AI is making progress in the construction industry, but its adoption remains limited

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are gradually transforming the organization of work. Task automation, process optimization, decision support: their promises are numerous. But in the construction industry, their integration still raises many questions, for employers, employees, and training providers alike.

It is in this context that the Construction Industry Observatory has published a groundbreaking study conducted by the consulting firm Plein Sens. Its objective: to analyze the perception and adoption of AI tools within companies in the sector. While current usage remains limited, interest in these technologies is undeniable. The study, however, identifies several obstacles to deployment and formulates five key recommendations to support companies' skills development and leverage AI to enhance the attractiveness of jobs in the sector.

Click here to download the full study

Significant interest, but still few concrete applications.

AI is seen as a powerful driver of transformation, but its adoption remains marginal in the construction industry. Less than 10% of companies currently report using artificial intelligence tools.

However, nearly 36% of companies say they are interested in deploying them in the coming years. This interest is significantly more pronounced among medium and large companies (50%) than among very small businesses (30%), revealing a structural divide within the sector.

The study also highlights a gap between the potential offered by AI and its actual use in the field. The tools are primarily used for support functions: office and administrative tasks (89%) or service sector activities such as design and research (72%). In contrast, specialized professional solutions are less widespread, due in particular to the specific characteristics of the sector: high fragmentation, low standardization of processes, and high reliability requirements.

Multiple obstacles to overcome

Despite their stated interest, construction companies are struggling to integrate AI into their daily practices. The study highlights four main categories of obstacles.

Technological barriers

The diversity of use cases and the limited interoperability of software complicate the integration of solutions tailored to the realities of construction sites. Existing tools can prove complex, time-consuming, and sometimes inefficient.

Economic obstacles

SMEs and mid-sized companies consider the acquisition cost too high in relation to the expected short-term benefits. This situation widens the gap between large corporations, capable of investing and innovating, and smaller businesses that must wait for more mature and accessible solutions.

Organizational and cultural barriers

The aging of managers and employees, the low digital acculturation of the profession and the lack of coordination between actors also constitute obstacles to the emergence of new uses integrating AI.

Developing skills to democratize AI

For the Construction Industry Skills Observatory, skills development is the key to successful deployment. The challenge is clear: to make AI a tool accessible to all companies, and not an advantage reserved for large corporations alone.

The study thus identifies three levels of maturity that companies must gradually pass through:

The basic needs: acquisition of a solid digital culture and mastery of data.
Intermediate needs: development of user-centered engineering and change management.
Advanced needs: improved interoperability, process automation and securing of interconnected systems.

Five levers to accelerate deployment

In conclusion, the Observatory makes five recommendations for structuring the development of AI in the sector:

Strengthening digital literacy to better understand the challenges and uses of AI
Structuring and ensuring the reliability of data is an essential prerequisite for relevant results.
Securing usage and supporting experimentation to identify concrete application cases
Develop a clear and tailored training offer, integrating AI into career paths
Improve sectoral coordination to foster collective ownership of innovations

Through this study, the Construction Industry Skills Observatory calls on all companies and training providers to take action. The goal: to provide concrete support for skills development so that artificial intelligence becomes a true driver of performance and attractiveness for the construction sector.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.