“We have a responsibility to make technology accessible.
That means creating intuitive tools that solve problems without requiring users to understand what’s under the hood.” That was one of the key messages from Henning Sandfort, President of Hexagon Geosystems, when he caught up with Peter Haddock at the Bauma show.
Standing on the Hexagon stand, surrounded by innovation from brands like Leica Geosystems, Bricsys, Xwatch Safety Solutions, AGTEK Development Company, Inc., and OxBlue, it was clear the theme 'Shaping Construction' wasn’t just a slogan.
Henning: It’s a mission built on solving real challenges. Our customers’ biggest concerns haven’t changed.” “Productivity, tight budgets, talent shortages, sustainability, and safety, these remain top of mind.
But the lever to address all of them is digitalisation.” As Henning pointed out, the construction industry remains one of the most dangerous, and one of the largest CO2 emitters. But with better data, smarter systems, and true collaboration across the ecosystem, there’s a path to safer, more sustainable, and more efficient outcomes.
“We talk a lot about bringing data to work. But to really combine the physical and digital worlds, you need to collaborate across technical and organisational boundaries from project owners to OEMs and end-users.” “We also need to explore areas like AI. For example, with AGTEK Reveal, we have used AI to interpret point clouds, but hide the complexity to keep the user focused on the task at hand.”
And there’s a bigger challenge when it comes to people. Henning: “I believe with digitalisation and the right tools, we can attract new talent, inspire young professionals, and show that construction offers real impact, not just for today, but for the future.”
Sustainability, of course, plays a central role. Henning emphasised the importance of designing out waste before a project even breaks ground and making data available throughout the lifecycle of a job to reduce rework, emissions, and inefficiencies. “It’s about asking, what’s the biggest lever we can pull together to make a difference?
“The only way to deliver lasting impact is to work closely with customers, know their outcomes, and build systems that serve them, not the other way around.” In conclusion, Henning said, “Digitalisation is here; now it’s about making it simple, making it work, and making it matter.”