Procore Technologies has released new industry research showing a growing appreciation for the role of data in reducing potential defects and improving project quality outcomes.

More than half (53%) of Australian construction leaders surveyed agree it is difficult to effectively monitor quality assurance without an integrated data management platform, an increase of 8% from 2020.

This research release is the second from a survey of 153 construction leaders around Australia conducted by ACA Research, which investigated the state of data-driven quality and compliance in the industry. The findings show that, while all companies surveyed are working with data to an extent, there is often a lack of communication and collaboration between different stakeholders in the process, meaning the potential benefits may not be fully realised.

“Technology and data will play a central role as the Australian construction industry continues to transform and focus on uplifting building quality,” Procore APAC vice president Tom Karemacher says.

“With an increasingly complex network of stakeholders to report to, and an urgent need for data accuracy and ease of reporting, it’s crucial that companies understand and address the barriers to better data capture and analysis.”

As the construction industry continues its accelerated adoption of digital solutions, three-quarters of all respondents surveyed (76%) are using some form of software to capture data across their business. However, some respondents continue to rely on paper-based records.

• Of all onsite processes, respondents were most likely to use paper to manage Health and Safety (24%).
• One in five respondents manage Quality and Compliance on paper (21%) despite 56% agreeing that paper-based Quality Assurance (QA) processes are impractical and increase the risk of re-work.
• Most respondents (58%) use standard office software for quality control inspections and certifications, and a further 23% of respondents use specialist software for these processes.

The increased use of specialist software for quality control and compliance is encouraging, however, there is a widening gap between smaller and larger companies. Nearly half of the larger businesses (100+ employees) surveyed use specialist software for these processes (49%), while just 11% of small businesses (<10 employees) say the same. In all, 12% of respondents admitted they don’t have a digital system for compliance records.

“As Procore continues to track technology adoption in the construction industry, it is encouraging to see a growing appreciation for the value of data-driven business insights to improve project and business outcomes,” Tom adds.

“The next step is to ensure all Australian construction companies have access to project information, data insights and benchmarks at their fingertips, reducing complexity and allowing quality and compliance needs to be easily met.”

To learn about the most common mistakes that lead to rework and key strategies to improve construction quality, download Your Guide to Zero Defects here.