From Bricks to Bytes: Building a Data-Led Future in Construction

For an industry that works in “bricks and mortar,” technology has historically never been a huge focus, but — given its current growth — the construction sector is rapidly modernising with data at the core of its digital transformation.

This shift can be seen in the increasing presence of construction businesses at tech-focused events like Dreamforce. We caught up with John Foster, National Pre-construction Director at construction giant, Wates Group, at this year’s event and asked him about the impact of data and the growing relevance of platforms like Salesforce.

“The construction sector holds vast amounts of data, and much of it is locked away in spreadsheets on desktops, unused. Unlocking that data could significantly improve efficiency, which is crucial given our tight margins,” John adds.

“Technology has immense potential to improve efficiency and decision-making,” says John. “We have workforces, like most industries, that are feeling stretched and overworked. Technology can help alleviate those very real concerns,” he added.

The figures back this up. According to a recent report from JLL, over 80% of property occupiers, investors and developers plan to increase their technology budget in the next three years.

John was keen to stress that it’s more than just rote admin tasks, it’s about making data-driven decisions. “It just makes sense; instead of guessing or using gut feeling, we can use real insights to make informed choices and predict potential outcomes. That approach is key to business improvement and optimising performance.”

Cementing the relationship with AI 

“The exciting part is that AI is here – it’s no longer science fiction. It’s not about replacing people but reducing strain and freeing up employees to focus on higher-value activities. It’s exciting to think about how we can apply AI to our industry to alleviate pain points and make our work more efficient.

“I recently waited six weeks to get data for a report. Instead, I could have spent minutes using AI to retrieve the same data. The time-saving potential is huge.”

But John warns that everyone must be mindful of how AI could affect certain roles, like administrative workers, and find ways to use AI ethically and responsibly.

However, if the construction sector doesn’t embrace AI, it risks falling behind other sectors that are modernising rapidly. “AI could help attract new talent by making our work more appealing and efficient,” he said,

Will you be back at Dreamforce next year?

“Of course, AI tools like Agentforce have been fascinating. Customer service is an area I’m passionate about,” continues John. “It’s been eye-opening to see how big players from other industries, like Deloitte and others, are doing things in their sector.”

“We can learn new things by being exposed to all of these ideas and use cases.”

“I’ve heard insights from sectors like car manufacturing and retail, and while their specific needs differ, the underlying principles are the same. It’s been fascinating to think about how we can apply those lessons to our business.”