Figure 1 : Four initiatives under the construction sector from overall 28 sectoral-focus initiatives to grow the digital economy ( Source : Economic Planning Unit Malaysia 2021 ).
Recently , the construction industry was highlighted amongst four sectoral-focus initiatives that will grow the digital economy under the Malaysia Digital Economic Blueprint ( MyDIGITAL ) ( Economic Planning Unit Malaysia 2021 ). The MyDIGITAL aims to transform Malaysia into a digitally driven , high-income nation and a regional leader in the digital economy . Four sectoral-focus initiatives are recommended to grow the digital economy , including the construction sector . Figure 1 outlines four construction initiatives that will build the foundation to drive the growth of the digital economy . To accelerate innovation and create a holistic digital ecosystem , the construction sector is expected to : a ) increase the adoption of digital technologies throughout the construction project lifecycle ; b ) build the digital capacity of the construction workforce ; c ) intensify research , development , commercialisation , and innovation ( R & D & C & I ) in emerging digital technologies through a centre of excellence ; and d ) introduce a mechanism to accelerate the rollout of smart cities .
Accelerating digital transformation during the COVID-19 pandemic
Initially , the construction industry ’ s previous development relied on conventional methods to operate , control , and manage project lifecycles . However , poor operation and project management have negatively affected the industry ’ s productivity and quality processes . The construction industry is still highly dependent on unskilled manual labour , which results in low productivity . With the increasing complexity of construction projects , added with demand for time reduction , quality
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