New research finds owners are adopting data-centric strategies – and the industry must keep pace to stay competitive.

A new study reveals that owners of capital construction projects who prioritize data-centric practices reap significantly greater benefits from the digital tools deployed on their construction projects.

The Data-Centric Owner SmartMarket Report: How Owners Are Driving Digital Transformation in Design and Construction published by Dodge Construction Network in partnership with the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS), and funded by Autodesk, Esri and Trimble, surveyed nearly 200 U.S. owners managing $5M or more in annual construction projects. The findings show a clear correlation: the more data-focused the organization, the more value they extract from technologies.

Owners Are Prioritizing Data--But Progress Varies

To fully leverage the potential of digital tools, owners must implement consistent data practices –such as using industry standards for data, formalizing policies, training staff, and many other deliberate strategies. The study explored seven categories of these approaches and found:

• Over 70% of owners engage in at least one strategic approach in all seven categories
• On average, most individual strategies in each category are only adopted by 31% to 51% of owners.
• Only 23% of owners are highly engaged in data-centric approaches, with the rest nearly evenly split between limited and moderate engagement
• The top approach (70%) involves creating internal processes and requirements for the production and use of project delivery and asset data, demonstrating a strong intent to use data across the asset lifecycle.

“This report makes clear that as owners take the lead in digital transformation, their need for structured, high-quality data is reshaping project expectations,” said Dr. George Guszcza, President and CEO of NIBS. “Our nation faces pressing challenges and resource constraints. Data-driven insights and technology unlock unparalleled opportunities to find and leverage solutions that will benefit American communities for generations.”

Owners with Strong Data Strategies Get More Out of Tech

Digital technologies are widely used across construction projects:

• Over 60% of owners report the use of BIM, GIS, CAD, and project and asset management software
• More than half of owners are using most of these technologies themselves while also requiring them to be used by their project teams.

Adoption of emerging tech is growing—but requires even stronger data practices: 28% of owners already use artificial intelligence (AI), with nearly half as many expecting to use it in the next two years. This is the largest share of growth for any technology included in the study. 18% report using digital twins—real-time, data-rich models of physical assets that depend on high-quality reliable data streams.

The benefits of these technologies are significantly amplified for organizations with strong data foundations:

• 86% of highly data-centric owners experience project benefits like reliable cost and schedule estimates, and improved quality, safety and sustainability performance (compared with 74% of owners in general).
• 80% of highly data-centric owners experience process benefits like improved progress tracking, increased collaboration and communication, compared with 67% of owners in general.
• 83% of highly data-centric owners use project data effectively for planning, operations and asset management, compared with only 64% of owners in general.

“There are two takeaways from this data for the larger industry,” says Donna Laquidara-Carr, Director Industry Analytics at Dodge Construction Network. “First, if you are a designer or contractor, you need internal expertise to meet owners’ evolving data needs. It is a competitive advantage now, but it is only a matter of time before it is a requirement. But there’s opportunity here too—any organization in the AEC space can apply these practices to get more from the technologies they already use.”

A Call to Action for the Industry

As more owners evolve into data-driven organizations, their expectations for partners will evolve too. Designers, contractors, and technology providers who invest in internal data capabilities will be better positioned to collaborate—and to compete.

Outdated coordination wastes millions. Accelerating from innovation to impact requires robust data standards like the NIBS National CAD standard, NIBS National BIM standard, and the forthcoming National Digital Twin Standard.

Download the Full Report

Learn more and access the full Data-Centric Owner report at construction.com.

About Dodge Construction Network

Dodge Construction Network harnesses data, analytics, and industry connections to be the leading source of insights and opportunities in the commercial construction industry. With five trusted solutions-DCC, The Blue Book, Sweets, IMS, and Principia-Dodge connects construction professionals across all stages of the building process. Designed for both small teams and large enterprises, these tools simplify complexity, empowering you to build thriving businesses and communities. With over a century of experience, Dodge Construction Network is the catalyst for modern construction. To learn more, visit construction.com.

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“Owners with strong data strategies experience greater benefits from digital tools like BIM, AI, and digital twins—improving project cost, schedule, quality, and collaboration.”