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The report “Digital transformation: Overcoming cultural and behavioural barriers”, published in collaboration with the UK’s Institution of Civil Engineers, unpacks insights from 161 global engineering and construction professionals.
78% of survey respondents think the industry has been too slow to adopt digital technology and 72% believe it is not moving quickly enough into digital processes.
What can engineering and construction firms do to accelerate adoption?
Focus on digital leadership
The industry is not making the most of the technology available because of unawareness about what it can do. At the same time, when technology is deployed it can fail to deliver its potential because of a lack of fit with existing processes and ways of working – or its effectiveness is undermined by the existence of out of date legacy IT systems.
“The problem seems to be a lack of clear, concerted and resourced plans for implementing digital transformation, led by people who understand both the technology and the industry,” James Chambers, explains.
Chief technology officers or chief digital officers are an increasing presence in engineering and construction firms. This trend does point to the industry acknowledging that digital transformation is both an organisational change issue and a technology issue. Now is the time for more organisations to consider if they have the personnel in place to deliver digital leadership.
What can be done at the industry level?
Use technology to develop new business models
We have already seen that E&C firms typically struggle with low margins. This inevitably reduces the appetite to invest in technology and the human capabilities needed to exploit them. Digital transformation does point to a way out of this trap. Digital tools combined with increased volumes of data mean consultants and contractors know more about the assets they design and build than ever before. This insight can be the basis for new business models in which firms are rewarded for the value they deliver to their clients, rather than the inputs they put into projects.
Establishing industry standards and improve interoperability
Volumes of data are generated in different formats via a multiplicity of incompatible systems. This is as a barrier to unlocking the benefits of digital transformation.
Email is used by 97% of respondents to share information internally, and 71% opt for email to communicate with external partners. Less than half (48%) use cloud internally, and just 37% externally.
One size will never fit all but establishing industry standards and improving interoperability would be a big step forward. If industry players can agree to a basic framework, opportunities to develop scalable products and services could be huge.
Read the full report created in collaboration with the Institution of Civil Engineers for more insights.
https://go.bluebeam.com/tech-adoption-uk
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Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.