Data in Construction | The Digital Revolution Underway

Data has become the new oil of the 21st century, and the construction sector is no exception. It is disrupting all aspects of construction. This digital transformation opens up unprecedented possibilities: smart buildings, predictive maintenance, optimized resource management… With millions of data points generated daily, the industry is experiencing an unparalleled shift. For architects and construction professionals, mastering data is key to turning today’s challenges into tomorrow’s growth opportunities. OOTI deciphers the stakes of this revolution.

What Are the 4 Key Benefits of Data in Construction?

Data exploitation in construction is now a major performance driver, transforming project management as more data becomes accessible (design and construction data, operation and maintenance data, environmental and energy data, and IoT data).

OOTI has listed the 4 main benefits for you:

• Construction Process Optimization: Smart data use leads to significant time savings through optimal team coordination. It dramatically reduces design and execution errors while facilitating communication among all stakeholders. Real-time progress tracking becomes a daily reality.
• Intelligent Predictive Maintenance: Moving away from fixed schedules towards a dynamic approach, you can now detect failures before they occur and plan interventions proactively. This foresight helps prevent costly interruptions and optimizes equipment lifespan.
• Significant Cost Reduction: The numbers speak for themselves: potential savings range from 30 to 60% on study budgets. Asset managers save an average of €2.3/m²/year, while companies can boost their revenue by 4%.
• Smart Space Management: Data enables automatic regulation of occupant comfort while optimizing energy consumption. Building security is enhanced, and spaces adapt to actual usage.

How to Overcome Data Challenges in Construction

Transitioning to smart data utilization in construction comes with some obstacles that must be anticipated.

1. Interoperability: The multiplicity of tools presents a real challenge. With over 300 software providers in France alone, system harmonization is essential. The lack of interoperability costs the industry tens of billions of euros annually, significantly slowing digital process integration and collaboration among stakeholders.
2. Data Security: Your data is valuable and confidential, and its protection is crucial. This requires secure servers and stringent access code management. Safeguarding sensitive project information and client data confidentiality should be central to any digital strategy.
3. Team Training: Efficient data use demands significant skill development, including training employees on new tools, developing new internal expertise, and guiding practice changes. Team motivation plays a vital role in success.
4. Sector Fragmentation: With 99% of construction companies having fewer than 20 employees, making solutions accessible to SMEs is essential. This means adapting tools for different scales, facilitating collaboration, and democratizing technology access. For transformation to be truly effective, it must be inclusive.

The Future of Construction is Data-Driven

The potential opportunities offered by data utilization cannot be overlooked. This evolution paves the way for promising new economic models, personalized services that better value assets, and collaborative innovation opportunities for continuous performance optimization.

Let's not forget artificial intelligence, which enhances this transformation by adding a new dimension to performance: detailed consumption trend analysis and maintenance needs prediction with unprecedented accuracy. Automating repetitive tasks frees up valuable time, while decision-making relies on precise analytics.

This digital revolution also leads to more sustainable buildings. Smart data use significantly reduces construction’s environmental impact, optimizing energy consumption, improving occupant comfort, and extending equipment lifespan. This profound transformation creates new opportunities to design and manage smarter, sustainable, high-performance buildings, thus addressing the major challenges of our time.

To turn data into performance, you need a trusted partner. OOTI, the ERP for architects and engineering firms, simplifies your daily management. Book a free demo now!

Sources : https://keepeo.fr/blog/3/donnees-batiment-l-importante-croissance-dans-le-secteur-de-la-construction

https://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_gr/OEU/001_099/035/01.01.01_60/gr_OEU035v010101p.pdf

https://alliance-batiment.org/data-du-batiment-et-objets-connectes-normaliser-pour-massifier-les-usages/

https://www.ffbatiment.fr/revues-guides/ba/22-decembre-2023/exploitation-donnees-batiment-concerne

https://www.capeb.fr/www/capeb/media/document/chiffres-cles-2023-4.pdf