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In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on digitalization across various sectors, including construction. However, when it comes to being considered a truly 'digital industry' from an outsider's perspective, the construction sector often finds itself lagging.
However, in 2023, the construction industry has arrived at a critical juncture where digitalization isn't just an option; it's a necessity. Topics like Digitalization, Building Information Modeling (BIM), and information management are becoming recurring themes at industry conferences, finding their way into meeting agendas and boardroom discussions.
In today's discussion with Andy Boutle, we focus on a pivotal question: Is this the "digital year" for construction professionals?
Who Did We Interview?
With over twenty years of industry experience, Andy has worked in various engineering and management roles for consultants and contractors, with a recent specialization in Building Information Modeling (BIM).
Known as a vocal proponent for digital transformation across the construction industry, Andy's latest role as Head of Digital Construction has meant a broader focus on digitization, emphasizing increasing workflow communication and vertical efficiencies.
With a keen focus on implementing BIM according to the ISO 19650 series, Andy is one of the co-authors of the best practice guidance resources developed within the UK BIM Framework.
As the former Head of BIM of a construction firm, Andy's experience enabled him to lead in driving positive industry change while co-authoring several strategies, template resources, workflow production, and ownership for information management using BIM.
Over the last few years, there has been an increasing focus and uptake of digitalization. Are we considered a ‘digital industry’ from an outsider's perspective? Probably not!
We have all seen the league tables shared via LinkedIn indicating how digitalized industries are, and construction sits very close to the bottom. While this can be disheartening and frustrating to see for those of us in the industry (especially those of us working in digital roles), we have to remember the sheer scale and complexity of the built environment, the huge number of organizations up and down the demand/supply chain interacting through multiple procurement routes and contracts. Digital maturity across organizations varies quite dramatically, affecting the pace at which the industry can mature.
In 2023, the positive for me is that Digital/BIM/information management is a reoccurring topic for discussion at industry conferences, on meeting minutes, and on board room lips, and being able to manage data effectively is seen as an essential ingredient to supporting all the initiatives we are trying to drive collectively; efficiency, sustainability, carbon management, productivity, transparency, collaboration, business intelligence, modern methods of construction (MMC), etc.
For me, the biggest challenge is traditional contract/procurement models still being at large, which holds back the drive to achieve true, incentivized collaboration and encourages passing risk down the supply chain. As an industry, we typically procure for the short-term cheapest price, not the longer-term best value (albeit this is slowly changing).
Only client organizations can change this. We need new models that contract the supply chain to work on a shared gain/pain basis with greater transparency, prompt payment mechanisms triggered via digital ledgers (think blockchain), not subjectivity, and budget allowance for innovation. In the UK, there have been several trials for ‘insurance backed alliancing’ contracts in different guises, and although I hear they have been very successful, I’m yet to see it taking off properly.
The greatest potential is with artificial intelligence development. Suddenly, AI has exploded onto the market, and experts are warning progress is too fast before proper regulation is implemented. Undoubtedly, AI will transform all industries in time, but certainly, there will be challenges ahead and enormous potential (rise of the machines!).
Back to the here and now, often, the benefit of technology isn’t maximized if solutions are not evaluated and implemented properly. It is important not to throw tech at problems, expecting it to solve them alone, and it won’t! We must re-examine processes, consider competencies for the intended user base and deploy training, consider how integrations (where appropriate) with other solutions could be achievable and how information interoperability is best achieved, and drive automation where possible, all while enhancing the user experience. It certainly isn’t quick or easy (but it is fun!).
My current favorite trend is cloud-based, no/low-code relational database solutions. We currently use Morta to remove disparate Excel-based work to a user-friendly permission database. This also facilitates integrations with other systems to provide automation while reducing human error, double handling of data entry, and minimizing email exchanges. In my department, we have even removed the use of Word almost completely by building online dynamic documentation in Morta, driving standardization and increasing significant efficiency/productivity.
I see us further along in terms of digitalization, but not dramatically. As an industry, we are very quick to want to jump to the next “big thing,” but so often before, we have tackled the fundamental basics and got them working as well as they can.
Digital twins are talked about at every conference under the sun these days, which is positive because it provides stimulation and appetite. However, we quickly forget that we still haven’t mastered information management using BIM to its full potential consistently and repeatedly (especially when looking at alignment to the latest internal standard series, ISO 19650).
I hope in 5 years, many organizations will reduce their reliance on Excel to run most of their business, and systems-based approaches will be widely used. I also wouldn’t be surprised if AI will be helping to automate many of today's tasks and perhaps even making some basic decisions for us based on informed predictions.
Slow incremental positive change.
Always be a good communicator. Keep colleagues well informed, whether at a project or business level. Focus on people, processes, and then technology. Brush off the frustrations and accept you won’t win every battle. Focus on the small wins and celebrate them.
More Details
Running parallel to his duties with his primary job, Andy also works voluntarily as an international ambassador for Nima (formally the UK BIM Alliance), where he helps provide independent leadership and support the adoption of information management across the MENA region.
Shawn Sauve
VP - Sales Dynamics Practice Lead
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