What's it like running a digital consultancy in construction?
Watch the episode on YouTube right here!
Starting a business in the Construction Industry is never simple.
The shifting standards, digitalization and cultural fragmentation, are a challenge few fully understand until they’re in it. But luckily, a new generation of digital consultants is taking the leap anyway. Facing the challenges in an industry often lacking in communication and efficiency.
We created a podcast episode, ” What’s it like running a digital consultancy in construction?,” featuring Anas Ayoub, digital construction director and founder of XD House. Join us as we explore the rise of BIM, the complexity of starting a specialist consultancy, and why the future of the industry demands deeper specialization and tighter coordination.
At first glance, BIM might seem like just another technology layer.
Like a digital twin, a model, or a method of data organization.
With BIM, the architects and engineers are no longer just, what their title implies.
They’ve become:
- part-programmers
- part-IT specialists
- part-developers
And that’s a problem!
BIM has matured significantly since the early 2010s.
However, the demands on those using it have exploded. Today’s professionals are expected to juggle technical modeling, data compliance, cloud workflows, coordination, and documentation.
Often in fragmented environments with varying levels of digital maturity.
In the following article, we’ll discuss:
- We need specialization
- Success as a business owner
- Less talk and more structure
Let’s get started!
We need specialization
Through XD House, Anas and his team work across the full construction chain.
All the way from developers to manufacturers, they see disconnects firsthand. Whether it’s a facade model, a fit-out plugin, or a landscaping module, one thing is a fact:
The need for specialization is now.
We can’t wait 50 years for everyone to catch up.
We need tools built for specialization, and we need them right now. This is where BIM shifts from platform to ecosystem. It’s not about one software. It’s about automation and interoperability.
But also about building tailored tools that reduce rework and enable consistency across complex project scopes.
The future isn’t generalist – it’s specialized.
Success as a business owner
Anyone who’s started a business knows the feeling: late nights, conflicting advice, and wearing twelve hats at once.
But in the construction tech space, it’s also about strategy, timing, and managing risk. Anas points out the fact that you need to keep people talking: the passionate founder and the cautious businessman.
One without the other is chaos.
When driving your own business, there’s also the danger of perfectionism.
Many professionals, transitioning from corporate backgrounds, struggle to launch because they want every report, every slide, every tool to be flawless. But if you want everything to be perfect before it’s released—nothing ever gets done.
Progress beats perfection.
Especially in a field where clients care more about results than technical jargon.
In the world of specialist digital consultancy, trust becomes the product.
Whether you’re:
- offering custom dashboards for asset tracking
- aligning data environments
- or managing BIM workflows
Success hinges on clear communication and proven value.
So… how about the future?
Less talk and more structure
Hopefully we’ll have a more evolved industry.
With more professionals understanding BIM. And with sharper conversations about digitalization and sustainability. In 2030, Anas believes we´ve gone from hunters to data gatherers. But we need organization to make this happen.
The real challenge isn’t data generation.
It’s data relevance, it’s coordination, and it’s making sure that the landscape architect, the facade consultant, and the fit-out team aren’t working in silos with conflicting standards and expectations. However, the solution isn’t just upskilling.
It’s rethinking, how we deliver:
- dashboards and visualizations that empower clients to make real-time decisions
- automation that bridges gaps between teams
- specialized tools tailored to each discipline
By 2030, Anas envisions an industry that looks very different.
It’s decentralized. But it’s also API-driven with a growing ecosystem of small, agile, specialists replacing monolithic software providers.
We need to ask ourselves: Are we becoming more efficient?
Because tools alone won’t answer these questions. We need clarity. We need focus. And above all: we need to structure the way we collaborate.
The future of BIM and construction isn’t about having the best tech.
It’s about who manages to use it to truly connect.