Survey of digital technologies in procurement of construction projects

Abstract

Digital technologies are increasingly being used to support the execution of all aspects of the construction procurement process. However, there has been no systematic attempt to identify and catalogue the different digital technologies and tools available for executing construction procurement activities so as to guide those involved in procurement on the options available to support the six basic procurement activities identified in ISO 10845. The method used to identify 36 different digital technologies and tools used in construction procurement was a literature survey involving systematic identification and review of 78 articles published in 52 different sources between 1993 and 2014. The 36 digital technologies and tools identified include ten generic tools used across the procurement process. This is followed by four applications for establishing what is to be procured; four for soliciting tender offers; one for establishment of procurement strategy; two for tender evaluation, two for award of contract and thirteen for contract administration. The research shows that the majority of existing digital technologies are web-based applications that facilitate real-time communication and collaboration across construction supply chains. The effort made to map digital technologies with the ISO 10845 framework presents a useful contribution to current discourse on digital technology use in construction procurement. It seems interesting that despite the progress made in the evolution and use of digital technologies in construction, there is still no single digital technology which integrates all six construction procurement activities into a system that procurers can adopt to manage the entire construction procurement lifecycle. This should be addressed.