The 8 steps that will transform construction
Watch the episode on YouTube right here!
Talk about transforming construction, and you’ll often get eye-rolls or buzzword fatigue. But listen to those that are the most passionate about this topic, and you’ll find a much deeper story—one of culture, people, missed opportunities, and real, actionable change.
In this episode from our podcast Inventing Construction, we sat down with Paul Bingham from Smart Connected Buildings and Digital Construction Forum, who shared decades of insight from smart tech, real estate, and digital transformation.
It’s not that construction is broken. It’s that it could be much better. And according to Paul, the tools are already here—we just need to use them the right way.
In this blog, we explore the eight steps that will transform construction, according to Paul:
- People are the starting point
Technology doesn’t fail, people do. Or more accurately, people fail to adopt it. As Paul put it, “The industry is people, people, people. But they are not technology natives.”
Many of the challenges in construction aren’t about software, but mindset. Especially in SMEs, where most of the workforce are domain experts, not digital experts. Education isn’t a bonus, it’s the foundation.
- Digitise the site
If you walk into a multi-million-pound construction project and see whiteboards, Post-it notes, and printed drawings everywhere, you’re not alone. “You walk into the dark ages,” Paul said.
The reality is, the site cabin is the heart of the operation, and it should be connected. Digitising task boards, drawings, and site communications isn’t futuristic. It’s overdue. - The informed client is everything
Uninformed clients often don’t specify what data and process they need, or how they want it delivered. That results in missed opportunities, poor handovers, and lost operational value. When clients are educated on digital value from day one, everyone wins, especially at handover. - Contracts shape collaboration
We all say we want collaboration, but then we sign contracts that pit parties against each other. Paul highlights models where everyone operates as one unit: client, contractor, supply chain. These contracts share risk and reward, and they’re a roadmap to better project delivery. - Clean up your data, then talk about AI
If you don’t get the right data and information, forget AI. You can’t automate or optimise what you don’t understand. Many facilities teams still prefer clipboards to cloud systems. That has to change. From naming conventions to digital asset records, information management must come first. - Smart buildings are more than sensors
The “smart” in smart buildings isn’t just about gadgets. It’s about understanding space usage, reducing energy, and serving occupants efficiently. As Paul describes it, these buildings are in fact large computers and should be treated that way. - Invite outsiders in
Construction can solve its skills crisis by looking outside. Gamers, physicists, software engineers—they all see the world differently. Cross-pollination from other industries where some of our challenges are already solved could supercharge innovation. - Lead with value, not fear
Digital adoption shouldn’t be about ticking boxes or avoiding fines. It should be about making smarter decisions and better buildings. ROI needs to be front and centre—not just for clients, but for contractors, and the entire value chain.
For professionals across construction, the message is clear:
- Educate yourself and your team on digital fundamentals
- Clean up your data before investing in tech
- Look for collaboration models that support innovation
- Build cross-functional teams that share risk and reward
Change isn’t easy. But it is inevitable and we want to be in the front seat of the changes happening in our own industry.