The pandemic, Brexit and erratic and unpredictable weather events have disrupted the supply chain for construction materials significantly.

Research via the Construction Leadership Council shows that a broad range of materials are affected - including timber, bricks, cement, and steel. All are hard to come by, and it is a major cause for concern on building sites across the country. For those that can obtain materials, prices are fluctuating wildly, with cost rises across the board, with many materials being increasingly difficult to find.

The problem is that construction is seen as a huge driver in the UK’s economic recovery and the appetite for projects has increased sharply across the world, adding further pressure to the system.

This is most apparent with major infrastructure works, which create huge numbers of jobs and have costs in the billions. For these crucial projects to be delivered, help is needed. Step forward, Artificial Intelligence (AI).

AI-powered construction software can help project managers and contractors to prepare for materials shortages, and more importantly, respond in real time to issues.