Construction product manufacturers slow to adopt digitisation

The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) have released a new research report examining the attitudes of senior managers in construction product manufacturing towards digitisation.

The study involved telephone interviews with C-suite executives from companies supplying products to the UK construction sector.

Key findings include:

- Many manufacturers do not view digitisation as a significant priority.

- Over half of those surveyed see no immediate need to digitise.

- Most companies provide product information mainly through PDFs or printed documents.

- Only 8% have created or commissioned a BIM (Building Information Modelling) object.

- Despite this, most believe that digitisation could enhance profitability.

The report indicates that the current digitisation requirements outlined in the Building Safety Act and the Golden Thread guidance are not being widely adopted by manufacturers. The sector faces challenges in digital transformation and will need targeted support and encouragement to address these.

Richard Robinson, president for UK & Ireland at Atkins Réalis, commented: “While 80% of the 80 manufacturing leaders interviewed recognised the importance of digitisation, only a few prioritise it highly, with other concerns taking precedence.

“The digital transformation efforts are inconsistent, and investments in digital technology may be misdirected due to a lack of understanding of what digitalisation entails. I recommend reviewing this report to help shape your policy decisions.”

The research was conducted by the Plain Language Group, known for its work on the role of manufacturers in the digital transformation of the construction industry and the digitisation of construction product information.

You can download the full report, Digitisation of Construction Product Manufacturers: A report of research into senior managers' views, here.