Digital Approach to the Cost Management of Construction Works: Exploring Key Areas for Operations Improvement

Amadi Alolote

Abstract

Digital approaches to construction cost management use digital technology to analyze project data and improve operations, cost predictions, identify cost drivers, set budgets, and reduce the risk of going over budget. However, empirical evidence indicates that the software and hardware requirements in performing cost estimation vary. These requirements vary depending on the technological advancement, the client and/or market demand, and the users’ needs, amongst other factors. There is thus scope for improvement depending on the specific context of their deployment. This study explores the key areas of improvement within various cost-estimating software packages that could be targeted to increase their utilization and effectiveness in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and how these improvements can be best implemented. The assessment of the different software's ability to provide accurate and up-to-date cost estimation and project analysis reveals positive sentiments among respondents, with a significant majority. The findings further reveal diverse experiences among respondents regarding the usability of the different cost estimation software. The inclination towards using the different cost estimation software packages shows mixed sentiments among respondents based on identified areas for improvement. A majority, constituting 52%, expresses a positive inclination, stating that they would be more likely to use the software if improvements were made in the identified areas. Conversely, 44% indicate a reluctance, stating that they would not be more likely to use the software with improvements. A minor 4% remains in the middle, expressing a possibility of considering its usage with potential enhancements. To enhance the effectiveness of cost estimation software packages used in Port Harcourt, a holistic approach is recommended, prioritizing the development of an intuitive and user-friendly interface to reduce the learning curve and ensure wider and more user-friendly accessibility.