The digitisation of construction product information is not on manufacturers’ radars, according to research from the Plain Language Group. The research reveals that 85% provide information via pdf or hard copy and just 8% have ever made a BIM object.
The survey of senior managers in 80 manufacturers was conducted by the Plain Language Group. The vast majority (92%) said they do not see digitisation as a major concern, while half (52%) see no need to digitise.
The Plain Language Group noted that the research suggests:
- The digitisation/digital product information message is not filtering through to construction product manufacturers, especially the SMEs that make up the majority of the sector.
- There is not an incentive to digitise, with many manufacturers focused instead on short-term commercial concerns.
- There is a major lack of understanding of what digitisation of construction product information is (joining up sources of information to provide a reliable source, sharing digital information with the supply chain) or why it will be essential to meet client requirements for building safety, product tracing, sustainability etc.
- The need that manufacturers will have for external consultancy in the current environment is a potential vulnerability and a risk of exploitation if the profile of construction product information digitisation is raised in a way that doesn’t help manufacturers make informed choices. SMEs are especially not in a position to be able to afford to make mistakes.
Recommendations
The research authors stated: “80% of the 80 manufacturer leaders interviewed for this research understood the importance of digitisation, however only a few placed it highly in their priorities, well behind other pressing concerns. There is a predominant lack of understanding of what digitisation means, and the findings also suggest that confidence about digital adoption is misplaced.
“Construction product manufacturers provide much of the vital data with which we work. Their digitisation is essential to our safety. We must help them do it.”
The Plain Language Group recommends:
- Manufacturers and their trade associations need to be educated about the benefits of digitisation both to their businesses and to the supply chain. The first step is to enable acceptance and recognition of the importance of digitisation.
- There will need to be a specific requirement for change to happen if manufacturers are to digitise. The government could be a catalyst for change with the right interventions.
- Any initiative to provide a requirement to digitise should start with priority products and require manufacturers to provide already accessible information. For example, providing compliance information from their Declaration of Performance or Conformity in electronic format to a database or portal that could be used to research products.
Information sharing and updates
Hard copy and pdfs are not the only method by which manufacturers share their product information. Nearly as many (80%) said they host information on their website, while more than two-thirds (68%) supply information via their sales staff.
Nearly a third (31%) said they supply information via a spreadsheet. Highlighting the lack of awareness of digitisation, more than half that said they share information via spreadsheets rated themselves highly in their digital journey.
Given the lack of digitisation it is unsurprising – but worth noting – that just 20% said their product information is updated in real time. More than a third of the respondents said their information is updated every seven to 12 months or less than once a year.
Editor’s note: this story was updated on 27.1.25.
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