Mark Nelson, project engineer for Midstate Construction, flies a drone to survey progress on Petaluma River Place in Petaluma. [Photo courtesy Midstate Construction] Greenlynx CEO Nicole Tai says she is motivated to develop her own Point of Sale (POS) system “after I had to pick the least- worst option.” “Current POS systems were either designed for online selling or brick and mortar registers, but none were initially designed to do both,” says Tai. Greenlynx is now launching an online reclaimed lumber marketplace with Pacific Reclaimed Lumber Supply, which is based in Medford, Oregon. The marketplace system will allow contractors and architects to check Greenlynx’s inventory and prices. “Integrating [our] own POS system into the software will take some time, but [we are] determined to create a solution that enables [our] business and the reuse industry to scale up to meet our climate challenge,” says Tai. For bidding purposes, Greenlynx uses Houzz Pro, a software platform for home remodeling and design. “Contractors send us digital plans and photos. These can be uploaded into Houzz’s system so we can bid site-unseen if needed,” says Tai. Greenlynx is interested in a new AI-driven robot manufactured by Urban Machine. The robot processes reclaimed lumber for reuse. It can remove bulk fasteners like nails and staples from all four planes of wood. It also performs a quality check to make sure the wood is metal-free and ready for its next life. “The robot is still being tested. Right now it still costs more to operate it and prepare lumber than the cost of our human labor. We’ll explore this option when it’s ready and after we expand our lumberyard,” says Tai. As North Bay construction firms and related businesses provide feedback to technology companies, they are sharing what costs are too high for them and tasks they want technology to do. Foley says it is important for construction firms to explain to software developers that technologies should not replace
Nicole Tai, CEO of Greenlynx, uses a digital device and system to track business inventory. [Photo courtesy Greenlynx] relationships between people. “You can digitize menial tasks, but you want to create tools that get people talking to one another. That way they can work together more effectively. Tighter networks speed up the process of acquiring supplies, completing projects and assessing them for regulatory compliance,” says Foley. He adds he too was inspired by the North Bay fires to make tools to simplify the construction process. “We have so much work to do. The lack of information we experienced after the fires was distressing. For example, back then, there was no centralized platform to figure out where to dump waste. Also, when we were trying to rebuild, there was not a good way to find out what materials suppliers were carrying and how to contact the suppliers,” says Foley. Middlemen and brokerages made the problem worse by charging builders additional fees. “The North Bay has fewer people and businesses than other parts of the Bay Area. This allows us to create an open marketplace with many involved parties. When those parties communicate with each other, we can work together,” says Foley. He says technology is one key to strengthening communities. Contractors using the same tools help those programs and devices become integrated into the local construction sector and the industry overall. “That’s how certain software programs and devices become necessary elements for a project. Technologies become extraordinarily useful when people form agreements and establish practices that literally build on one another,” says Foley. g
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56 NorthBaybiz
August 2024
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