This handbook concludes that there is a window of opportunity for harmonising a European wide common strategic approach for the introduction of BIM. Government policy and public procurement methods are recommended as powerful tools to support this step-change in the sector. Without this top-down leadership, the sector’s low and uneven adoption of information technology is likely to continue which would limit its opportunity to significantly improve productivity and value for money. This is especially true within its large and diverse SME sector.

Governments and public sector organisations can provide leadership to encourage the sector towards the untapped opportunity of digital, and in turn provide better public services and better value for public money. However, governments cannot do this alone: working together with industry at European and national levels is essential to achieve this digital transformation with due consideration given to commercial models, education, skills development, SMEs and changes to current practices.

The vision is to build together with the private sector a competitive and open digital construction market: one that sets the global standard. This handbook calls for coordinated public sector action across both European and national levels to drive towards this vision. 

This handbook describes the first steps of a digital revolution for the sector that will, over time, require significant adjustment by construction clients and the supply chain. This cannot be achieved overnight and experience has shown that successful BIM adoption strategies recognise the need for a period of adjustment as BIM requirements are increased gradually. This handbook aims to provide the support to enable Governments and public sector clients to transition construction to the digital era.