The construction industry has a habit of tasting technology, trialling innovations on single projects, then failing to embed them into wider business operations. Why does this happen? And what does it take to move from isolated implementation to organisation-wide transformation?
At the Construction Technology Confex 2025, a high-level panel discussion tackled this very issue. The session brought together leaders who are actively transforming their organisations from the inside out. If your company is grappling with the challenges of adoption, change management, legacy systems, or leadership buy-in, this is a must-watch conversation.
Transformation starts at the top but can’t stop there
Dr. Anas Bataw opened the session by framing the challenge: While many firms have made strides at the project level, true transformation requires enterprise-wide alignment. Eisa Al Ali of Dubai Holding Real Estate underscored the importance of full lifecycle thinking, from BIM to VDC to Digital Twins and shared how leadership support supercharged their rollout across a newly expanded portfolio, including Nakheel and Meydan.
Change Management is the Real Challenge
As echoed by Aisha Ali (Premier Construction Software), the biggest barrier is not the tech, it’s the fear. Many employees worry that new systems will expose inefficiencies. That’s why ERP rollouts and digital adoption must be championed from the top down, but also communicated in ways that create confidence rather than fear. “It’s okay to see the red,” she noted. “That’s what lets you pivot and improve.”
Interoperability is non-negotiable
Roger Wahl from Innovo emphasized that in today’s ecosystem, no single tech solution is used in isolation. Open APIs and vendor-agnostic platforms are key to ensuring interoperability across clients, consultants, and contractors. Innovo, which rebranded four years ago to reflect its tech-forward mission, has automated 95% of its processes, an achievement made possible through top-down vision and grassroots collaboration.
Don’t just digitize the future, digitize the past
Amr Saad of Osool Integrated Real Estate brought a powerful perspective: transformation isn’t just about the future. It’s also about capturing legacy data from decades-old assets and converting it into usable digital formats. Using laser scanning and digital twins, Osool is preserving and activating institutional knowledge to support future investment decisions.
Proving rOI: The cost of not knowing
When questioned on how to justify the cost of digitising heritage assets, Amr was direct: “What is the cost of not knowing?” Without reliable data, decision-making suffers. From space planning to preventive maintenance, asset performance relies on structured digital knowledge.
Build momentum through early adopters
Rather than enforcing top-down mandates, Dubai Holding’s approach included identifying early adopters inside the design team and working collaboratively to pilot procedures across multiple project stages. This not only refined internal systems but built grassroots credibility that helped scale transformation smoothly.
Why this matters:
Whether you’re managing assets, delivering projects, or overseeing digital transformation, this panel offers real, unfiltered insights into what actually works. These are the strategies that are making a difference, from selecting internal champions, to aligning business units, to rethinking KPIs for digital ROI.
View the full discussion and gain practical insights from leading voices in construction innovation. Watch now:
