Ripe for transformation, ready for change?
A new report assessing the readiness of the infrastructure industry for digital transformation was published by the Infrastructure Client Group (ICG) in July 2018.
‘Ripe for transformation, ready for change?’ provides a snapshot of the UK infrastructure industry - focusing on the infrastructure owners in energy, transport and water sectors - to help inform the development of a national digital transformation strategy.
The report was led by Mott MacDonald and the Project 13 Digital Transformation workstream – sponsored by the ICG and the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).
To inform the report, Mott MacDonald facilitated face-to-face workshops with digital leaders and key ‘information people’ from Infrastructure Client Group members and other leading asset owners. The owner organisations self-assessed their maturity against the Industry Readiness Level (IRL), a measure of digital maturity across six broad topics that reflect the impact of digital transformation on all parts of the business: Customers, Leadership, Commercial, Capability, Asset delivery, and Asset management.
The report found that despite a range of readiness levels, common themes were clear across all organisations which took part:
- Understand who your customers are – and what they want: Create a line of sight between the enterprise and citizens as the ultimate customers, to understand how they value infrastructure and what outcomes really matter.
- Embrace digital transformation as key to business success: With leadership from executive level, implement a coherent digital transformation strategy that supports the overall corporate strategy.
- Break down data silos and better understand whole-life performance: Start treating information as an asset; focus on making better use of information, creating the platform to unlock more whole-life value from existing assets.
- Keep aspirations high – but get the basics right first: Focus on embedding basic good practice (e.g. BIM level 2) as business-as-usual across the whole enterprise. Get data quality right as a key foundation.
- Make information security everyone’s responsibility, not just those in corporate IT: Develop a culture of personal responsibility for information security similar to that for health and safety – both internally and for partners.
The report will be used by the Digital Transformation workstream to inform the consistent development of digital transformation strategies across the Infrastructure Client Group members and the wider industry.
Mark Enzer, Digital Transformation workstream lead and Chief Technical Officer at Mott MacDonald, said:
“We are really pleased to deliver this benchmark of the industry’s current readiness for digital transformation. What this exercise has highlighted is that action is required by all owners, and their supply chain partners, to capitalise on this exciting opportunity to move our industry into the future.
“We need to recognise infrastructure as an information-based industry, in which better decisions, based on better data, lead to better outcomes for the ultimate customers – our citizens. We need to start treating information as an asset, managing and valuing it accordingly. We also need to put coherent digital transformation strategies in place that will release the value of information in the delivery, operation, maintenance and use of infrastructure.”
This article was originally published here by ICE on Designing Buildings Wiki. It was written by Emma Beer.
--The Institution of Civil Engineers
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Articles by ICE on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- Digital transformation - engineers need to keep pace.
- How to make the digital revolution a success.
- Project 13 and World Economic Forum partnership.
- Project 13 programme.
- State of the nation: Digital transformation.
- The impact of digital on civil engineering.
Featured articles and news
Classroom electrician courses a 'waste of money'
Say experts from the Electrical Contractors’ Association.
Wellbeing in Buildings TG 10/2025
BSRIA topic guide updates.
With brief background and WELL v2™.
From studies, to books to a new project, with founder Emma Walshaw.
Types of drawings for building design
Still one of the most popular articles the A-Z of drawings.
Who, or What Does the Building Safety Act Apply To?
From compliance to competence in brief.
The remarkable story of a Highland architect.
Commissioning Responsibilities Framework BG 88/2025
BSRIA guidance on establishing clear roles and responsibilities for commissioning tasks.
An architectural movement to love or hate.
Don’t take British stone for granted
It won’t survive on supplying the heritage sector alone.
The Constructing Excellence Value Toolkit
Driving value-based decision making in construction.
Meet CIOB event in Northern Ireland
Inspiring the next generation of construction talent.
Reasons for using MVHR systems
6 reasons for a whole-house approach to ventilation.
Supplementary Planning Documents, a reminder
As used by the City of London to introduce a Retrofit first policy.
The what, how, why and when of deposit return schemes
Circular economy steps for plastic bottles and cans in England and Northern Ireland draws.
Join forces and share Building Safety knowledge in 2025
Why and how to contribute to the Building Safety Wiki.
Reporting on Payment Practices and Performance Regs
Approved amendment coming into effect 1 March 2025.