The usability gap: why compliance is not enough
4 December 2025
Learn to surf before riding the AI wave
1 December 2025
AI certainly isn’t going anywhere, but are we running before we can walk? And is today’s tech hype aligned to the day-to-day reality of our industry?
AI is reshaping the business landscape and leaders cannot afford to stand still, says research company Gartner, in its latest Top strategic Predictions for 2025 and Beyond report.
As someone who heads up development at a digital company that specialises in the built environment, RLB Digital, you would have thought I would be all for tech advancements. And I am. Yet, working with teams on live projects every day, I see a disconnect between what’s being sold to futureproof the industry and where it is today.
Software isn’t a panacea. There are definitely some great software packages out there. Last year’s Digital Construction Week showcased everything from cutting-edge robotics to AI-driven project management software, and the trade press reported on innovations that will reduce our industry’s carbon consumption (yes, we need that) and help us build those promised 1.5 million homes.
But while vendor booths are brimming with the latest bots, many conversations on the ground aren’t about plugging LLMs into their workflows, but how we get one spreadsheet talking to another, understanding the data we already have and managing it, and how we create good systems for the future to ensure that data is fit for purpose. A nod here to my colleagues, Emma Hooper and Rob Jackson, who head up RLBD information management teams.
Digital health check
Awareness is the first step. Know where you are on your digital journey and what you’re trying to achieve. Buying the latest software, without the basics, is “having the kit but not fit”. A practical digital health check will:
- assess your current information, data and technology landscape;
- identify gaps and risks;
- provide clear, staged recommendations; and
- evaluate the potential benefits of AI and other digital technologies that can realistically add value.
Take a tiered approach
Of course, we aren’t even acknowledging the elephant in the room that, according to Deloitte, only about 40% of construction businesses use foundational digital technologies, indicating that a significant portion of the construction industry remains undigitised.
Recent RICS research found that while digital transformation is a priority for 72% of construction firms worldwide, of those surveyed, 32% spend less than 3% of total turnover on digital technologies. While tier one multinationals might be integrating generative AI across the asset lifecycle, for many SMEs, ‘automation’ still means using accounting software to send quotes and invoices.
We need to understand that all these players are an important part of our industry and take an approach that allows all tiers to participate, collaborate and be included.
So how do we ensure we don’t miss riding the AI wave and progress rather than regress?
- Know your stage and own it. Be honest about readiness and constraints.
- Build strong data foundations. Prioritise governance, structure and interoperability so today’s inputs remain useful tomorrow.
- Digitally enable what works. Enhance proven processes with targeted tech, don’t force-fit tools to problems that you don’t have.
- Adopt, assess, iterate. Technology moves fast. Review outcomes frequently to avoid lock-in to processes that age quickly.
AI and digital technologies can absolutely accelerate progress in the built environment, but many organisations risk getting caught in the swell before they’ve learned to surf it. For all the encouragement to “ride the wave” for much of our sector, the real challenges lie in readiness rather than ambition.
The truth is that software alone won’t solve the industry’s problems. Before diving in, companies must focus on strengthening their data foundations, understanding what information they already hold and how it’s been managed and whether it is fit for purpose.
Assessing their current digital maturity, defining realistic goals and pinpointing where tech could genuinely add value will be vital to ensure adoption is smooth and investment not wasted. By doing so, the sector can ensure that it doesn’t just catch the wave, but rides it, confidently, sustainably and with purpose.
Malak Abdelmoaty is RLB Digital’s head of development
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