“On average, we only do half the stuff we plan to do. And that’s where things go wrong.” – Jon Davies

In this episode of Building Stories - The Podcast, powered by Deep Space, we sit down with Jon Davies, CEO of the Australian Constructors Association, to talk about the critical role of planning in improving outcomes across construction.

We discuss:

• Why poor planning leads to higher safety risks and costly delays
• How unplanned tasks are often the root cause of incidents on-site
• Why technical proficiency and improved processes are key to breaking this cycle
• How data and AI can help teams predict risks and improve decision-making

This episode offers practical advice for construction leaders, project managers, and anyone frustrated by inefficiencies in the industry.

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Key Sections:

• Jon’s Career Journey and Industry Insights – 02:24
• Why Construction Teams Struggle with Planning – 09:00
• The Link Between Poor Planning and Safety Risks – 12:00
• How AI and Data Can Improve Decision-Making – 24:18
• The Future of Construction Planning – 30:22

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Building Stories is powered by Deep Space – Mission Critical Construction AI.

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“We’re still fundamentally building in the same way we were 30 years ago.” – Matthew Mackey

In this episode of Building Stories - The Podcast, powered by Deep Space, we sit down with Matthew Mackey, National Service Lead for Cost and Commercial Management at Arcadis. With over 25 years in the industry, Matthew reflects on the repeated mistakes construction keeps making and what must change to build better, faster, and smarter.

We discuss:

• Why construction has been stuck in the same cycle for decades
• The real barriers to tech adoption, and why Excel still dominates the industry
• How change management is just as important as the tech itself
• The long-term vision construction needs to break free from short-term thinking
• What smaller contractors can do to improve cost control and survive in tough markets
  

Matthew shares his experience leading internal innovation at Arcadis, highlighting the challenges of driving change in an industry built on habit.

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Key Sections:

• Matthew’s Path into Construction and Arcadis – 02:24
• Why Construction Struggles to Change – 09:00
• The Hidden Challenge of Internal Tech Development – 12:00
• How to Drive Change in a Resistant Industry – 19:30
• What the Future Holds for Construction Tech and AI – 26:30
• The Critical Role of Government Leadership in Innovation – 32:00
• Advice for Small Contractors Facing Financial Struggles – 34:50

Building Stories is powered by Deep Space – Mission Critical Construction AI.

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“We have been collecting data for years. We just sit on this gold mine and do nothing with it.” – Brett King

In this episode of Building Stories - The Podcast, powered by Deep Space, we sit down with Brett King, Director of Industry Transformation at Procore, to talk about the real problem with construction tech, data that never gets used.

Brett shares his journey from South Africa to the UK, working on major construction projects, and why he made the leap from contractor to construction tech. He dives into the disconnect between digital tools and real-world site workflows, why point solutions are failing the industry, and how we can finally start turning data into action.

We discuss:

• Why construction still struggles to turn data into better decisions
• The biggest mistakes companies make when adopting new tech
• Why quality needs to be a proactive strategy, not just defect management
• The importance of collaboration between design and construction teams
• What AI needs to do to truly make an impact on-site

If you have ever questioned why construction still operates in silos, why tech adoption is slow, or why the same mistakes keep happening, this episode is for you.

Key Sections: • From Graphic Design to Construction - Brett’s Career Path – 02:24 • The Love-Hate Relationship with Construction – 08:40 • Why Data Gets Collected But Never Used – 09:06 • The Real Challenges of Change Management – 22:12 • Why Construction Contracts Create More Problems Than They Solve – 29:53 • The Role of AI and the Future of Tech in Construction – 33:51Building Stories is powered by Deep Space – Mission Critical Construction AI.