Navigating digital change in the construction industry

Change is rarely comfortable, especially in an industry as complex and tradition-rooted as construction. But if there’s one thing we’ve learnt at Agilité, it’s that transformation doesn’t begin with technology. It begins with people. Recently, our design manager Matteo Bonotto was invited by Procore to join a thought-leadership panel at BIM World, Paris – and here are some of his key takeaways.

At Agilité, our ambition has always been to unify and scale our processes across multiple countries – to deliver consistency for clients and efficiency for our teams. But as we pushed forward with digitalisation of certain processes, we’re not ashamed to admit that we encountered a few roadblocks.

As with many organisations, initial resistance often comes down to a tension between company aspirations and day-to-day practicality. Colleagues understandably worry about disruption to workflows, increased workloads, and job security. Even among leadership, there can be concerns over the cost and operational impact of rolling out new platforms that have the potential to go underutilised.

Looking at BIM as an example, it has the potential to be perceived as a burden — another tool to learn, another layer of complexity. There can be doubts around compatibility with existing systems and how long might take before you see real results. But that also brings me to one of the biggest misconceptions with digital tools – immediate ROI without any need to rethink processes. In the case of BIM, it’s so much more than 3D modelling. In fact, it’s a collaborative, data-rich environment for better decision-making.

The turning point

So, what changed? Quite simply, proof.

A standout example was our recent fit-out of a 1,500 sqm high-end office space in La Défense, Paris. The client, a multinational organisation, challenged us to deliver a bold and innovative European HQ.

To meet this demand, we implemented cross-regional digital workflows that connected designers, project managers, subcontractors, and the client in real time. When teams witnessed real, tangible benefits — like a 30% reduction in rework due to BIM clash detection — they started to shift from scepticism to support. To ensure the successful delivery of the project, we connected cross-regional teams through digital workflows:

• Our designers collaborated across borders using BIM to resolve issues before build
• Project managers tracked progress in real time through cloud-based tools
• Subcontractors used mobile apps to access live drawings and RFIs onsite
• The client had full visibility throughout the project via a single platform.

During this project, we learned that the key to adoption is involvement. When people are part of the process — helping select the tools, test them, and shape how they’re used — they move from feeling imposed upon to feeling empowered. The results spoke for themselves: fewer delays, clearer communication, and stronger alignment between stakeholders. What’s more, every team involved embraced the new way of working because they experienced direct benefits.

Practical strategies that worked

So how can we move from theory to execution? These are some of the methods that we have implemented across several different digital transformation processes, which have made a real difference:

• Internal champions: We identified early adopters who became tech advocates and mentors within their teams
• Incentives: Recognising and rewarding teams that embraced and excelled with the new tools by encouraging them to attend events such as BIM World and the Workspace Design Show – to help further their learning
• Gamification: Creating friendly competitions or achievements within the team to foster engagement. Such as our own B Corp employee of the month scheme
• Microlearning: Bite-sized training integrated into daily routines helped avoid overwhelm and supported steady progress
• Quick wins: By trialling solutions on smaller projects first, we built confidence and gathered valuable feedback.

And just as importantly, avoiding common pitfalls is key – launching too fast, ignoring user feedback, and failing to define success metrics. Change doesn’t stick unless you can show that it’s working.

If there’s one piece of advice I’d give anyone embarking on digital transformation in construction, it’s this: invest in people first.

Technology is only as powerful as the people who use it. When your teams feel heard and supported, they’ll help drive the change — not resist it. Co-create your strategy with those on the ground, celebrate progress, and ensure leadership is visible every step of the way.

At the end of the day, digital transformation isn’t about software. It’s about mindset. Empower your teams, align around a shared vision, and use technology as the enabler — not the goal.

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Thanks to Matteo’s fellow panellists for such spirited conversation – Brett King, industry transformation director at Procore, Lucas Brondex, analyst at Swissrock, Katarzyna Florczak, head of design/architect at Swissroc Building Intelligence, and Sergio Laranjeira, preconstruction manager at TOPBIM®.