To remain competitive in an increasingly globalised market, the EU economy must transform itself digitally. The construction sector is an integral part of the European economy and the digitalisation of the sector is an enabler for the transformation of that economy. Digital transformation needs to happen right across the value chain if it is to become truly embedded and business as usual.

However, this transformation cannot be done by businesses in isolation.

Indeed, the importance of the construction sector is also a result of its pivotal position at the crossroads of different economic sectors, which make up the construction value chain: product and machinery manufacturing, professional services, infrastructure, real estate and housing. The significance of the sector is also reflected in its ability to respond to the main challenges of the European Union: jobs, digital economy, energy efficiency, circular economy, climate change, demographic changes, health and safety, education, training and new personal data protection rules.

To achieve the European Union’s policy goals, digitalisation is essential.

Digital technologies not only improve productivity and reduce project delays, but can also enhance the quality of buildings and improve safety, working conditions and environmental protection. This shows unequivocally that digitalisation is not a goal in itself but a means to achieve the European Union’s priorities. Digitalisation makes good business sense because as well as contributing to the provision of affordable homes and higher quality infrastructure at a faster pace, it offers new services, which enhance the quality of our lives, while enabling us to protect the environment and improve our communities for the benefit of all citizens.

The industry is on the brink of a transformation that will change the status quo forever. This will be through proactive adoption of new digitally based approaches which serve clients’ demands, developed in conjunction with the IT industry. Big data, data ownership and access, Building Information Modelling (BIM), cloud storage, 5, 6, 7+D design, pre-fabrication, robots, 3D printing, Artificial Intelligence, a new wave of voice recognition systems, new business models, as well as intelligent buildings and smart cities have already entered into widespread use and they are changing the way the sector operates.

To cope with the disruptive pace, we need to build strong networks which will allow the rapid transfer of knowledge, expertise and capability across sectors and geographical borders, to deliver the transformation needed.

Read the full manifesto following the link above.