{"id":529386,"date":"2025-09-25T09:00:20","date_gmt":"2025-09-25T08:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/?p=529386"},"modified":"2025-09-24T17:45:14","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T16:45:14","slug":"four-in-ten-firms-adopt-opportunistic-and-ad-hoc-stance-on-innovation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/tech\/four-in-ten-firms-adopt-opportunistic-and-ad-hoc-stance-on-innovation-25-09-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Four in ten firms adopt ‘opportunistic and ad hoc’ stance on innovation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Four in ten construction firms are still approaching innovation in \u201copportunistic and ad hoc\u201d ways, according to a survey of the industry.<\/p>\n

Legacy systems and processes are also holding back 85 per cent of all construction firms in the UK, global product and service solutions provider RS said in a new survey released today (25 September).<\/p>\n

The survey assessed efforts by construction firms to modernise their technology and use it to combat the biggest issues facing the sector, such as building safety and the long-standing labour shortage<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Just over half (52 per cent) of the construction-sector respondents told RS they had adopted a \u201cproactive and continuous\u201d attitude to innovation, whereas 40 per cent admitted \u201can opportunistic or ad hoc approach\u201d.<\/p>\n

The rest were categorised as \u201cminimal or reactive\u201d.<\/p>\n

Nick Perkins, head of the Built Environment Futures Assembly at the University of the Built Environment in Reading, told\u00a0Construction News <\/em>legacy systems \u201cremain a significant challenge [for the industry], as does the need for newly emerging and cutting-edge skills\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough this might appear daunting, it can certainly be overcome by mapping future skills needs, modernising competency frameworks and ensuring that professional development truly supports innovation,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith further collaboration between employers, training providers, professional bodies and regulators, this is surely an issue which can be addressed.\u201d<\/p>\n

The survey included perspectives from 567 decision-makers from the construction, energy and utilities, and manufacturing sectors.<\/p>\n

More respondents from the construction industry felt they were held back by legacy systems and processes than those in any other sector.<\/p>\n

One quarter of construction respondents told RS that their technological infrastructure was outdated. Just 12 per cent said their technological infrastructure was already very advanced.<\/p>\n

RS vice president of innovation Mike Bray said many leaders in the construction sector were \u201cturning to cutting-edge technologies to modernise operations\u201d, because they are held back by outdated legacy systems and cultural challenges.<\/p>\n

\u201cYet it\u2019s important to remember that while investing in a strong technology foundation is the first step, taking a proactive and strategic approach to innovation remains critical to unlock its full potential and maintain competitiveness,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Construction leaders were also asked for multiple answers on their rationale for innovation. The most popular reasons \u2013 each accounting for 30 per cent of those surveyed \u2013 were reducing costs, attracting new customers, improving operational performance and growing revenue.<\/p>\n

That was followed closely by 27 per cent who said growth and profitability was why they were interested in innovation, and 25 per cent who said it would help them meet their sustainability goals.<\/p>\n

According to the survey, 39 per cent of construction leaders said AI was a top priority, amid efforts to drive digitalisation and modernisation.<\/p>\n

In July, Balfour Beatty announced that it would invest \u00a37.2m in Microsoft\u2019s AI tool, Copilot<\/a>, as part of its digital transformation strategy. The UK\u2019s biggest contractor said it would support employees across hundreds of projects, with the aim of improving productivity and site safety through automation and better decision-making.<\/p>\n

But broker Miller Insurance said last month that professional indemnity insurers had started quizzing construction firms as to whether they have<\/a> sufficient oversight of AI use in their businesses, amid concerns around governance and data security.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Four in ten construction firms are still approaching innovation in \u201copportunistic and ad hoc\u201d ways, according to a survey of the industry. Legacy systems and processes are also holding back 85 per cent of all construction firms in the UK, global product and service solutions provider RS said in a new survey released today (25 …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":90643,"featured_media":440211,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[579],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-529386","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tech","issue-online-news"],"yoast_head":"\nFour in ten firms adopt 'opportunistic and ad hoc' stance on innovation | Construction News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Four in ten construction firms are still approaching innovation in \u201copportunistic and ad hoc\u201d ways, according to a survey of the industry. 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