Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
Can the construction industry finally move past Excel, siloed teams, and point solutions and start building with data instead of bricks? Why is such a complex industry, still run on spreadsheets and what’s the real cost?
In this episode, Richard sits down with Mo Shana'a, CEO and co-founder of Morta, to unpack one of the biggest digital blind spots in construction: broken processes hidden inside spreadsheets. Mo shares his unexpected journey, from trying to leave construction entirely to becoming one of its most passionate digital reformers.
As Mo puts it, “The industry isn’t under-digitized because it’s slow, it’s because it’s the most complex on earth.” He explains why planning and tracking are the most neglected (but most important) layers in the project lifecycle, why compliance isn’t the real problem with regulations like the Building Safety Act, and how the right kind of tech—especially modular, integrated systems—can close the gap between design and delivery.
We also dive into AI (not the hype, the real use cases), the myth of the single system, and why even the most advanced contractors are still running billion-pound projects on Excel.
If you’re a construction professional struggling with information chaos, disconnected teams, or tech fatigue, this episode is for you.
📖 CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Introduction: Mo Shana'a & the Morta Story
02:00 – From Engineering to Automation: An Unexpected Pivot
05:30 – Why Construction Is Really So Complex
09:10 – Excel, Chaos & Why Projects Go Off Track
13:00 – The Compliance Myth: What the Building Safety Act Actually Demands
16:30 – Planning Fatigue: Why Teams Avoid It—and Why It Matters
20:00 – Bolt-On Tech = Broken Systems
24:30 – What Tech Stack Actually Works for Construction
28:00 – What Morta Solves (and What It Doesn’t Replace)
33:00 – Why Construction Isn’t Ready for AI—Yet
36:30 – Real AI Use Cases That Will Save Time
41:00 – The Future of Construction: Smarter Planning, Smarter Tools
43:00 – Final Thoughts: Data Is the New Mortar
🎙️MORE EPISODES YOU'LL LOVE:
If you enjoyed this episode, we think you'll like: youtube.com/watch?v=U869mvJNWPo&list=PLyBt4gIhwg2eAwj0QCwne9DXxF4eO81eY&index=17
💻FIND OUT MORE:
For more information about Morta, visit: symetri.co.uk/products/morta
👋GET IN TOUCH:
Website: www.symetri.co.uk
Email: info@symetri.co.uk
Telephone: 0345 370 1444
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/showcase/smarter-building-podcast
Can the construction industry finally move past Excel, siloed teams, and point solutions and start building with data instead of bricks? Why is such a complex industry, still run on spreadsheets and what’s the real cost?
In this episode, Richard sits down with Mo Shana'a, CEO and co-founder of Morta, to unpack one of the biggest digital blind spots in construction: broken processes hidden inside spreadsheets. Mo shares his unexpected journey, from trying to leave construction entirely to becoming one of its most passionate digital reformers.
As Mo puts it, “The industry isn’t under-digitized because it’s slow, it’s because it’s the most complex on earth.” He explains why planning and tracking are the most neglected (but most important) layers in the project lifecycle, why compliance isn’t the real problem with regulations like the Building Safety Act, and how the right kind of tech—especially modular, integrated systems—can close the gap between design and delivery.
We also dive into AI (not the hype, the real use cases), the myth of the single system, and why even the most advanced contractors are still running billion-pound projects on Excel.
If you’re a construction professional struggling with information chaos, disconnected teams, or tech fatigue, this episode is for you.
📖 CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Introduction: Mo Shana'a & the Morta Story
02:00 – From Engineering to Automation: An Unexpected Pivot
05:30 – Why Construction Is Really So Complex
09:10 – Excel, Chaos & Why Projects Go Off Track
13:00 – The Compliance Myth: What the Building Safety Act Actually Demands
16:30 – Planning Fatigue: Why Teams Avoid It—and Why It Matters
20:00 – Bolt-On Tech = Broken Systems
24:30 – What Tech Stack Actually Works for Construction
28:00 – What Morta Solves (and What It Doesn’t Replace)
33:00 – Why Construction Isn’t Ready for AI—Yet
36:30 – Real AI Use Cases That Will Save Time
41:00 – The Future of Construction: Smarter Planning, Smarter Tools
43:00 – Final Thoughts: Data Is the New Mortar
🎙️MORE EPISODES YOU'LL LOVE:
If you enjoyed this episode, we think you'll like: youtube.com/watch?v=U869mvJNWPo&list=PLyBt4gIhwg2eAwj0QCwne9DXxF4eO81eY&index=17
💻FIND OUT MORE:
For more information about Morta, visit: symetri.co.uk/products/morta
👋GET IN TOUCH:
Website: www.symetri.co.uk
Email: info@symetri.co.uk
Telephone: 0345 370 1444
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/showcase/smarter-building-podcast
