovation selection in the EPA’s Innovation and America Recycle’s Fair. For more information visit www.mycocycle.com.

About Chicago H-1B ConnectLed by P33 and World Business Chicago, the coalition brings together the city’s leading civic organizations including the Commercial Club of Chicago, 1871, the Executives’ Club of Chicago, the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, the Corporate Coalition of Chicago, and MATTER, along with Fortune 500 corporations and rapidly scaling, well-funded startups to help support and to retain highly skilled and valuable international talent. For more information, visit gotechchicago.com/h1b/

RT3 member Jobba announces partnership with Pegnato Roof Intelligence Network  

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One-of-a-kind connection to help roofers grow and succeed in the ever-changing digital world. 

Chicago, IL— Jobba, the roofing industry’s leading software provider, announced that it has partnered with Pegnato Roof Intelligence Network (PRIN) to help contractors win more jobs with major accounts and position them for success with a seamless integration into the network. 

PRIN is a proven system that connects clients with contractors through a cutting-edge platform. Roofing contractors in Pegnato’s network work with some of the largest companies with the most physical locations throughout the United States. 

“We are excited to be able to offer this invaluable resource to our roofing contractors,” explained Scott Keith, Jobba CEO. “This seamless integration with the PRIN network will bring more jobs to our users and help them manage those jobs more efficiently and profitably, all while streamlining communications with the customer.” 

Current Jobba users can begin using the PRIN network today at no additional cost by simply requesting PRIN membership through their Setup. 

For contractors who do not have a full Jobba package, they can take advantage of the PRIN Network through Jobba Express, which is a concentrated Jobba package focused on accessing PRIN. Users can be set up within a week to start receiving and executing work orders.  

Contractors can learn about the Jobba/PRIN Partnership and Jobba Express to see how Jobba and the PRIN connection can help their business. 

About Jobba
Jobba Trade Technologies is the leading provider of business management solutions for roofing contractors. Using a contractor-driven development approach, Jobba creates tools and solutions that roofing companies use every day to successfully operate their business. The cloud-based platform is full of innovative and easy-to-use tools that allow roofing contractors to manage every aspect of their business. For more information, visit www.jobba.com.
About Pegnato Roof Intelligence Network 
Pegnato Roof Intelligence Network (PRIN) is a cloud-based facility management solution that allows commercial property managers to easily manage and maintain their roof’s health. Their cutting-edge platform uses an exclusive network of vetted roofing contractors and connects them with a variety of multi-location businesses, including retail companies, restaurants, childcare facilities, commercial real estate companies and more. Learn more at www.pegnato.com.  

RT3 members experience VR rooms and share future workforce tips at IRE 2022

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Members of the Roofing Technology Think Tank started the week of the 2022 International Roofing Expo by participating in a meetup where they learned about emerging technologies and how they will affect the roofing industry.

Tesla Solar Roofs

The group began its meetup on Monday, January 31 with several presentations. Ken Kelly, of Naples, Florida-based Kelly Roofing shared exciting updates related to Tesla Solar Roofs as his company nears their 100th installation.

Ken Kelly presents on his company’s experience installing Tesla Solar Roofs.

Automating Takeoffs

Following Ken’s presentation the topic moved on to the recent acquisition of Estimating Edge by Foundation Software. Adam Oaks, Estimating Edge CEO shared information about the acquisition and what it will mean for the advancement of technology within the roofing industry.

He then proceeded to give a demonstration of their newest program call Vector. The takeoff software automates the takeoff process, allowing users to spend more time on estimating and less on measuring, saving hours or even days.

Virtual Reality

Following the presentations, RT3 members were able to experience the power of virtual reality combined with photogrammetry to see how it has the ability to revolutionize the way we perform site inspections and even meet with our customers.

Thanks to RT# member John Kiesel of Division 7 Roofing and Imagine Technologies Group, members used Oculus VR headsets to enter virtual rooms that focused on different areas in the industry, including safety, sales and marketing and service.

For many members it was their first experience with the VR space and proved to be a fascinating adventure into what the possibilities for the future of roofing could be.

Future Workforce Panel

On the first day of the IRE, several RT3 members presented a panel titled Casting the Net for Your Future Workforce. In this session, RT3 contractor members shared how they are working with their schools, youth programs and communities to build a pipeline for the future roofing workforce. From multi-organizational apprenticeship programs to working with youth from schools who don’t want to pursue college to getting involved in the community and developing in-house training opportunities, these contractors shared what they are doing, how they got started and tips for success.

  • L-R, Charles Antis, Christee Holbrook, John Peck, Josey Parks, Karen Edwards

It was an exciting week for the RT3 members as they continue their mission to learn about new technologies and share that information with the rest of the industry.

Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3) Plans Activities Around the 2022 International Roofing Expo

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Activities include a virtual reality experience and a future workforce-focused contractor educational panel.

Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3), a group of progressive roofing professionals focused on technology solutions for the roofing industry, announced activities scheduled for the International Roofing Expo (IRE) 2022.

Members will meet Monday, January 31 at the Pan American Life Center in New Orleans. Together they will hear updates on Tesla Solar roofs, recent technology company acquisitions and then will participate in a hands-on virtual reality experience to understand how the tool can benefit the roofing industry.

