ICT and e-Business in the Construction Industry

Abstract

This sector study by e-Business W@tch focuses on the construction industry (CI). It describes how enterprises in this industry use information and communications technology (ICT) for conducting business, assesses the impact of this development for firms and for the industry as a whole, and indicates possible implications for policy. Analysis is based on literature, interviews, case studies and a survey among decisionmakers in European enterprises from the CI about the ICT use of their enterprise. The sector covers the business activities specified in NACE Rev. 1.1 Groups F 45.2 and 45.3.1 The building of complete constructions (or parts thereof) and civil engineering (NACE 45.2) is dominated by large construction and engineering enterprises, whereasthe building installation industry (NACE 45.3) is predominantly made up of small and medium-sized enterprises. There are approximately 2.4 million construction enterprises in EU-25, of which 97% are micro or small enterprises with fewer than 20 employees. The industry employs about 14 million people, corresponding to about 7% of the European work force and 28.5% of industrial employment.