Digital Transformation in the Construction Sector: Trends and Opportunities

The building industry sector is also entering the digital era. Digitalization gives a new dimension to infrastructures. They become real solutions for everyday life and not just products. There are many opportunities for market players worldwide.

Meeting the expectations of clients and users

Clients as well as users of connected buildings are generally riding the wave of digital transformation. Suppliers provide building industry players withreal technologies and digital solutionsto meet these expectations. These are products adapted to daily needs and the new challenges of the ecological transition: monitoring infrastructure performance indicators, optimizing energy consumption, securing access, etc.

These products can be deployed in homes as well as offices, shops, and tertiary buildings. These new constructions are more personalized, made up of modules, and connected in such a way as to allow the deployment of the Internet of Things.

These solutions are numerous. In terms of access, the installation of automatic doors makes it easier to control entries and exits. A tool like EntriWorX offers the possibility to plan and remotely manage installations.

A legal framework favorable to the emergence of digital transformation

France is one of the European countries intensifying its regulatory efforts toaccelerate the energy transition. CO2 targets have been set for the building sector as well as energy efficiency requirements. In order to reduce their carbon footprint, construction players and their clients are encouraged to deploy efficient solutions with real added value.

Alongside these ecological requirements, there are also expectations regarding data usage. Cybersecurity is another very present concept in the current context of digitalization of relationships. Connected buildings,smart buildingsin English, must comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Identifying the challenges related to digital transition

Building industry players must work coherently across the entiredigital ecosystemrelated to their sector in order to identify challenges and opportunities. The digital transition has significant impacts on the economy by generating many opportunities for growth and innovation.

Environmental challenges are undeniable. The digital transition has impacts on the environment, particularly in terms of energy consumption. One of the goals is to enable buildings to become less energy-intensive.

There are also security challenges. The use of digital resources in connected buildings implies compliance with the requirements of European and French regulations related to data protection. These infrastructures must also ensure optimal protection against cyberattacks.

Using BIM for a successful digital transition

BIM stands forBuilding Information Modeling. It is the management of information conveyed via a digital model. All of this data is useful throughout the life of the building: from its design to its demolition. Construction industry players can use BIM to obtain adematerialized representation of the characteristics of the structureover this long period.

In 2023, BIM is mainly used during the design of the building to allocate construction tasks among the various stakeholders on the site. This system makes it possible to use site information throughout its realization to move it towards the operation and maintenance stages. For the system to be efficient, it is essential to collect and digitize as much information as possible upstream.

The advantages of BIM are therefore numerous. It increases productivity while facilitating communication between the various stakeholders on the site. Processes are clearly defined and their application is smoothly verified. It is easier to anticipate the different stages of construction and the final viability of the building.

Digitization processes make it possible to share data in real time on a daily basis. This live communication offers the advantage of avoiding certain pitfalls. Construction delays are reduced. The site is optimized.

The integration of digital solutions into the routine of construction companies involves a real financial constraint, especially for SMEs. These players, as a whole, must understand that the implementation of these digital solutions is essential to gain efficiency on construction sites. Choose to be supported by professionals in deploying these digital opportunities.