CONSTRUCTION & BIM


A ‘SPOTIFY WRAPPED’ MOMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION


Rob Norton, UK Director at PlanRadar, argues that by adopting disciplined, data-driven practices that transform records into transparent, actionable stories, the industry could reduce costs, improve safety, build trust and drive continuous improvement.


Every December, millions of us receive a neatly packaged summary of our year in music. Spotify Wrapped, from the streaming service, transforms a year of raw listening data into a simple, shareable and often surprising story. It tells us about our habits, our preferences and how we compare to others. The construction industry, an engine of vast and complex data, is crying out for a similar moment of clarity.


Every day, all across the UK, construction and maintenance projects generate enormous volumes of information; from snagging lists and safety reports, to progress photos and compliance checks. Yet, too often this valuable data ends up in a digital graveyard. It is unstructured, siloed and difficult to analyse, creating a barrier to learning and improvement that comes with tangible costs. Speaking of costs, a 2021 study by FMI and Autodesk found that poor quality data cost the global construction industry $1.85 trillion in 2020, contributing to rework, delays and disputes that can impact the entire building lifecycle. For facilities managers and property owners who inherit these assets, the consequences of poorly managed platforms can be felt for years to come.


Turning data into


performance stories The challenge is to modify static data into compelling stories. Imagine if, at the end of a project, a site manager could see a clear summary of their team’s performance. Insights like ‘top five recurring issues’, ‘most efficient subcontractor’ or ‘average time to resolve defects’


could provide a powerful basis for actionable coaching and optimisation of resources. Such an approach would transform simple record keeping into genuine performance management.


Building transparency and trust Adopting this data-driven mindset would also have a serious impact on industry culture. When performance is measured and understood through objective data, it helps to dismantle the ‘blame’ culture that can saturate complex projects. It provides the much vaunted ‘single source of truth’ that serves to promote transparency, manage expectations and build trust between contractors and clients and across the wider supply chain. Everyone understands what good looks like because the data shows them.


Clarity like this is also fundamental to improving safety. By systematically capturing and analysing leading indicators, such as near misses or safety observations, teams can identify patterns and proactively address risks before they lead to incidents. A digitised, data- led approach creates a transparent audit trail, which is essential for demonstrating compliance with standards like the Building Safety Act and reducing long term risk for building operators.


The path to digital discipline The future of efficient construction and effective facilities management depends on our ability to harness data through true digital transformation. As an industry, we need to move towards an era of digital discipline, where information is captured consistently and used to drive standardisation across all projects. This means establishing clear protocols for data collection, ensuring teams have the right tools to document work in real time, and creating feedback loops that turn insights into tangible improvements.


By harnessing the technology that’s already out there and operational and by using it effectively to turn project data into clear, understandable and emotionally engaging stories, we can unlock new levels of efficiency, improve jobsite safety and build a culture of continuous improvement. That certainly would be a wrapped-up summary worth sharing.


www.planradar.com/gb/ 40 | TOMORROW’S FM twitter.com/TomorrowsFM


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