The construction industry is failing to adopt up-to-date IT because of a lack of training, according to a report commissioned by the DETR and published this week.
More than half of respondents to the DETR IT Best Practice Programme survey said a lack of skills and training were hampering the wider adoption of new technology. Other reasons given were a lack of investment and a preference for paper.
Although documents and drawings are generated electronically in the office, paper is still the preferred medium for distributing data. Only 5% of contractors’ tenders are received electronically.
The report found that close to one in eight product specifications were produced electronically, but only one-third were subsequently distributed electronically. More than 90% of specifications were distributed on paper.
The survey was based on IT use in 400 organisations. It covered projects worth £5m-50m.
