Eight out of ten construction companies prioritise AI to improve efficiency

1. A look to the future: governance, reskilling and co-pilots 

The construction industry is undergoing an unprecedented transformation thanks to the adoption of artificial intelligence. In a traditionally conservative and not very digitised sector, 83% of companies see AI as an indispensable tool for optimising internal processes and improving efficiency. This is reflected in the latest Ascendant report from Minsait (Indra Group) which, under the title AI: X-ray of an ongoing revolution, analyses its degree of adoption in private companies and public institutions. 

The impact of AI extends to every stage of the construction value chain: from the bidding phase with automatic analysis, to design through assistants for technical and regulatory questions, to automated quality inspection. Thus, 60% of companies are applying it to improve project management and planning. 

Artificial intelligence also allows infrastructures to be recognised to detect incidents, and to analyse and qualify specifications efficiently. Additionally, 67% of companies are already focusing their efforts on improving physical security risk management by using, for example, sensors to automatically detect the equipment of construction site personnel through images.  

The study also reveals that 60% of construction companies are already integrating AI to strengthen the area of cybersecurity and 40% for talent retention. The variety of use cases in the sector is broader than in other industries, so the impact of each initiative is carefully assessed before it is addressed. In fact, 40% of companies make intensive use of artificial intelligence to support data-based decision-making and the exploitation of existing data.

A look to the future: governance, reskilling and co-pilots 

Despite the incipient maturity of the technology and its use cases, the sector is aware of the need for organised and governed artificial intelligence. For this reason, they are not only carrying out proof of concept tests from their innovation departments, but are also already setting up centres of excellence for the governance of AI. In this sense, Minsait’s Ascendant report predicts that in the coming years, projects will be developed that are backed by business cases, robust architecture and ethical and governed knowledge.  

However, this transformation poses significant challenges. With a high dependence on human capital, 60% of the companies surveyed point to the shortage of talent specialised in AI as a key barrier. To address this, the reskilling of employees will be essential and business areas will need to have professional profiles capable of identifying new opportunities.  

The study also reveals the potential of generative tools such as co-pilots, which can assist in project management and optimise daily operations. An example of this is the co-pilot of the site manager in the execution stage, an assistant that improves the speed and precision of operations.  

‘AI is redefining standards of efficiency and quality in construction. The companies that invest in it today will lead the sector tomorrow,’ says Eladio García, director of Industry and Construction at Minsait. ‘These companies,’ he adds, ’are modernising and have undergone a significant evolution. On this path of transformation, the involvement of senior management, the creation of strategic plans and the design of an AI governance model that accompanies its scaling in the business are indispensable.’   

The Ascendant Digital Maturity 2024 Report by Minsait, now in its fifth edition, addresses the context and degree of adoption of artificial intelligence by companies and public administrations. To this end, the information provided by more than 900 organisations from Spain and other countries from 15 different sectors of activity has been analysed.