Ready-mix concrete is a “now” industry. Real time. No delay. It’s time for us to catch up with what our kids already have: Instant access to information and collaboration with everyone all the time. The phrase “digital enterprise” makes a ton of money for lots of advisors from big-name consultancies. They use it as a noun, verb and adverb. They…
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The Modern Customer
Modernizing the business of ready-mix, part 3 of 3. Running a ready-mix concrete operation is tough. Pat yourself on the back for exactly three seconds. Now for the crushing reality: Running a concrete construction operation is just as tough, if not more. Let’s spend some time in our customers’ shoes (see sidebar). Think about what we can do to make…
Read MoreThe ‘NOW’ System Landscape
Modernizing the business of ready-mix, part 2 of 3. Managing construction materials is a complicated “now” business. Dozens of independent factors must be tamed to achieve on-time, on-site, on-spec fulfillment. The most complicated is structural ready-mix concrete, which is driven by the real-time NOW factors of need, inventory, manufacturing, perishability and logistics. Complicating the issue even further, most material producers…
Read MoreConcrete Batching: Buy vs. Build
Modernizing the business of ready mix, part 1 of 3 Many concrete producers are considering the merits of upgrading their software and hardware for concrete batching. Some are even considering a DIY approach. Recently, one regional company owner asked me, “What would it take to update all of our 100-plus batching plants to a modern system, and why can’t we…
Read MoreTaking the Pork Out of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
H.R.3684, all 1,372 pages using size 12 Robo font, is a whopper. Every dollar sign is followed by at least six zeros, and it’s pretty much hopeless to sum up the total to be spent. A billion spent here and a billion spent there, and pretty soon you have some real money! As of press time, the bill has yet…
Read MoreWhy Covid is Pushing our Industry to the Cloud
Use Service Oriented Architecture to become the least-hassle provider and win customers. Now more than ever due to Covid, concrete producers must rely on technology to navigate the uncertain, changing future. Our own employees, and our customers, are forced to rely on remote communications with the expectation of great service and real-time information. So how do folks steeped in a…
Read MoreThe Green Dividend
Is it time to consider an alternative fuel source for your fleet? by Craig Yeack
Read MoreWhen Time and Inventory Collide
对于大多数混凝土连续cers, high-tech inventory management is well worth the investment. by Craig Yeack
Read MoreThe U.S. Ready Mix Industry: It’s still a great place to be
In a shifting landscape, producers and technology are evolving By Craig Yeack
Read MoreCloud or Closet: What’s Best for Internet Security?
Ready-mix producers are weighing the risks of keeping their data in-house by Craig Yeack
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