Digitising Construction from the Ground Up

In 2025, it appears the construction and engineering sector in Australia is transforming rapidly, facing the dual pressure of increased demand and tighter constraints. Labour shortages, supply chain disruption, and regulatory complexity are now standard challenges.1 As a result, CIOs, CTOs, and Heads of IT should no longer be considered supporting roles—they should be central to how projects are designed, delivered, and scaled.

Figures show that the average construction business in Australia now uses 6.9 digital technologies, a sharp rise from 5.0 the year before.2 This leap isn’t about tech for tech’s sake; it seems to reflect an industry-wide shift toward operational efficiency, better collaboration, and long-term resilience.

Why Digital Transformation in Construction Can’t Wait

Traditionally slower to embrace digitalisation, the construction industry now finds itself at a turning point. Key drivers for change appear to include:

  • Workforce shortages –With a predicted 130,000 additional workers required this year to overcome workforce shortages3, it is likely many businesses simply cannot keep pace without automation and optimisation.
  • Cost volatility – Material price fluctuations and compliance burdens are impacting profit margins.
  • Sustainability and reporting pressures – Government and investor expectations around ESG and data transparency are only intensifying.

In this context, it seems that the role of IT has shifted from “support function” to “strategic partner.” Organisations appear to no longer be just investing in tools but investing in smarter ways to build.

Design-Led Integration: Bringing Technology into the Build

At the heart of this shift is integration. Construction teams typically rely on platforms like Revit, AutoCAD, and Navisworks for design, modelling, and collaboration, but these tools are often used in isolation from core systems.

At FUJIFILM IT Services, we help clients unlock value from their design investments by integrating these platforms with broader IT environments—cloud infrastructure, document management systems, approval workflows, and analytics.

This enables:

  • Real-time updates across multidisciplinary teams
  • Automated version control and compliance tracking
  • Fast approvals and reduced rework
  • Insightful dashboards drawing from design, financial, and site data

By looking to remove data silos, IT teams can help bridge the gap between architecture, engineering, and on-site delivery— ideally leading to better outcomes and lower risk.

AI and Automation: The New Engine Room of Project Efficiency

37% of Australian construction businesses are now deploying AI or machine learning in some capacity—up from 26% the year prior.4 

These technologies are helping address some of the sector’s most pressing pain points5, including:

  • Predictive scheduling and resource planning
  • Site safety monitoring through computer vision
  • Supply chain forecasting
  • Contract analysis using natural language processing

It appears organisations are integrating AI with Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to streamline workflows such as progress claims and subcontractor invoice processing. This synergy helps reduce manual handling, improve accuracy, and accelerate billing cycles.6 When implemented strategically, RPA could enable internal teams to scale without headcount— potentially helping with cutting costs and speeding up delivery at every phase of a project.

Building IT Around the Project Lifecycle

Every build has a beginning, middle, and end—but the systems that support it often don’t follow that same rhythm. That’s why we’ve shaped our IT services with the view to align with how construction projects actually work.

At FUJIFILM IT Services, we offer:

  • Flexible Managed IT Services – can be aligned to project phases, so as to minimise unused capacity
  • Workflow Automation – including RPA and intelligent document capture to reduce manual admin
  • Cloud and Infrastructure Solutions – that is designed to scale with your pipeline and integrate with design tools
  • Secured, Compliant Environments – aligned to ISO and IRAP frameworks

And with no lock-in contracts*, you’re not tied to an extended term—we back our service and give you the freedom to explore as your needs change.

The Evolving Role of the Construction CIO

The modern CIO in construction should no longer viewed as the custodian of internal systems—they should now be considered as architects of business transformation. From integrating BIM platforms into wider data strategies, to enabling site-to-office collaboration, the CIO is uniquely positioned to influence both digital strategy and commercial outcomes.

But challenges remain. 76% of construction firms say technical skills shortages are holding back their digital ambitions7. That’s why we believe strong vendor partnerships matter—your IT provider should not only offer tools, but bring technical depth, industry understanding, and business alignment.

Ready to build smarter?

FUJIFILM IT Services helps construction and engineering firms integrate, automate, and scale their operations with tailored IT support and design platform integration. And with no lock-in contracts*, we aim to give you the flexibility to innovate.

Talk to us today to assess your IT strategy. Let’s build a stronger foundation together.

*No Lock-In Contracts (NLIC) refers to contracts with greater flexibility allowing the contract to be terminated on an agreed number of days.

References

1. Rider Levett Bucknall. (2024, Q4). Australia construction market update: market pressures from labour shortages, supply-chain issues, and regulatory impacts. RLB Oceania. Retrieved from: https://www. rlb.com/oceania/insight/challenging-landscape-ahead-for-australian-construction-industry

2. Build Australia. (2025). Australian Construction Industry Invests Heavily in New Technology Amid Economic Optimism. Retrieved from: https://www.buildaustralia.com.au/news_article/australian-construction-industry-invests-heavily-in-new-technology-amid-economic-optimism/

3.Master Builders Australia. (2024). Builders pave the way for solving workforce shortages. Retrieved from: https://masterbuilders.com.au/builders-pave-the-way-for-solving-workforce-shortages-2/

4. Deloitte. (2025). State of Digital Adoption in the Construction Industry 2025. Retrieved from: https://www.deloitte.com/au/en/services/economics/analysis/state-digital-adoption-construction-industry.html

5. Sphere Inc. (2025). AI Use Cases for Construction Industry in 2025. Retrieved from: https://www.sphereinc.com/blogs/ai-use-cases-for-construction/

6. AEC Cloud. (2023). AI and RPA Synergy: Maximising Efficiency in Construction Operations. Retrieved from: https://aeccloud.com/blog/ai-and-rpa-synergy-maximizing-efficiency-in-construction-operations

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