Robots walk across the construction sites, take measurements, take photos and provide all the information directly. Visualisation glasses allow us to see the finished project in the shell. The project is visualised in 3D on the computer and in the BIM age the various specialist planners work hand in hand on the same file with the latest information.

Project management software combines many work steps. TAI software channels and connects the tendering, awarding and invoicing process in an informative way. These are all things that work and that can really help users when they are fully developed. In particular, TAI and project management are processes that have been running smoothly with IT support for years.

The construction industry has a great interest in using the possibilities and opportunities of digitisation to bring the existing point and cluster solutions into one platform. The main objectives are to save resources and to increase the quality of planning and construction with the available ones.

How a point solution can become a dynamic technology cluster has been shown by the example of 3D planning, modelling and the applied BIM (Building Information Modelling). Both components are one of the strongest technology links in the planning process. But the links now go further. While 3D planning and BIM have become essential for design management and the planning and tracking of construction processes, newer technologies such as 3D printing, robotics in general, off-site fabrication, laser scanning and so on are expanding this technology cluster.

The area of artificial intelligence and analytics is linked to the previously mentioned cluster. Machine learning is deeply connected to 3D printing. However, AI and analytics offer great opportunities for all current point solutions and clusters. Perhaps AI is also the chance to bring all technologies together.

What is the roadmap? Is it even desirable to combine all processes related to planning and construction into one platform? What does real-time monitoring and control of the construction process have to do with equipment management or customer relationship management? Basically, a lot. Real-time means faster reaction to necessary procurements and faster and more precise reporting to the customer.

As the Construction Technology Industry Map by McKinsey & Company shows, the construction industry is still in a sea of point solutions. What the construction industry needs are platforms or, ideally, the one platform that integrates point and cluster solutions seamlessly into one another and thus quickly provides the user and user groups with an overview of all processes and a secure, channelled communication.

The ideal platform will not be available any time soon. Meanwhile, various providers are competing in the market. Providers that have grown historically and are strong in different sub-areas. The providers and platforms that understand how to think outside the box and familiarise themselves with other specialist areas, incorporate them or at least create meaningful links, will be the most useful and effective.

However, we are still a long way from a solution, but rather from a more comprehensive point solution. Perhaps this is a somewhat pessimistic view, because every new meaningful link and achievement in new technologies makes things easier in our workflow and brings us a little closer to the big picture.