Members voice frustration with the infrastructure sector’s sluggish digital transformation

Engineering and construction leaders are hesitant to adopt advanced digital technology. This is getting in the way of efforts to boost productivity and may even alienate young talent.

That was the view of several speakers at a recent ICE roundtable discussion with members and industry stakeholders.

Darren James, Keltbray’s CEO and chair of the ICE’s Inspiring Engineering Excellence Board, led the roundtable.

The discussion focused on barriers to using technologies that could streamline infrastructure delivery.

Some participants argued that it's culture that's getting in the way of digitalisation. It means less people are using data-driven processes.

They criticised what they saw as 'overcautiousness' among project leaders. They suggested that this could drive younger professionals to join other industries.

The event also proposed ideas for improving productivity in the infrastructure sector.

Participants stressed the value of leaders who encouraged their teams to try out new processes and tools.

They suggested trying the automotive industry's 'fail-fast model' to foster innovation in the infrastructure sector.

This model encourages businesses to test their ideas early and often. This is so they can find out what does and doesn't work so they can spend their time and resources wisely.

Speakers also recommended using a common language for sharing data throughout the industry.

They suggested prioritising systems and processes that people designing and delivering projects find the most useful.

The roundtable was sponsored by US software firm, Bluebeam.

The ICE, supported by Bluebeam, is hosting a webinar showcasing infrastructure projects that successfully used digital technology.

It's on Wednesday 29 January 2025. Email [email protected] to register your interest.