A look inside Simpson Strong-Tie's technology approach

Q: What are some of your top tech objectives and projects right now at Simpson? 

Mehta: At Simpson Strong-Tie, our mission is to deliver innovative solutions that help people design and build safer, stronger structures. In addition to our expansive product offering, digital technology plays a significant role across the organization, enabling us to deliver efficient, innovative and intuitive solutions tailored to the needs of construction professionals. 

Our digital solutions empower architects, engineers, lumber dealers, retailers, and builders to create innovative, cost-effective and safe designs for residential and commercial construction. For example:

• Pipeline LBM enables lumber dealers to improve takeoff accuracy for single-family homes and reduces the complexity of onboarding customers.
• Cloud Director, a cloud-based management solution for component manufacturers, simplifies operations, enhances multi-site collaboration, and increases productivity, accuracy, and compliance.

Our objective is to integrate and leverage digital technology as a key competitive differentiator for Simpson products, services and customers. 

Among the several exciting initiatives lined up in 2025, we are particularly excited about data and AI use cases, cloud native solutions, co-creation partnerships, as well as global application and infrastructure modernization.

Q: What are some common tech challenges you encounter?

Mehta: Each organization has its own unique digital transformation journey, and we are no exception. As we progress down our path, the landscape of challenges and opportunities is constantly evolving.  

Some of the common tech challenges facing many of us today include: 

• Implementing a responsible and ethical AI strategy.

• Staying aware and maintaining a resilient cybersecurity posture.

• Building a high-performing and high-impact digital organization.

Q: What trends and technologies do you see shaping the future of the building materials world?

Mehta: There are several upcoming technologies that have the potential to shape the future of the building materials and construction industry. We remain excited to see how these technologies evolve, get deployed and scale. A few of them include:

• Digital Twins (AI-powered twins for optimizing design, performance, documentation, sustainability, etc.).
• Digitally enabled prefabricated offsite construction.
• Use of drones and construction robots in support of jobsite safety and increasing efficiencies.
• AI-enabled, integrated and automated agent workflows supporting decision-making, application development and risk management.
• 3D printing to create durable, customizable structures.

Q: Are there any emerging technologies, platforms or software you feel are overblown and perhaps may decrease in importance? 

Mehta: Every new technology should always be built with a purpose in mind as well as with a clear and measurable problem to solve. All emerging technologies go through their own hype cycles. 

Only those technologies that have the perfectly balanced ingredients of feasibility, desirability and affordability eventually succeed in the long run. Without calling out any one platform or software that is overblown, I would avoid technologies that are not agnostic, scalable, secure and agile, as they are bound to face challenges with customer adoption over the long run. 

Q: How do you maximize and streamline dealer adoption of design and manufacturing software?

Mehta: As Simpson Strong-Tie builds and delivers new digital solutions, they will be underpinned by several core principles to boost customer adoption. These include:

• Embedding decades of Simpson’s industry know-how to provide customers with expert-level guidance for a tailored solution.
• AI-powered recommendations and real-time adaptions during design and manufacturing to optimize projects effortlessly.
• Customer co-creation sessions for quick pivots and closed feedback loops to align our solutions with evolving customer needs.
• Innovative business and go-to-market models to help ensure a seamless transition and adoption with customers/end-users.

Q: What guidance would you offer companies that are struggling to get employees and/or customers up to speed on emerging technologies? 

Mehta: In today’s rapidly changing world, we all must first and foremost embrace a digital technology mindset. Whether one is a supporter or a skeptic of technology’s impact in our lives, one thing is a fact: Today, we are all digital natives. 

Taking a few simple steps can help ease the anxiety and make it easier to adjust to the fast-changing technology landscape. Here are some tips:

• Be curious about emerging technologies and what role they can play in improving your professional/personal tasks.
• Collaborate with your technology teams and explore ways to participate in your organization’s digital journey.
• Educate yourself with formal trainings and informal learnings on new technologies that help drive performance, efficiency, and creativity in your day-to-day life.
• Identify the right technology for your needs (there are many options to choose from) and leverage it to the fullest – don’t spend time reinventing the wheel.

Q: Are there any other major projects on the horizon you'd like to highlight?

Mehta: This year at Simpson Strong-Tie, we are focused on rebooting our digital capabilities by accelerating and advancing our digital journey. Our people, customers, and products will be at the core of this transformation journey.  

There is a lot to look forward to and work on – bringing to life the AI use cases, delivering new cloud native digital solutions, upgrading our application portfolio, automating for governance, and compliance are just a few to call out. In closing, I foresee lots of opportunities for businesses in the construction industry to join forces to realize the future underpinned by digital technology, so let's go!