It's a pivotal time for technology adoption in European construction. Organisations are investing in digital platforms; in fact, 97% believe greater use of data will deliver key benefits to the business.
But many are struggling to gain the benefits of their investments. Recent research from Deloitte found that 89% of European construction businesses have emerging or beginner data capabilities - which is holding back their digital transformation.
Digital Construction Week, London's flagship construction event, was the perfect opportunity to discuss these issues. At Autodesk, we were lucky enough to join many industry experts and hear their views on the transformative role of data and technology in the construction sector.
The event was an exploration of the new frontiers of construction, focusing on the integration of digital technology and the potential it holds for innovation, inclusion, and sustainability. Here’s an overview of some of that great insight in the presentations from Autodesk customers at the conference.
With 90,000 employees worldwide Equans face the challenge of bringing people together to build solar farms.
"We have a booming business. Two years ago, we were delivering one solar farm a year in the UK and now we are mobilising one solar farm almost every month. So it's accelerating. This is made possible thanks to the wider support from Equans Group and its strong footprint in the UK in particular. With 90,000 employees worldwide, we're able to bring people involved in other activities like street lighting or C&I to get involved in the construction of solar projects." says Gregory Allouis, Energy Solutions Director at Equans UK & Ireland.
Gregory underscored the increased efficiency and improved project outcomes that have been realised through the use of tools like Autodesk Construction Cloud. He highlighted how ACC has become a vital platform for fostering collaboration among teams, facilitating timely and on-budget delivery of projects while maintaining high construction quality management standards.
But it's very important to help them adopt these new technologies. And to create an environment which is collaborative, where all team members from design to operations can collaborate in a user friendly environment.
“These days, we are delivering projects all around the world, from Australia, to Japan, to Europe, everywhere. So as you can imagine, there is a large volume of documentation to share among different specialists contributing to the project.”
This sentiment speaks to the growing trend of digital transformation in the industry, and the ever growing importance of adopting tech early to reach long term success.
The adoption of new technologies is driving successful digital transformation in the construction industry - and we heard from organisations at the forefront of innovation in areas like digital twins. Matthew Hoper, Senior Digital Information Manager at the University of Birmingham, shared insights into how the university is leveraging digital platforms, to streamline complex processes and enhance productivity.
"Probably the key tool we’re beginning to use now is Tandem, which is a digital twin platform that allows us to visualise data. It gives us a platform to be able to come in and easily just search the word 'door' to find anything with a door rather than to know the NRM code for the door.”
Matthew’s words underscore the power of digital tools in making information more accessible and manageable, highlighting the importance of ease of use in promoting technology adoption.
The future of construction - and the road to sustainability - is a significant industry focus at present, and participants at DCW shared their own journeys to greener, smarter construction. The team from Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) provided valuable insights into their net-zero journey and the role of digital tools in achieving this goal.
Michael Milligan shares that “There is no net zero without transmission. Net zero means 400 new jobs this year in our business and 20,000 jobs supported across the UK. Net zero means innovation."
This highlights an emerging trend in the construction industry - the shift towards sustainability and the pursuit of net-zero targets. He emphasised that companies are leveraging digital technology to drive this shift and create a positive impact on the environment.
In addition, Equans UK shared a case study demonstrating the real-world applications of a Common Data Environment (CDE), highlighting its ability to streamline processes, enhance communication, and drive successful project outcomes. The case study provided a clear illustration of the practical benefits of digital tools and the potential they hold for revolutionising the way construction projects are managed.
Gregory shared: "Our ambition is really to have this collaborative environment where people can share information. So everybody works with the same revisions of the documents. The single source of truth, as we usually call it, with all of the documentation available to each and every team member but with strong controls in place."
The shift towards digital transformation in the construction industry is no longer just an option - it's a necessity. Research suggests organisations with leading data capabilities report a 56% higher average profit growth rate when compared to beginners. As digital tools continue to evolve and improve, they will undoubtedly unlock even more opportunities for innovation, efficiency, and sustainability. These developments signal an exciting era for the construction industry!
