Reconciling the Irreconcilable
How technology is helping to make the impossible builds possible

Against an unsettled economic backdrop, today’s UK construction and built environment (CBE) industry also faces tough performance challenges.

Key performance indicators linked to traditional factors like cost, timing and safety are as exacting and precise as ever. But how can the industry continue to improve against these measures while also meeting increasingly sharp sustainability and environmental standards? And if digital transformation is part of the solution, where can it really add value?

In Reconciling the Irreconcilable, we look at evolving sustainability goals and consider the industry’s response to them. We review “irreconcilable” challenges faced by recent infrastructure projects, and survey digital tools that are already empowering smarter decisions.

Turning to the Microsoft approach, we outline interoperable solutions that can help realise an entire “digital building lifecycle” through intelligent design, connected sites and workers, smart lifecycle management, and intelligent asset management. These solutions can also help drive safety and resilience in the context of COVID-19.

For each lifecycle stage, we describe specific benefits delivered by Microsoft and partner solutions in recent construction projects.

Looking ahead, we identify a key opportunity to boost sustainable industry growth – by supporting digital skills initiatives – and juxtapose new opportunities at home with a “connected construction” project overseas.

Download Reconciling the Irreconcilable now – and discover how digital technology can help the CBE sector fix the supply chain, boost site safety and productivity, and drive innovation.