Ireland’s construction industry continues to make strides in digital transformation, according to results from the 2024 Build Digital annual survey, and now construction and built environment professionals can have their say and provide their own feedback by participating in the 2025 annual survey.

The purpose of the annual survey is to track the use of digital technology across the construction and built environment sectors in Ireland. The survey also offers participants the opportunity to give feedback on the industry and contribute towards future Governmental strategy.

By investigating the level of digital transformation within the industry, the annual survey results provide tangible, detailed evidence of the extent of digital adoption in Ireland, as well as capturing the lived experiences and opinions of industry stakeholders.

Results from the 2024 Build Digital annual survey show an increase in digital adoption within the construction and built environment sectors in Ireland. Of the organisations captured through survey results, 81% are now actively engaging in digital transformation.

Key motivators for the adoption of digital tools and methods include the Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF) Building Information Modelling (BIM) requirements (Irish BIM mandate), clear benefits for projects and demand from project partners.

Survey Participants: Survey respondents represent practitioners from across the construction and built environment sectors in Ireland, including industry, academia and government. In 2024, the majority of participants represented the construction industry (60%), followed by Government (29%) and academia (12%).

Digital Transformations: Results from the 2024 survey illustrated that participants in organisations who have started their digital transformation journeys increased from 2023 to 2024 by 4% (77% to 81%).

This rise is consistent with industry trends and represents the value of digital adoption. Survey results show that the benefits of digital transformation include improved accuracy (86%), increased operational efficiency and enhanced quality.

Sustainability: The industry trend of adopting digital tools and practices to increase sustainability on projects is represented through results from the 2024 Build Digital annual survey. A total of 61% of respondents noted that they use digital tools and methods to improve the sustainability of projects.

While digital tools can be used to track and measure sustainability data, sustainability strategies such as BIM for circular processes, lifecycle assessment tools and eco-design software were also cited in the results.

Digital Acceleration: In 2024, most respondents (84%) cited specialised events, such as the Build Digital Annual Conference 2025, as the top priority activity when accelerating digital transformation. Exemplars, BIM guidance documents and ISO 19650 guidance documents were noted as the most useful resources in supporting the adoption of the ISO 19650 (CWMF BIM requirements).

Give Your Feedback: If you work within the construction and built environment sectors in Ireland, you can participate in the ‘Build Digital Annual Survey 2025’ by sharing your views and helping to track whether these key findings remain unchanged in 2025.

Your insights into the Irish construction landscape and its current level of digitalisation will contribute to strategy and future planning. The survey forms part of a suite of supports designed to assist stakeholders and organisations as they work towards transforming the sector by developing and maintaining their digital competencies.

To have your say visit www.builddigitalproject.ie/2025-annual-survey  

Led by Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) and supported by the Grangegorman Development Agency, the Build Digital project is in partnership with Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Munster Technological University (MTU) South East Technological University (SETU) and University College Dublin (UCD). This combination of academia and operational oversight offers the expertise, regional reach and complementary strengths to support digital adoption across the Irish construction and built environment sector.

For more information about this initiative visit www.builddigitalproject.ie/