This is an early release of our podcast, exclusive for premium subscribers. To get early access, upgrade here.

This episode is now live. Watch it here.

EARLY RELEASE
Managing 200+ Tools: Skanska's Tech Reality Check

An exclusive behind-the-scenes conversation with Danielle O'Connell (Senior Director of Emerging Technologies) and Mike Zeppieri (Innovation Leader) from Skanska, one of the world's largest construction companies.

With 27,000 employees globally and 200-300 software tools in their tech stack, Skanska offers a unique perspective on navigating the complex world of construction technology at enterprise scale.

In this episode, you’ll:

• Discover how a $17B+ construction company evaluates and implements emerging technologies across thousands of projects

• Learn the real challenges of managing tech stack consolidation when you have 18+ tools per project

• Understand why traditional SaaS pricing models fail in construction and what actually works

• Get insider insights on AI hype vs. reality from leaders who've piloted dozens of solutions

• Hear honest feedback on why certain "promising" technologies (like autonomous robots) haven't delivered ROI

• Learn the exact compliance requirements (SOC 2, GDPR, SSO) that startups need to work with enterprise contractors

Chapters

• 00:00 - Introduction and guest backgrounds

• 00:24 - Danielle's role in emerging technologies at Skanska

• 01:45 - Mike's journey from aerospace software to construction innovation

• 03:43 - Managing 200+ software tools: The burden and opportunity

• 06:08 - Project management pain points and duplicate systems

• 07:13 - Implementation strategies for enterprise solutions

• 10:17 - Current technology trends: Safety, quality, and AI integration

• 14:23 - Geographic innovation hubs and startup ecosystems

• 16:45 - Entry requirements for startups: Compliance and partnerships

• 18:19 - Adapting evaluation processes for AI's rapid pace

• 20:43 - Success stories: From pilot to enterprise adoptio

• 25:02 - Defining "emerging technology" in a rapidly evolving landscape

• 28:58 - Sources for discovering new technologies

• 30:17 - Filtering and evaluation processes

• 31:47 - AI consolidation strategies and reality vs. hype

• 36:05 - In-house development capabilities

• 39:26 - Technologies that didn't fit: Robotics and progress tracking

• 46:38 - Major frustrations: Contracting complexity and pricing models

• 52:17 - Advice for startups on partnerships and pricing

• 56:38 - Persistent industry challenges and unmet needs

• 01:01:16 - The future of construction technology in three years

»»» Listen Now (Premium Subscribers Only) «««

This is a subscriber only post. Become a paying subscriber of our annual or monthly paid subscriptions to get inside takes on growth in construction tech.

Already a paying subscriber? Sign In.