Dodge Construction Network released its first SmartMarket Brief of 2022 this month. The report, which is titled Connected Construction: The Owners’ View, Connected Construction An Owner’s View, is the very first of a series of words based on the investigation of the benefits and use that digital workflow can bring to the construction industry by architects, owners engineers, contractors, and other professionals.

This report is released at a momentous time for the world of construction. As the world enters our second-year post-Covid recovery and reconstruction, structure plays a significant role in sustaining economic growth overall. Recent investment in infrastructure funding and technology for construction will be a good sign for the industry. However, persistent challenges like unemployment, inflation, and disruptions in the supply chain hinder organizations from continuing to continue operating as normal.

Let’s take a look into one key stakeholder that is driving the most significant changes in construction: the owner. Dodge’s research shows that they’re poised to be the first in the industry to adopt digital transformation.

The main takeaways from the Dodge Construction Network Connected Construction: Owner’s View Report

Takeaway 1. Digital workflows are crucial. Eighty-five percent of the owners who were surveyed have already implemented digital transformation. The most significant benefits of digital workflows are improved efficiency of processes and better-informed decision-making, as well as improved cost predictability and the ability to minimize risks.

The most important result is that owners who do not utilize digital workflows have little insight into how their processes can contribute to delays and mistakes. Digital workflows can be a factor in continual improvement for the future.

Source: Dodge Construction Network

• However, For the 15 percent of owners who aren’t making use of digital workflows, increasing the volume of projects due to the growth in infrastructure could put them at risk.
• Why you should dig further: The data suggests that small-scale owner companies may have an advantage over larger companies in terms of digital transformation. Go through the report to discover the reasons.

2. Takeaway: The most successful owners are expanding their digital workflows to partners outside of the company, such as engineers and contractors. 78% of owners who seldom use digital workflows, while 62% of those who regularly use digital workflows intend to invest in digital workflows over the coming three years. Most sought-after investment areas include tasks like reviewing design, procurement/bidding, and project management.

• However, Far more owners experienced an increase instead of a decrease in the number of tools they’ve deployed. This creates more challenges in the process of digitalizing workflows across various stakeholders. Owners need to adopt connected construction technologies to maximize benefits across workflows that are external to the company. This is how Matt Sprague, Sr. Product Manager at Trimble, has to discuss collaboration and share the model’s importance in the construction of connected structures.
• A reason to look further: Thirteen areas have been identified by owner groups as investment-ready within three years. Check out the report to find out what they mean.

Three Takeaways: The most significant effects of connectivity can be experienced by both the owner and general contractor. This is also the most difficult to achieve. Of the 59 percent of owners who have frequent problems, 51% identify their GC/construction manager as the stakeholder to whom they are most frequently experiencing issues with connectivity. Most often, breakdowns are reported between architects and owners, as well as permitting authorities.

• However, General contracting and construction management companies have the chance to surpass their competitors by closing the gap using digitally connected workflows.
• The reason to look further: Owners also ranked six methods to improve their satisfaction with their connection with other parties. To find out what was at the top, read the report.

Takeaway 4. Of the numerous areas that could be transformed digitally, the preconstruction process will benefit the homeowners the greatest. In order to identify the most important activities owners feel cause delays and mistakes in their projects, preconstruction closure, construction, and closing actions were ranked on the basis of their frequency and the impact they have. These results revealed the importance of design reviews, estimation bid/procurement, and request for project intake, which are the four procedures with the greatest chance of delaying the project.

Source: Dodge Construction Network

This is consistent with takeaway number 2 above, which indicates that the two most important areas that owners are planning to automatize over the coming three years are design review and bidding/procurement.

• However, Since preconstruction activities involve numerous players and lots of guesswork, this aspect of construction can determine the success or failure of an entire project. It’s the reason it’s important to select connected solutions that ensure data integrity and create value for all stakeholders in the supply chain, as Dan Conery, Sr. Director, Product Strategy and Management, Trimble, explains here.