Digitalisation in construction report 2023

The world is abuzz with positive and negative stories about generative artificial intelligence. However, it is a half-full or half-empty situation with the Digitalisation in construction report 2023. The expectations were that we would see a steady increase in the use of digital tools in construction from the levels seen in the 2022 report. However, the adoption levels remained essentially unchanged. On the positive side, the responses received increased by 43%, and we saw results and findings consistent with the 2022 report.

Together the two reports highlight that construction sector stakeholders agree that the sector cannot address the climate crisis, provide needed social outcomes and achieve continuing economic progress without increased use of digital tools.

Once again, ‘carbon footprint calculation, benchmarking and reporting’ and ‘implementing whole-life and whole-asset thinking’ had high expected improvement but low current adoption levels. This finding shows how far we still have to go to realise the full potential offered by digital processes.

Continuing to measure and benchmark the 2023 report provides a platform for stakeholders to make a timely intervention in this critical and ever-evolving conversation. Collaboration between these stakeholder groups at the sector level and among project team members at the project and program level will drive digitalisation in construction and allow the sector to realise the full benefits of digital transformation.

Unfortunately, the report reveals the same barriers the sector has to overcome to drive positive change. It sheds light on how digitalisation can support collaboration, a vital element in unlocking societal and commercial value in the complex, multi-disciplinary work of quantity surveying and construction project management professionals. In this journey, RICS members are playing a critical role and must pick up the pace of the ongoing transformation.