ASSESSING TECHNOLOGY READINESS OF CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

The construction industry is undergoing a digital transformation that is influenced by the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) and trends from a post-COVID-19 environment. The Singapore government has aggressively embarked on a journey to digitalise the nation under the Smart Nation initiative. The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has also introduced an integrated framework, known as the Built Environment (BE) Industry Transformation Map (ITM), which builds upon previous ITMs to encourage a higher level of technology adoption in the construction industry. The aim of this research is to assess the technological readiness of construction companies in Singapore. The specific objectives are to investigate: (i) the degree of usage of new technologies; (ii) how useful technology is for business continuity; (iii) the level of organisational readiness in adoption of new technologies; (iv) the challenges organisations face in technology adoption; and (v) the association between implementation of new technology and superior performance. A survey questionnaire was the research method employed for this study. 101 responses were collected and analysed from employees and business owners working in the construction industry. The study revealed that computer aided design (CAD), building information modelling (BIM), cloud-based technology, high degree of prefabrication, and the internet of things (IoT) have the highest usage. Government measures are found to be effective in pushing for the use of these technologies. However, the impact of a crisis renders high degree of prefabrication and IoT not useful for business continuity. This is due to supply chain disruptions which causes the productivity of the construction site to decline drastically. Surveyed firms portrayed a high level of technology readiness because of robust organisational level plans that made them open to new technologies. However, the high implementation costs and difficulty in justifying adoption through a cost-benefit analysis hinder firms from fully embracing new technologies. Another concern raised was the scepticism towards information security. Finally, four technologies that may bring about better performance are recommended.