FuturePlace: Mark, thank you for your time. Can you tell me more about your role within Multiplex?

Mark Wengritzky: Thank you for having me. I’ve been at Multiplex for seven years. My official title is National Systems Operations Developer. It’s a bit of a tongue-twister, but it’s accurate because I spend my time developing our systems. These systems can be technology-related or simply involve documenting our processes and outlining improvements to the overall process. I think it’s important not to always approach a business challenge assuming digital is the solution, especially in construction, where a lot of our IP and process knowledge lies with the people doing the work.

I work out of our Melbourne office and started in the Victorian safety team. My background was in developing our in-house safety systems, and this quickly expanded to data projects and helping all departments with their system improvements. My main skills in the business are twofold:

• I can speak ‘tech’ with vendors and IT developers and translate that to our construction team. Likewise, I understand the construction challenges and processes and can identify how technology can fit into those to create value.
• I apply my design-thinking approach to understand pain points and challenges. This allows me to document and prototype business challenges, enabling our site teams to touch and feel new systems quickly. This starts the iterative development process for a business challenge.

FuturePlace: What more can you tell me about your case study, i.e. using data to make more human-centric decisions in construction?

Mark Wengritzky: Before going into specifics, I should get the buzzwords out of the way and let people know how I’ll relate it back to AI—it’s what everyone wants to know about, right? I’ll be discussing how companies can create a ‘lifeboat’ construction company of 1–5 people and how this small team can use AI and the design process to drive innovation within your business. This new ‘startup’ can act as your north star for digital transformation, and if done properly with a human-centric approach, it can revolutionise your business.

Specifically, I want to educate users on understanding the design process and how, when applied properly, it can help a business overcome challenges and drive real innovations. I believe only through a design process can you achieve real solutions and innovations. I also think data can aid this process by helping businesses capture more insights.

How many businesses survey their staff or subcontractors? How often are we pulse-checking the IT software solutions we have in place? We often have no idea about the true performance or user feelings towards the technologies we integrate. Likewise, we have minimal visibility over our true business challenges.

This process and understanding are becoming more important as technology becomes cheaper and more accessible. Without applying data or a design process, we’re simply adding to our technology stack. But by applying this process, we can ensure we’re adding value to our business and creating an innovative environment full of iterative improvements.

My thinking has been shaped by books such as Xcelerate by Paul Broadfoot and Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull (I can’t recommend this last one more).

FuturePlace: How advanced is Multiplex on its tech adoption and digital transformation journey? 

I can’t give away any trade secrets!  There are many parts of our business that are transformative and tech-leading in the industry. These are areas where construction technologies have had a lot of resources put into them. For example, safety solutions are advanced and mature. There are a lot of players in the space, and construction users almost expect to use technology to aid processes like inductions or signing off on SWMS. However, areas like ITPs and quality have only really started coming online now. 

Overall, Multiplex is in a strong position. We have a global head of digital transformation, Tom Loader, who is leading the charge. His team works with our operations teams to identify business challenges and break down barriers to tech adoption. We’ve also got an experienced global data team that continuously work on data solutions.  As a global builder we have access to the latest tech that caters to evolving client needs.

FuturePlace: What aspects of your role and the work you do within Multiplex are you most proud of?

Mark Wengritzky: I’m definitely most proud of my ability to apply those design principles within our safety systems and with our site teams. Especially early on, I was constantly out on-site gathering data and insights to inform future decision-making and strategies. The Victorian safety team and general operations team really understood what we were developing and why. This led to several new system releases and developments, which were a huge success—not only in Victoria but globally at Multiplex. These experiences have shaped my thinking towards implementing technologies in construction.

From an industry perspective, being the first construction business in Victoria to introduce facial recognition gates with temperature testing during the COVID-19 pandemic was a real highlight. A few things really stood out:

• The iterative process: We had a great vendor. We still use them today, and together we worked on releasing the gates and system on one project. We then took the learnings from there and improved our processes and systems before rolling out a solution across all our projects. Our vendor developed a new module with zero bugs in just two weeks.
• Leadership and site teams: The Victorian business and our site teams showed great leadership in rolling out something so high-tech during the stresses of COVID-19. We only had one shot at facial recognition, and it felt like the whole industry was watching. We got it right, and all the other builders jumped on board.
• Data management: Combining our QR codes and facial recognition gate entries, we’re talking millions of transactions. The technology gave us near-bulletproof solutions and visibility over potential risks on-site.
• Memorable moments: Like the time our temperature testing went off because someone had a sausage roll in their mouth! It was over 37 degrees and triggered the alert. We also had a lot of laughs getting the workforce onboarded and educated on all the new systems. It was an experience I’ll never forget.

FuturePlace: What opportunities or challenges do you see across the broader construction industry today?

Mark Wengritzky: There are a few challenges at the moment:

• Rising costs and tight programs: Inflation isn’t going away and will continue to put pressure on contractors and subcontractors. Extreme weather in Australia only makes tight project timelines harder to meet.
• Work hours: Construction isn’t a typical 9–5 industry, and remote work isn’t an option for most of the workforce. This can make it difficult to attract talent into the industry generally.
• Technology adoption: Construction is a people-driven industry. As AI, automation, and robotics come in, integrating these technologies into a workforce that isn’t naturally inclined to adopt them will be challenging.

FuturePlace: How do you see innovation and technology providing solutions to some of the challenges the industry faces?

Mark Wengritzky: AI and automation could reduce administration hours. We love our spreadsheets in construction, and AI could help reduce the time spent updating them. Robotics could also be huge – robots can work 24/7. We’re already seeing robotics being used in construction, such as HP Site Print for site layouts, Hilti Jaibot for drilling, and Boston Dynamics’ Spot for site inspections.

For safety, there are driver stations in the US for heavy machinery, allowing operators to work off-site and reduce risks on-site.

FuturePlace: What predictions do you have for the industry over the coming decade?

Mark Wengritzky: All the latest technologies will impact construction:

• AI: For project management, design, and estimating.
• Robotics: For on-site efficiency and work.
• Blockchain: For smart contracts and efficient payment processing.

I think AI will influence management before it impacts the subcontractor workforce, as management data has been collected for decades. Machinery, like autonomous machines and safety devices, will also change how we operate and maintain equipment. Blockchain technology could streamline procurement and contract processes, adding visibility to our business operations.

Mark Wengritzky’s session at FCON25 is a must-attend for those looking to drive meaningful digital transformation in construction. Drawing from his experience at Multiplex, Mark will explore how data, AI, and design thinking can be leveraged to overcome industry challenges and ensure innovation delivers real, on-site value. He’ll be joined by industry leaders discussing the future of construction technology, robotics, and smart systems, all aimed at enhancing efficiency, improving ROI, and building a more adaptive industry. Don’t miss this chance to learn from one of Multiplex’s top innovators – learn more about the event here.