How Automation Is Solving Labor Shortages in Construction  

Automation, spanning robotic equipment, AI-driven planning, and off-site manufacturing, is redefining the execution of work both on-site and digitally. Through ARKANCE’s Be.Smart solutions, automation also delivers standardized outputs, reduces costly rework, accelerates time-to-site, and ensures design-to-fabrication continuity  -  empowering teams to build smarter, faster, and more profitably. 

This transformation is core to ARKANCE's mission: to deliver service and technology that support the digital transformation of the AEC and manufacturing industries.

The Scale of The Construction Labor Shortage 

The construction industry continues to navigate a persistent labor shortage, which restricts project delivery and increases costs across the build lifecycle. With demand for skilled workers now outpacing supply leading firms are strategically adopting automation and digital workflows to sustain output and meet critical deadlines. 

This structural challenge is driven by an ageing workforce and insufficient new entrants. Globally, building trades are projected to need 1 to 2 million additional workers by 2027, while in Australia  regions such as Queensland face shortfalls nearing 55,000 skilled workers as infrastructure pipelines expand. 

The impacts are tangible and immediate. Firms face significant project delays and escalating operational costs as they compete for a limited pool of talent. Overworked crews face greater pressure, leading to reduced quality and amplified safety risks on‑site. Addressing these workforce challenges is an existential imperative - making strategic technology adoption the only viable route to closing the gap between project demand and execution capacity. 

Automation as a Practical Solution 

Construction automation represents the strategic application of technology to execute tasks with increased precision and efficiency.  

Crucially, this is not a program for replacing skilled labor. Automation is designed to augment the existing workforce, enabling project teams to leverage technology as a force multiplier. 

By offloading repetitive processes, skilled professionals can focus on complex decision-making, quality oversight, and specialized tasks that deliver greater value. This digital process transformation drives measurable business results, with reported productivity improvements reaching a compelling 62%. 

This strategic deployment is the only sustainable path to overcoming the sector's persistent labor issues while significantly boosting productivity. 

Key Areas Where Automation Is Making a Difference 

Automation is redefining construction efficiency and project delivery. Below are three core areas where it’s driving measurable business results. 

• Automated equipment and robotics on-site - Robots and autonomous equipment handle repetitive or high-risk tasks like bricklaying and welding. Construction robotics improve safety and consistency while freeing skilled workers for specialized roles. According to a  Deloitte‑cited summary, AI and automation technologies in construction can deliver 10 – 15% cost savings, reduce timeline deviations by 10‑20%, and cut engineering hours by 10‑30%. 

• Digital workflows and off-site automation - Off-site construction automation and modular production reduce on-site labor needs. Connected digital construction workflows and BIM automation keep project data accurate from design to assembly. Research shows that off‑site manufacturing and automation in modular construction can reduce on‑site assembly time by as much as 20‑50%, while delivering higher quality and lower costs. 

• Data‑driven project management is more than a buzzword -  it’s driving substantial gains in construction performance. With IoT devices, drones, sensors and wearables deployed across smart job‑sites, firms are achieving 25‑30% reductions in equipment downtime and 10‑15% higher asset utilization. Globally, the construction IoT market is set to double by 2027, highlighting the scale and urgency of this shift. These technologies enable real‑time visibility, dynamic decision‑making and predictive workflows — making automation a practical solution to labour pressure and execution risk. 

If you’re looking to automate your construction processes, book a free consultation with the industry experts at ARKANCE. 

Case Study: Off-site Construction at BuildUp with ARKANCE 

ARKANCE partnered with BuildUp, a leading modular construction company based in Belgium, to accelerate its digital transformation and scale off-site production. 

Facing increased international demand and the need for greater efficiency, BuildUp sought to streamline its design-to-fabrication workflow through automation and BIM integration. 

"To meet the high demand and high requirements in the sector, we had to fully digitize and automate our pre-construction activities," Tim Eggermont, BuildUp’s Chief Operating Officer recalls. The company was already using Autodesk Revit for 3D project design. Now it needed to do engineering in 3D as well, send data to CNC machines for precise fabrication, and always have accurate data on quantities and costs. In part, that meant doing full-fledged building information modelling and management, or BIM. 

Working with ARKANCE Belgium, the company adopted Be.Smart Metal Framing for Revit and CNC Exporter, enabling full 3D engineering and automated data transfer to fabrication. This unified model improved cost control, reduced waste, and shortened on-site assembly time. 

“Thanks to the Metal Framing tools and enhanced Revit environment, we can develop everything in the same model. This is a huge advantage for working together quickly and efficiently and adapting to our customers’ specific needs, and the final results are better,” Eggermont says. 

With ARKANCE’s support, BuildUp has built a sustainable model that shows how offsite construction automation and BIM automation can counter the impact of the construction labor shortage and boost overall productivity. Read the full case study here.  

Another example of automation addressing workforce shortages comes from Laettelement, a Nordic prefabrication company that transitioned from 2D design to full 3D modeling with ARKANCE’s Be.Smart Framing tools. This move to digital prefabrication enabled Laettelement to standardize design processes, minimize manual input, and significantly increase production efficiency — all while empowering its teams to focus on higher-value tasks. 

Read the full story: Laettelement Transitions to 3D with ARKANCE Be.Smart for Efficient Prefabrication 

Supporting and Upskilling the Workforce 

Automation is opening new paths for construction workforce training and career development. As robotics, digital tools, and BIM systems become standard, companies are upskilling construction teams to manage and optimize these technologies. 

ARKANCE accelerates this transition through expert training, implementation guidance, and ongoing digital support that equip teams with the skills needed for modern construction. 

Through targeted digital skills construction programs, firms can retain experienced staff while attracting new, tech-driven talent. 

Build a Smarter Construction Industry with ARKANCE 

As your trusted partner in digital construction, ARKANCE brings together deep industry expertise, advanced automation technology, and consulting services to help you solve today’s toughest labor challenges  - and build with confidence. 

From BIM automation and off-site production to data-driven project management, our team helps construction companies achieve measurable gains in efficiency, quality, and workforce productivity. 

Building the future takes collaboration  -  and transformation takes team. We’re your people.