The adoption of digital technologies in construction has evolved from isolated experiments into a defining factor of business performance.

While the industry has long been considered skeptical of technology, recent years have shown that digital technologies can fundamentally change how buildings are designed, constructed, and operated.

Today, the question is no longer whether to adopt them, but how to leverage them most effectively to deliver value at scale.

Benefits of Digital Technology Adoption

According to Deloitte’s “State of Digital Adoption in the Construction Industry 2025,” companies that have embraced digital tools report the most common benefits as higher productivity (60%), increased profitability (58%), improved quality of goods and services (55%), and reduced operational and management risk (55%). These benefits go beyond short-term cost savings and strengthen long-term competitiveness, project quality and work safety.

Figure 1. Benefits observed since introducing new technologies

Source: State of Digital Adoption in the Construction Industry 2025, Deloitte, February 2025

Note: Businesses could select up to three benefits.

Digital adoption also contributes to revenue growth and better project delivery. Deloitte’s analysis shows that the introduction of just one additional digital technology increases the likelihood of a project being delivered on time and under budget, while also raising expectations for annual revenue growth. For an average construction business with $100 million in revenue, this translates into $1.14 million in additional growth per year.

Another critical impact is on safety. Digital tools help identify risks early, digitize approval and monitoring processes, and enable earlier interventions, directly improving worker safety and compliance outcomes.

The 10 most important digital technologies in construction in 2025

1. Building Information Modeling (BIM)

Building Information Modeling is a digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a building or infrastructure. Modern BIM operates within Common Data Environments (CDEs), increasingly standardized through ISO 19650. Advanced levels extend BIM into 4D (adding time for sequencing and scheduling) and 5D (integrating costs), enabling real-time simulation of how a project evolves over time and budget.

Benefits:

• Better interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Early detection of planning errors and collision checking.
• Support for sustainable construction methods.
• Increased productivity through prefabrication and visualization.

Key use cases:

• Early-stage conceptual modeling for cost estimation and risk detection.
• Clash detection and multi-discipline coordination (architecture, structural, MEP).
• 4D/5D project planning and budget control.
• Facilities management and lifecycle monitoring after handover.

Real-world example:

On London’s Crossrail, one of Europe’s largest infrastructure projects, BIM was used to integrate design, construction, and asset data across the entire lifecycle. The digital workflows enabled better coordination, reduced errors, and improved handovers, generating measurable efficiencies and savings in the millions of pounds.

2. Digital Twin

A digital twin is a virtual replica of a physical asset, process, or system, continuously fed by real-time data from sensors and operations. In construction, this typically involves three layers: the physical twin, the operational twin (monitoring performance), and the intelligent twin (predictive, enhanced with AI/ML).

Benefits:

• From reactive to proactive project management.
• Improved operational efficiency and lifecycle optimization.
• Early risk minimization and increased safety.

Key use cases:

• Design validation and process optimization before execution.
• Real-time monitoring of building systems (HVAC, structural integrity, energy use).
• Predictive maintenance through feedback loops between engineering and operations.
• Augmented reality overlays for site inspections.

Real-world example:

Helsinki created a city-scale digital twin that allows planners to simulate everything from solar energy potential to wind flow around new developments. The model cut turnaround times for studies, improved stakeholder engagement, and made planning more transparent and data-driven.

3. Robotics and Automation

Robotics in construction ranges from autonomous material transporters and robotic welders to layout-planning bots and collaborative robots (cobots). When combined with AI, these systems can adapt to new tasks and operate in hazardous or repetitive environments.

Benefits:

• Relief from the shortage of skilled workers.
• Higher precision and round-the-clock operation.
• Improved occupational safety and resource efficiency.

Key use cases:

• Autonomous robots for material handling on construction sites.
• Precision welding and assembly in high-risk environments.
• Automated layout marking and surveying.
• Prefabrication factories with robotic assembly lines.

Real-world example:

At a quarry site in Sweden, a collaboration between Volvo CE and Skanska tested an autonomous “electric site” where robotic, battery-powered machines performed heavy operations. The pilot demonstrated that automation could maintain productivity while cutting energy costs drastically and reducing CO₂ emissions by over 90%.

4. Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI in construction analyzes vast amounts of project data to support cost forecasting, risk management, quality control, and safety monitoring.

Benefits:

• More accurate cost and schedule planning, improving overall project predictability.
• Reduced delays and risks through proactive data-driven insights.
• Automated document review and compliance checks, ensuring faster approvals and regulatory adherence.

Key use cases:

• AI-powered cost estimation based on historical project data, market pricing, and productivity benchmarks.
• Predictive analytics for project scheduling and risk management.
• AI vision systems for quality control and safety inspections.
• Natural Language Processing (NLP) for document analysis and contract compliance checks.

Real-world example:

On large Nordic projects, cameras mounted on workers’ helmets were connected to an AI system that compared actual site progress against BIM and schedules. This approach created an objective digital record of construction activities, enabling earlier detection of delays and discrepancies, and helping project teams keep delivery on track.

5. Generative AI (GenAI)

Generative AI is a subset of AI capable of creating new content — from design alternatives to material compositions — by learning from vast datasets. In construction, it integrates with BIM and digital twins to produce new design options, optimize site layouts, and automate documentation.

