Roebbelen Contracting: Built Different

View This Article in BOSS Magazine

Its people and core values set Roebbelen Contracting, Inc. apart from the industry

Construction is construction. Everybody’s using the same materials and the same tools. What sets contractors apart, in Roebbelen Contracting, Inc. CFO Joe DeBiasio’s view, is the people and the values they espouse.

Joe DeBiasio

“Honestly, I think we have the best people in the industry,” he told BOSS. “Our core values are not just something on a wall. They are embodied by every employee in the company and are the foundation of our culture.

“They are non-negotiable. And if you get that right, if you get the people equation right, everything falls into place.”

Things have been falling right for Roebbelen since 1959, and since he came on in 2021, DeBiasio has been spearheading a digital transformation to bring operational efficiency in line with the power of those values. Fortunately, those great people at Roebbelen are enthusiastic about continuous improvement.

“Everyone is up for the challenge, and we all want to do the right thing. We want to make our lives easier and serve our clients better.”

Data Refinement

The Roebbelen plan for digital transformation aims to enhance every aspect of operations for the builder, which boasts a diversified portfolio of civic, education, corporate, and healthcare projects – while self-performing concrete, carpentry, and fencing trades.

Prior to COVID, technology in the construction industry was on a five-year curve, DeBiasio said. That’s now more like a five-month curve.

“Data is the new oil. The companies that can mine it, refine it, and make it a useful resource for decision-making are the companies that are going to win,” he said. “We don't see ourselves as leading edge, but we want to be right behind that envelope and we want to be making sure that we are ahead of the industry.”

About nine months into the journey, Roebbelen is working to establish a single source of truth throughout the company so all departments have access to the best, most current data, where everyone is on the same page. Products such as Acumatica’s cloud-based ERP and Celigo’s integration platform are helping make that vision a reality.

“In my mind you've got to get the right tech stack for the for the required business needs. One software will not be everything we need, but you don’t want your tech stack to be unmanageable. There is a balance to be struck,” he said.

It also requires the right IT professionals, which Roebbelen is fortunate to have.

Let the Tech Do the Work

When DeBiasio started, Roebbelen was cutting checks twice a day, five times a week.

“Probably not the best use of our time to be reviewing checks all day long,” he quipped.

Now, Roebbelen can send and accept payments electronically, to the benefit of trade partners, vendors, customers, and Roebbelen itself. You can take it one step further and ingest transactional information to make the accounting easier for the recipient of the payment.

“That's just scratching the surface. Our head is in AI, it's in predictive analytics,” DeBiasio said. “If we can build out those tools within our systems, we’re going to be able to get actionable information in clicks of buttons, eliminating the time spent on analyzing report after report.”

Ken Wenham

Roebbelen intends to be on top of such developments, which is why CEO Ken Wenham is fully committed, playing an instrumental role in looking into game-changing technologies like AI.

As Wenham likes to say, “If you don't feel like you're standing looking upstream in a river and the world is just passing by you that quick, you're not paying attention.”

Roebbelen’s people and values keep it swimming strong.

Tech in the Field

On every project site, Roebbelen's Teams use a right-sizing approach for advanced technology implementation -- this creates a range to choose from, including 3D models, VR Walkthroughs, Laser Scans and more, to provide the best value for the Client and Team.

One process we recommend each team to use is 360 Site Documentation -- Superintendents use hardhat mounted cameras which create a geo-located "street view" of project sites, allowing all stakeholders a virtual walk of the site to verify quality, installation progress and measurement in near real-time in an easy to navigate system.

"The purposeful use of technology helps us live up to our core values -- with special respect to putting Family First. Using the most efficient tools like Schedule Automation, streamlined site documentation and accurate project and finance management gives our people more of what matters; that's time with their Families because the job is done right, the first time,” said Hitesh Dewan, Director of Strategic Operations.

Strategic Vision

The digital transformation is just part of a strategic vision for Roebbelen that includes a sustainable growth plan.

“We're moving towards that pinnacle, but we're doing it in a well thought-out manner that is going to be manageable, and more importantly, enhance our client experience,” DeBiasio said. “We can probably add from where we are right now another 30 to 40% comfortably over the next three years, that would be kind of the sweet spot for us. We think if we can grow about 30 to 40% from where we are right now, that would maximize our infrastructure and best serve our clients.”

Wenham said, “Growing the top-line isn’t necessarily the challenge. It’s growing the bottom-line at the same trajectory that will be the challenge. Our digital transformation is critical to ensuring that will happen.”

One thing is certain, Roebbelen, its people and the values they adhere to, are up for the challenge.