What do 3,503 construction leaders from 27 countries think about the industry\u2019s tech future? Autodesk\u2019s latest global survey reveals the trends shaping GCs, owners, trade contractors, and designers.<\/p>\n
You can read the results in the 2025 State of Design & Make \u2013 Spotlight on Construction report.<\/em><\/p>\n The report demonstrates that the industry needs to step up in making business use of the vast amounts of data it produces:<\/p>\n According to the report, a typical construction project involves an average of 42 external collaborators<\/strong> from design through handover (I find this estimate conservative). Improving data sharing to make it easier and more standardized would significantly boost the efficiency of workflows.<\/p>\n Digital leaders utilize an average of 5.3 digital tools per construction project<\/strong>, compared to 3.4 among beginner organizations. Organizations that report robust data-sharing practices use an average of 5.2 tools, while those with poor data-sharing practices use just 2.9.<\/p>\n I find the number of tools surprisingly low. <\/strong>Maybe these are just the most essential ones?<\/p>\n The following chart displays responses to the question: \u201cWhat digital systems\/tools, if any, do you currently use on construction projects? Select all that apply.\u201d Unsurprisingly, spreadsheets are still going strong. But why is the percentage not even higher?<\/p>\n Many projects, startups, and initiatives are working to address the data sharing and collaboration challenges. AI could help in this area, although Autodesk\u2019s report shows a slight decline in that confidence. While 68% believe AI will improve the construction industry<\/strong>, this is a sharp drop from 80%<\/strong> in 2024.<\/p>\n The report concludes that the decline in sentiment signals that AI is following the classic tech hype cycle, as leaders face the challenges of implementation, an ongoing technical skills shortage, and the limitations of the current technology.<\/p>\n The business case for AI remains unclear to many professionals. 47% of construction leaders say identifying where AI can be beneficial is a significant or moderate concern. Only 32% of construction leaders report that they are either pursuing or have achieved their AI objectives.<\/strong> There is also a sense of fear, as 44% of leaders agree that AI could destabilize the construction industry.<\/p>\n Regardless of the reservations regarding AI, companies are<\/p>\n Leaders\u2019 AI priorities in the next 1-2 years are:<\/strong><\/p>\n Top AI priorities in the next 2-5 years:<\/strong><\/p>\n Beyond five years, survey respondents identify field and design collaboration, issues, bidding, and other unspecified workflows as top priorities.<\/p>\n Industry leaders identified several worries, including the cost of raw materials, economic uncertainty, and higher labor costs, which 55% mentioned as moderate or major concerns. They also face these tech-related challenges:<\/p>\n Despite challenges, 65% of industry leaders feel positive<\/strong> about their businesses\u2019 financial performance over the next three years, and 62% are optimistic about the overall future of the construction industry.<\/p>\n The industry\u2019s next leap won\u2019t come from gathering more data or chasing every new AI tool. It will come from making data work harder and AI work smarter.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nData is key, but poorly utilized<\/h3>\n
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Spreadsheets remain the top choice<\/h3>\n
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AI disillusionment<\/h3>\n
Top AI priorities<\/h3>\n
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The outlook<\/h3>\n
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