Benefits:

• Faster planning processes through design alternatives.
• More efficient approval and compliance checks.
• More sustainable and innovative solutions.

Key use cases:

• Generative design of 3D building components or layouts.
• Generative materials design for sustainability and performance optimization.
• Site plan optimization based on constraints such as resources, climate, and codes.
• Automated content summarization from technical documents and drone surveys.

Real-world example:

In the Netherlands, a contractor leveraged a generative design platform to assess thousands of potential layouts for new residential neighborhoods. The system intelligently optimized the trade-offs between land utilization, energy efficiency, and financial feasibility, providing planners with rapid, data-driven insights into alternative designs and enabling more sustainable, well-informed development decisions.

6. Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR)

AR overlays digital models on the physical environment, VR immerses users in a fully virtual environment, and MR combines both approaches. In construction, these technologies are increasingly tied to BIM and digital twins.

Benefits:

• Fewer planning errors through improved visualization.
• Faster coordination with clients and authorities.
• Safer training in virtual environments.

Key use cases:

• Virtual project walkthroughs for clients and teams before breaking ground.
• AR-enabled inspection of unbuilt or underground structures in situ.
• Safety training simulations in VR environments.
• Wearable MR devices (e.g., XR10 helmets) for field teams to access real-time project data.

Real-world example:

Irish construction companies use MR headsets to overlay BIM models directly on construction sites, resulting in fewer errors and smoother installations.

7. Drones (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles – UAVs)

Drones in construction provide aerial imagery, LiDAR, and video data for surveying and inspections.

Benefits:

• Fast, cost-effective data collection.
• Reduced risk for workers in hazardous areas.
• Real-time monitoring of construction progress and safety.

Key use cases:

• Topographic surveys and terrain mapping.
• Real-time site inspections and monitoring.
• Inventory and material tracking.
• Drone-based photogrammetry for digital twins.

Real-world example:

On UK infrastructure projects, drones are now routinely deployed for surveying and inspections. They provide high-resolution imagery of large and hard-to-access areas in minutes instead of days, reducing the need for manual surveys, improving safety by keeping workers out of hazardous zones, and cutting inspection costs.

8. Internet of Things (IoT) and Sensors

IoT refers to interconnected devices and sensors deployed on job sites and within building systems. They capture data such as vibration, temperature, or energy consumption and transmit it in real time for analysis.

Benefits:

• Predictive maintenance and optimized resource use.
• Enhanced safety through wearables and sensors.
• Sustainability through continuous monitoring.

Key use cases

• Monitoring machinery usage and performance.
• Wearable IoT for worker safety and tracking.
• Smart building systems (HVAC, lighting, energy monitoring).
• Structural health monitoring in bridges, tunnels, and buildings.

Real-world example:

Concrete pours on major projects in Ireland were instrumented with wireless maturity sensors that transmitted real-time data on curing progress. This enabled engineers to make evidence-based decisions about when to remove formwork or proceed with the next stage, shortening schedules and reducing reliance on traditional, slower testing methods.

9. Cloud Computing

Cloud platforms provide scalable storage, computing power, and collaboration environments for construction data and applications, including BIM, digital twins, and AI.

Benefits:

• Shared data foundation (“Single Source of Truth”).
• Lower IT costs and improved collaboration.
• Real-time access to BIM, IoT, and analytics data.

Key use cases:

• Centralized BIM and CDE platforms.
• Mobile-first collaboration tools for contractors and subcontractors.
• AI and analytics workloads run at scale.
• Integration of IoT sensor data into digital twins.

Real-world example:

An Irish contractor adopted a cloud-based common data environment to manage design and construction workflows. By centralizing documents, models, and field data, the project team was able to improve information flow, reduce errors, and achieve faster coordination between office and site.

10. 5G and Private Cellular Networks

5G provides high-speed, low-latency wireless connectivity, crucial for data-heavy applications such as real-time BIM collaboration, drone streaming, and IoT-based site monitoring.

Benefits:

• Reliable data flows for AR/VR and autonomous machines.
• More efficient site monitoring.
• Increased safety and productivity.

Key use cases:

• Real-time AR/VR field applications.
• Continuous IoT monitoring of equipment and structures.
• High-resolution drone video streaming.
• Remote control of autonomous equipment.

Real-world example:

In Sweden, pilot programs in collaboration with telecom providers have equipped construction sites with private 5G networks. The connectivity allowed real-time streaming from drones, remote operation of heavy equipment, and instant access to AR/VR applications in the field, resulting in safer operations and more efficient site management.

Conclusion: Make Digital a Core Strategy, Not an IT Project

The evidence is clear: digital technologies in construction boost productivity, quality, safety, and sustainability.

But it’s not just about choosing the right tools — it’s about strategically integrating them into core business processes. Companies that treat digitalization as a mere IT project leave significant potential untapped. Successful organizations align it with business objectives, governance, and employee training.

For construction firms, this means identifying the top technologies, launching scalable pilot projects, and building capabilities for holistic integration.

Digital transformation is no longer a vision for the future—it is an essential reality for successful, profitable, and safe construction.