Construction professionals maintain morale despite the crisis and continue their digitalization

After more than a year of an unprecedented health, economic and social crisis, this survey shows that 2/3 of construction professionals questioned consider it important to digitize their sector of activity: a finding shared on a daily basis by the supporting teams. construction professionals through the APRIL Construction business line.

Resilient construction professionals in the face of the crisis

TPE managers seem relatively resilient regarding their professional as well as personal situation: they are 41% of respondents, mostly young managers, to say they are “confident” about the future of their company. This relative state of satisfaction is explained primarily by the quality of professional relationships with customers (49%) and with suppliers (27%).

Practical concerns and geographic disparities persist

Faced with this observation, APRIL observes that the overall resilience of professionals in the sector must nevertheless be qualified since it incorporates a geographical divide: the managers who work in the Paris region are more likely to testify to a positive state of mind. , at 67%.

Professionals who report a negative state of mind explain it cyclically by factors caused or amplified by the health crisis:

• The difficult management of the consequences of the health crisis - 41%
• The decrease or deficit in their company's turnover - 25%
• Fear of finding yourself in a precarious financial situation - 24%

At the same time, managers remain concerned about practical considerations linked to the overall and day-to-day management of their company: in this regard, 17% of managers questioned confided that they had difficulties in managing administrative tasks. The digitization of VSEs thus appears to be a real lever for building trust and development.

A digital transition deemed important but slow to take place

More than two-thirds (68%) of the professionals surveyed recognize that digitalization of companies in the sector is important.

This observation is shared by 79% of business leaders over 65, at the head of important structures. They are even 41% to consider it “essential” against only 13% among the youngest. In order of importance, this digitization would offer several advantages according to the managers:

• Increase the company's visibility on the market
• Exchange
• Give a good image of their company

However, this digitization still seems to be in its infancy since at present, only half of the managers questioned have a website.

Simplicity, the key to the digitization of construction companies

The use of digital devices can seem complex and time-consuming for construction professionals in a hurry and often on the move. This is why the APRIL group, through its APRIL Construction business line, which provides products and services for construction professionals, has set up a dedicated digital services platform: PROBAT Services.

Available since March 2020, this platform is accessible free of charge via the site pro.april.fr from all interfaces (smartphone, tablet, computer, etc.) to its professional construction clients and offers services that facilitate and secure their daily lives: 100% digital legal assistance, purchase / sale of construction materials and equipment at advantageous prices , an intelligent videoconferencing system allowing a site to be assessed remotely and in real time ...