As part of our event partnership with London Build Expo, our Executive Officer Justin Kirby moderated the ‘Digital Construction is from Mars and Digital Operations is from Venus’ panel last week at London Olympia. The discussion brought together experts to explore plugging the project-operations gap with kind help from Rugby legend Matt Dawson:

• Marlies Hoogeboom, BSc Hons, CoreNet Global, Interim – Managing Director – BAM UK & Ireland FM
• Alan Williamson, FCIOB, FCIBSE, CEnv, Senior Services Manager – Multiplex
• Natalie Green, FM Innovation Director – Sodexo
• Ben Jowett, Head of Digital Engineering – Wates Group
• Lucas Cusack at Glider Technology
  

Lucas kindly stepped in at the last moment after Peter Beck from Canary Wharf Group sadly couldn’t make it.

Synopsis

A fundamental disconnect exists between construction and operations phases, resulting in frustrated building users and facilities staff with limited influence on smart specifications during design. This often leads to buildings not being operated optimally and technology specified not meeting its promise. This session with participants from both side of the divide will be discussing the key challenges faced with aligning the project design and operation phase; some tangible examples of how the project-operations gap is being plugged; and what’s on the horizon that might help further.

Podcast Summary

Justin has been experimenting with AI-generated podcast summaries which can listen to on Linked:

• Part 1
• Part 2

Executive Summary

The panel discussion at the London Build Expo foucused on the disconnect between the design and operational phases of digital building projects. Industry professionals highlighted significant challenges in aligning digital construction data with operational needs, citing issues with data transfer, asset naming conventions, and insufficient early engagement between construction and facilities management teams. Several case studies illustrated both successful collaborations and common pitfalls, emphasising the need for improved communication and integrated systems thinking. The discussion also explored future trends, including increased reliance on AI and the potential for more holistic, lifecycle-focused approaches to building design and management. Ultimately, the panel advocated for better communication and collaboration across the entire building lifecycle to optimise building performance and user experience.

Main Themes:

• The Disconnect: A fundamental disconnect exists between construction and operations, leading to frustration for building users and facilities staff.
• Early Engagement: Lack of early and consistent engagement between stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle is a major contributor to this disconnect.
• Data Challenges: Challenges arise in transferring, managing, and utilizing asset information effectively between construction and operations. This includes issues like inconsistent naming conventions, lack of data structure, and difficulties in integrating data from various systems.
• Skill Gaps: The industry faces a shortage of skilled resources who understand both construction and operational aspects of digital buildings, particularly in managing and interpreting data for optimal building performance.
• Evolving Role of Technology: Rapid advancements in technology, including AI and robotics, will reshape the industry and demand new approaches to data management and building operations.

Key Ideas and Facts:

• “The biggest problem … is that when you get a building that is all singing and dancing and can do all of those wonderful data elements, people don’t have to use it.” – Marlies Hoogeboom highlights the issue of technology implementation without proper user training and integration into operational workflows.
• “My biggest challenge … is that … beautiful investment of asset information at the end of the project [is] just wasted.” – Lucas Cusack emphasizes the frustration of seeing comprehensive asset information unused due to misalignment between construction deliverables and operational needs.
• “The gap for us is day one … We really need to be talking to the end-user right at the beginning.” – Alan Williamson stresses the importance of early engagement with end-users to establish naming conventions, data structures, and functionalities that meet operational requirements.
• “We continuously receive requirements from customers … All of that detailed thinking goes into connecting those things together … but they’re not logically matched with each other.” – Ben Jowett points out the lack of system thinking in connecting data requirements across different systems and stages of the project.
• Examples of success: Lucas Cusack cites a project where early involvement of the operations team in the construction phase ensured smooth data handover and ongoing management.
• Alan Williamson describes a positive experience with a client who engaged a year before project completion, enabling alignment on data structures and functionality.
• Future Trends:Panelists predict a shift towards performance-based contracts, driving a greater focus on long-term building performance and accountability throughout the lifecycle.
• Increased adoption of AI and robotics will revolutionize the industry, requiring upskilling and a more data-centric approach to building operations.

Recommendations:

• Foster early and continuous collaboration between all stakeholders, including construction teams, FM providers, and end-users.
• Establish clear data standards, naming conventions, and information exchange protocols at the project outset.
• Invest in training and upskilling resources to bridge the knowledge gap between construction and operations.
• Embrace emerging technologies like AI and robotics to optimize building performance and automate tasks.
• Advocate for performance-based contracts that incentivize long-term building efficiency and user satisfaction.

Conclusion:

The panel discussion highlighted the urgent need to bridge the gap between digital construction and operations. By prioritizing early engagement, data integrity, and skilled resources, the industry can ensure that smart buildings deliver on their promise of efficiency, sustainability, and user satisfaction throughout their lifecycle.

We will be sharing more summaries soon from other events we have been partnering with recently but in the meantime, stay connected by following the DBC on LinkedIn for the latest updates, events and insights from the founding members and reach out to learn how to join our community and contribute to our mission.