Construction companies across Asia Pacific including Japan (APIJ) in the “acceleration” phase of recovery are most advanced at using technology to future-proof their businesses, the latest research has found.
A recent IDC InfoBrief, sponsored by Autodesk, Road to Recovery: Overcoming COVID-19’s Impact on the Construction Industry with Digital Technologies, surveyed the construction industry across the region and identified three stages of COVID-19 recovery: “response”, “adaptation”, and “acceleration”.
Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, 95% of construction companies have increased their adoption of digital technologies to drive digitalisation and become resilient. Across the industry, 89% of APIJ construction companies have seen an upsurge of solutions such as BIM workflows, bid management, project management and insights as a result of COVID-19 – but there is still a way to go.
Luckily, there is a tremendous opportunity for change. The InfoBrief states that before the pandemic, 80% of construction companies in the region were in the earliest stages of digital transformation (DX). This translated into short term, tactical and disconnected responses when the pandemic started. These companies have the biggest opportunity for change and to learn from their peers who are further along the road to recovery and in the acceleration phase.
Significant opportunity to increase adoption of digital solutions to support recovery
The opportunities to increase adoption of digital technologies to support businesses to thrive are in ample supply. Across the region, 46% of construction companies still leverage paper drawings for their projects, and 35% are considering purchasing a software solution to address this. Furthermore, when it comes to digital solutions 46% of companies ranked themselves as very knowledgeable in the handover phase of construction, but this was not the case in the design, planning or building phases where digital solution knowledge was ranked as low.
Almost 30% of ANZ survey respondents indicated they are now in the acceleration phase, closely followed by Japan-based respondents at 20%. Both of these countries are historically early adopters of technology so the results were not surprising. Looking forward to their next moves, the survey found that the top construction phases for planned investments are design and development for both ANZ and Japan; followed by the testing and comissioning phase.
Construction companies must embrace digital to survive and thrive
Because there is no clear indication of when the COVID-19 pandemic will end, construction companies must embrace the changes and opportunities that surround them. In particular, companies need to ensure the health and safety of their employees — and a safe working environment is a digital environment.
To create further resiliency in the “next normal” and to capture market share, construction companies in the acceleration phase should prepare for future growth opportunities with the use of digital construction solutions. The increased adoption of these technologies (for example, BIM) to support all construction workflows should be targeted investments that will support companies’ recovery and future growth.
Software such as the solutions within Autodesk Construction Cloud, an integrated cloud-based portfolio of products used to manage construction projects, enables connected workflows, teams and data at every stage of construction to reduce risk, maximise efficiency and increase profits.
With the construction industry facing a new era of convergence and evolving challenges for processes and teams, innovation is essential to create streamlined workflows and maintain competitiveness in today’s marketplace.
Find out more about the construction industry’s recovery, and the next steps you can take
For more information on the construction industry’s recovery and innovation since the pandemic began, view our previous blogs on how the industry is building resilience and future-proofing through digital technologies, how construction companies in the “response” phase of COVID-19 are using technology to ensure the workforce is connected, engaged and safe, and how construction companies in “adaptation” phase are using technology to support a hybrid workforce.
To download the IDC InfoBrief, click here. To find out more about how Autodesk Construction Cloud can support your business, contact us or get your free trial.
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