icBench - A benchmarking tool for Portuguese construction industry companies

Abstract

The icBench Project (Construction Industry Benchmarks) has developed a web-based flexible platform to quickly evaluate a company's performance through a set of pre-defined indicators. The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) platform is built to support this set of indicators, although its architecture has been defined so that changes or adjustments to other industries can be easily implemented. The platform is also designed to provide two types of functionalities. One is to act as an internal data management system for each user company. The other is to allow for external benchmarking comparisons. The icBench project aims at being a straightforward tool for providing guidance to construction companies, ensuring that businesses are identifying and targeting the right problems and aware of best practices. Starting with a pre-defined selection of 50 contractors, 50 consultants and 50 construction materials companies, the project expects to expand its usage amongst all construction companies after wider dissemination of the project's results planned for later this year.