To celebrate 10 years of iCON, we decided to interview Mark Mukiri-Smith, a well revered Construction & Engineering Business Consultant at Hexagon, with years of experience understanding and supporting customers across the industry.
Thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions, to start things off could you give us a little history on your background in the construction industry?
My background is mainly surveying but also house building site engineering. I started as Land Surveyor/Engineer gaining field experience, and as my career progressed, I had the opportunity to join Leica Geosystems in 2008 as a Geomatics Trainer. There, I found great enjoyment in supporting people with their projects. Over the years as technology has changed, I've continued to share knowledge and experience with my customers
What is your role at Hexagon Geosystems?
Construction & Engineering Business Consultant with a particular focus on the iCON range of solutions. I've had some fun over the years with a hashtag that's stuck, the #ICONGURU
What was your opinion of iCON when it was launched 10 years ago?
I thought it was very innovative and well thought out with the customer’s workflows front and centre. The focus on fast and intuitive software was paramount to solving every construction measurement task with the highest productivity gains.
How did Leica Geosystems improve the technology after listening to early users’ feedback?
Leica Geosystems did an exceptional job at listening to end users worldwide and implementing their construction workflows into the software. They listened and understood customers’ pain points and successfully solved them. The software is entirely built around delivering what the customer needs – that’s the beauty of it.
In your opinion, what has been the most impactful iCON product release or software update?
The first construction total station to be able to layout IFC models with the ‘Layout Objects’ app. This demonstrated the power of the iCON platform, working with large 3D BIM models combined with the simplicity of the iCON software.
Another successful onsite customer demonstration of Leica iCON
The #ICONGURU at GeoBusiness 2022.
How far has the iCON range come in the last decade?
iCON has come from being the new kid on the block and is now recognised as the construction measurement go-to solution from Leica Geosystems.
How have your customer's utilised iCON in different ways over the years?
That's a big question which I'll try and list: Groundworks, MEP, concrete construction, steel construction, dimensional control, modular construction, building construction, agricultural, façade verification, pre-fabrication, and mechanical design installation, but there's probably more.
How does iCON add value to the workflow of users?
Its simple, intuitive, fast, and productive construction field software allows users to complete jobs much quicker and without human error. Ultimately, it's a more efficient way of working with less downtime saving time and money.
Training a customer using iCON for thier MEP services.
What support is available to users who need some guidance?
Remote login support is just the best. As well as the Leica iCON online learning portal and access our Leica Geosystems Training School.
Do you think the development of the iCON range shows that Leica Geosystems understands construction?
Over the last ten years, there has been a great deal of investment in the iCON range, proving Leica Geosystems is committed to learning to understand the industry measurement struggles and continue to develop the best construction field software for any measurement task.
What advice would you give to someone who has never used iCON before but is looking to get started with digital construction equipment?
Give it a go. I'm confident, that once someone gets hands-on, they will see the benefits and quite importantly, enjoy it.
What do you think the future holds for iCON?
When the time is right, there will be an integration of new sensors into the iCON platform, utilising simple iCON workflows to solve construction problems or simply make a task faster to complete.