An Empirical Study into the Role of Enterprise Digital Twins in Supporting Business Intelligence in Contractor Firms
摘要
In response to growing demands for more predictable outcomes, digitalisation efforts in construction are advancing; however, main contractors often face challenges in translating operational data into enterprise-level insights that extend beyond operational efficiency. Previous studies have examined various digital technologies at the operational and project levels, but the flow of data and information from construction sites to the enterprise level for generating strategic insights remains largely unexplored. This study investigates the potential of Digital Twin (DT) to support construction business intelligence (BI), particularly in informing strategic decision-making across multiple projects. The paper begins by reviewing existing approaches to DT in construction, including definitions and applications, and the relationship between DT and business intelligence (BI) as discussed in the literature. To complement the review, semi-structured interviews were conducted with professionals from 16 tier-one UK contractors. Empirical findings reveal and examine four key themes: (1) Digital Technologies & Processes, (2) Levels of Decisions and Action, (3) Challenges and Barriers and, (4) Value Realisation. The findings highlight challenges, including system fragmentation and data governance. These findings provide valuable guidance for construction organisations to move beyond operational by connecting project-level data and insights with enterprise-level, to support their strategic capabilities through improved data-driven decisions.