Lack of understanding of project data
In many construction projects today, project data is digitally collected, managed and automatically exchanged between all participants. Central to this process is the Common Data Environment (CDE), a cloud-based environment in which information from construction projects is accessible to all project participants at all times. pom+ has analysed 18 common Common Data Environments (CDE) for the first time. It becomes clear: the understanding of the value of data is still missing in the construction and real estate industry.
The CDE is the starting point for consistent data management. It is in the interest of the property owner to have access to the current project information at all times, to avoid incompatibilities and to be able to change access rights. It is all the more surprising that the value of data is still not fully understood. Too often, they are viewed solely from an IT perspective and reduced to their function as measuring instruments.
Themarket is changing rapidly
The market for CDE solutions is fast-moving and diverse. Overall, there is a trend towards specialisation, which requires a high level of integration. Independent tools are often bought up by large technology providers or built into existing solutions. This leads to problems when taking over projects that have already been completed. To ensure a smooth exchange of data, it is recommended to use a platform as consistently as possible.
Rapid innovation unsettles users
Competition among providers is fierce. New tools are constantly entering the market and functionalities are constantly being developed. The result is a great deal of uncertainty among many building owners and operators, both in terms of selection and application. The rather slow construction and real estate industry meets the short innovation cycles of the technology sector here. Use cases, process flows and responsibilities must therefore be clearly defined before the system is selected in order to avoid disappointment.
And who owns the data?
The question of data sovereignty is central: Who owns the data in the CDE and who is entitled to it when the construction project is finished and the building is handed over for operation? Current practice shows that this question is often neglected. It is therefore essential that the building owner specifies the set-up, orders the CDE according to his own ideas and regulates the ownership of the data at an early stage.
User-friendliness leaves a lot to be desired
The project CDE solutions examined by pom+ can be roughly divided into two groups: Either they are expert tools with extensive functions or simple applications with limited possibilities. Common to both groups is a lack of usability. Almost 45 per cent of the tools examined were rated three or less on the five-point scale. The problem here is that CDEs are not only used by technology-savvy people – they have to address the whole team. Manufacturers should pay more attention to this in their further development. Joachim Baldegger, head of the study and Head of Service Unit Future Lab, summarises: “Modern construction means thinking about operations already in the construction project and ordering the right data. Common Data Environments play a central role in this. However, there is still a long way to go, because many tools have gaps in their functional scope and can only deal with data to a limited extent or record it in a structured way. Only when this is ensured can data from the project be efficiently transferred to the target systems of the property owners and added value generated.”