RT3 will also host an educational panel on Tuesday, February 1 at 7:45 a.m. The session is titled Casting the Net for Your Future Workforce. In this panel, RT3 contractor members share how they are working with their schools, youth programs and communities to build a pipeline for the future roofing workforce. From multi-organizational apprenticeship programs to working with youth from schools who don’t want to pursue college to getting involved in the community and developing in-house training opportunities, these contractors will share what they are doing, how they got started and tips for success.

The panel is moderated by Heidi J. Ellsworth and participants include RT3 contractor members John Peck of PB Roofing, Charles Antis, Antis Roofing & Waterproofing, Christee Holbrook of Graham Roofing, and Josey Parks, CEO of J Wales Enterprises.

“Building our future workforce has been and will continue to be a challenge for our industry,” stated Karen Edwards, RT3 Director. “Several of our members have implemented initiatives that are working to attract and retain workers and we wanted to share that with the rest of the industry. This is a chance for other contractors to learn how to get started and get ideas as to what might work in their service areas.”

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About Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3)
Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3) strives to find innovative technology solutions to be used within the roofing industry.  RT3 provides insights from progressive thought leaders both inside and outside the roofing industry along with practical resources for implementing potential solutions successfully. The organization will encourage and enable contractors to embrace technology as they seek to grow their businesses.  With a commitment to disseminate technology advancement information, RT3 will help build the professionalism and appeal of the roofing industry. Learn more at www.rt3thinktank.com.

Foundation Software announces acquisition of RT3 member Estimating Edge

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This acquisition further enables Foundation to provide software and services that align and strengthen contractors back-office operations.

Foundation Software, LLC — provider of America’s #1 construction back-office solutions — has announced the acquisition of Estimating Edge, developer of The EDGE™ commercial construction estimating, project management tracking and takeoff software.

This acquisition further enables Foundation to serve the construction community by providing software and services that align and strengthen contractors back-office operations.

Estimating Edge creates a professional, all-in-one commercial construction estimating, project management tracking and takeoff software for acoustical, drywall, EIFS, fireproofing, flooring, painting, roofing, wall paneling and waterproofing contractors. By adding Estimating Edge to their family of products, Foundation now offers an even more complete solution for contractors to take control of their projects at every stage.

“It’s an exciting time right now,” said Adam Oaks, CEO of Estimating Edge. “We’ll continue to focus on takeoff, estimating and project management for specialty trade contractors, but now being part of Foundation Software, we’ll have more resources to provide even greater value for our customers.”

Foundation continues to grow its product offerings through both development and acquisitions. Mike Ode, CEO of Foundation Software, looks forward to what this latest addition will mean for the industry.

“We are excited to have Estimating Edge join the Foundation Software family of companies. The addition of their commercial construction estimating and takeoff products will allow us to move closer to the goal of becoming an all-in-one back-office solution for contractors,” Ode said. “We’re looking forward to working with the Edge team and learning from their years of expertise serving commercial specialty trade contractors. Together, we’ll be able to provide leading and proven software tools to both our clients and the industry as a whole.”

With their shared business and cultural alignment, Oaks knew the decision to join Foundation was the right one.

“It was the right choice to partner with Foundation Software,” said Oaks. “They are the best-of-breed accounting solution, and their customer focus and company culture is one that closely aligns with ours.”

Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. Raymond James served as financial advisor to Estimating Edge and Kirkland & Ellis served as legal advisor to Foundation Software.

Visit Estimating Edge or Foundation Software to learn more about their products.

About Foundation Software, LLC

Foundation Software delivers job cost accounting, project management and mobile applications, along with payroll services, to help contractors run the business side of construction. For information, call (800) 246-0800 or email info@foundationsoft.com.

About Estimating Edge

Estimating Edge is a team of tradesmen and software engineers working together to build “cutting-edge” software for the construction industry. For more than 30 years, Estimating Edge has been a trusted provider of commercial construction takeoff and estimating software. The company’s flagship product, The EDGE, is designed around the construction workflow, not the way the software companies believe the user should be estimating. The software is intuitively designed to help both new and seasoned professionals work smarter, bid sharper and build better. Supported trades include roofing, drywall, acoustical, fireproofing, flooring, exterior insulation, painting and wall panels. For more information, call 561-276-9100 or email marketing@estimatingedge.com.

RT3 members share tips on cybersecurity for contractors

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In a recent article from Roofing & Exteriors, editor Gary Thill spoke to RT3 members from Furman Insurance and Cotney Attorneys & Consultants about the ways contractors can protect themselves from cyber attacks. In fact, Thill writes that “construction companies are now the no. 1 target for ransomware attacks.”

John Kenney of Cotney Attorneys & Consultants said he has seen more than a dozen contractors who have been hit with ransomware attacks where hackers were asking for anywhere from $20,000 to $1 million, telling Thill, “There are a lot of contractors getting hit with ransomware, but the truth is no one wants to talk about it because you don’t want it out there.”

Furman Insurance’s Nick Ondo, a commercial risk advisor, says that contractors have become targets because hackers know that they do not have strong IT departments with protective measures in place. He told Thill, “A lot of our clients don’t have sophisticated IT departments. These hackers know that, and then they get into the system and passively monitor it and track every move.”

Kenney and Ondo share six ways that contractors can better protect themselves from these attacks ranging from education to software updates to purchasing cyber insurance. See all the tips and read the full article here.