To deliver Digital Integration we need to work together to break the commercial and fragmented culture of the industry.
Earlier this month Andrew Lee (Managing Director) joined a round table event hosted by software specialist Deltek and Building magazine to discuss how the construction sector could embed digital transformation to improve systems, methodologies, and technologies as industry best practice.
Andrew said, “it was great to have an interesting and open discussion with other digital promoters within the industry”.
The panellists, chaired by Building’s Group technical editor and insight and strategy director, Thomas Lane, looked at the issue of blockers to technological integration and issues with competitiveness in the industry.
The overriding theme of the discussion was based on partnership, the need to collaborate, remove barriers, change culture, and embed digitalisation.
It was agreed by all panellists that this will not happen overnight but will require greater alignment to get there. This could start with sharing data and having the sort of contractual arrangements where we can actually share data.
Andrew said, “Competitiveness between firms is an issue and what is needed is a change in the culture of respect and how we perform as a profession”.
It was also agreed that contracts were a barrier to embedding technology.
George Mokhtar (Turner & Townsend) said, “We’re not coming together as best we could and not being as open as we could”.
With Professional Indemnity insurance being identified as a big digital blocker by several panellists.
Andrew said, “I’ve seen people not get PI and close down, we’ve got a big problem here that must be solved.”
Sharing of data across the design process plays a key role in deciding if we can design more sustainably. Especially, considering that 70% of emission reduction measures need to be decided upon at an early stage.
Digitalisation will make information more accurate, easier to understand and adaptable leading to informed decision making across the project lifespan, which is essential to mitigate risk and reduce cost.
The challenge here is to enable the whole industry to accept these challenges and work together.
Link to article: https://www.building.co.uk/sponsored-content/digital-integration-in-construction/5116594.article