The Mediators of the Relationship between Digitalisation and Construction Productivity: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

The construction industry has long been perceived as reluctant to embrace change, and digital transformation is not an exception. The slow adoption rate has been linked to the perceptions of the effectiveness of construction innovations. An implied link exists between digitalisation and productivity improvements. However, such a link is yet associated with ambiguities, suggesting that the influence is not linear. Despite the very low productivity rates achieved in the construction industry, studies on the association between technology adoption and productivity-related benefits and advantages are rare, and this may be a contributing factor to the indecision of construction firms to embrace digitalisation. A systematic literature review enables scholars to disseminate past research efforts in one scholarly resource, in pursuit of new knowledge. Through systematically reviewing the literature, this study identifies, classifies, and critically analyses research efforts, aiming to shed light on the mediators of the relationship between digitalisation and productivity. Overall, sixty articles have been identified, screened, and included in this study. Productivity, in this context, is positively related to digitalization, by promoting more safety and well-being, planning enhancements, collaboration, waste reduction, employee upskilling, design enhancements, communication and knowledge transfer, and accuracy in information management. The findings also reflect the popular use of qualitative methods when studying digitalisation in the construction context, a stance that may be a reflection of a less diverse use of methodological approaches, and presents a call for more quantitative studies, to explore the relationship between digitalisation and productivity. Future research is encouraged to use this extensive review as a foundation for comparable empirical investigations, considering areas of similar interest, to accelerate the adoption of digitalisation.