CECE digitalisation project
The first output of the CECE project on digitalisation were presented by Mr. Meinero from Innovation and Development Consulting during the CECE Congress 2018 that took place in October in Rome. The project was carried-out by Innovation & Development Consulting and S.I.RI.O and it adopted a methodology that includes desk research, on-line survey, practical case studies and more than 47 interviews with companies from the entire value chain – OEMs, contractors, rental companies as well as IT companies and research institutions.
It has been supported by an ad-hoc Steering Committee from CECE members and stakeholders as rental companies and contractors. The project is aimed at investigating the dynamics and evolution of the changes triggered by new digital technologies in the construction machinery sector and highlighting the challenges and opportunities that will be confronted by manufacturers in a near future.
Digitalisation is indeed a broad concept than goes beyond the mere adoption of digital technologies. The study shows that digitalisation is widely recognized as a driver of business transformation to create new streams of revenue and provide higher added value to customers. In such a context, data collection and analysis play a key role; thanks to data analysis companies have access to greater insights and information, which are useful to investigate problems and inefficiencies in the construction processes let alone to provide new and innovative solutions. The results of the interviews show that digitalisation brings benefits such as intelligent design and planning, optimized fleet management, predictive maintenance, innovative fabrication methods, better monitoring and evaluation of resilience, autonomous equipment and driverless vehicles. All of which together will increase profits and returns while enhancing at the same time environmental sustainability and on-site safety. Moreover, digitalisation can change the image of the construction sector, making it more attractive for younger generations and digital talents.
However, still many barriers exist that might slow down the digitalisation process, such as the high cost of digital transformation, especially for SMEs, the fear of possible drawbacks (i.e. unemployment) caused by the adoption of digital technologies and the different level of maturity between companies in the sector. Also the lack of appropriate digital and managerial skills might represent an obstacle to digitalisation.
Mr Meinero pointed out that digitalisation will contribute to a massive increase in the amount of data coming from machines and on-site operations. Having access to this information and being able to analyze them will open the way for product innovation and the provision of new data-driven solutions – as the servitization trend confirms. Therefore, awareness about the value of data is of paramount importance. Moreover, in order to reap the full benefits of data, new forms of data-sharing among the parties of the value chain need to be explored.
The study also shows that new forms of public support at EU level (i.e. public private partnerships or Joint Undertakings) are needed to speed up the digitalisation process in the construction sector. Moreover, considered, the construction industry advocates for a change of paradigm towards the “best value for money” principle in public tendering in order for digitalisation to happen. Finally, public investment in education and reskilling is fundamental to favour the transition to a digitalised model.
In conclusion, Mr. Meinero stated that digitalisation represents a very promising opportunity for companies in the construction sector to enhance their competitiveness in the future. However, collaboration among stakeholders and public support will be key for a successful transition.
The full report will be available on the CECE website soon.
To read more about this topic visit our #digitalconstruction page.
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