Construction CIOs worry data control more than cost

Revizto has published research showing that 96% of construction CIOs are concerned about data ownership and control across their technology stacks. The findings are based on responses from 600 CIOs in the US, UK, Europe, Australia and the Middle East.

The study suggests a shift in how construction technology leaders assess software and digital systems. Instead of focusing mainly on cost and procurement, many are examining who controls the data those systems generate and what happens to it if supplier relationships change.

That concern sits alongside a broader divide over technology strategy. While 41% of CIOs surveyed plan to expand their technology stack over the next 12 to 18 months, 39% expect to consolidate, suggesting the sector remains split between adding tools and reducing overlap.

AI barriers

The research also found a gap between interest in artificial intelligence and the conditions needed to use it effectively. Regulatory uncertainty was the most commonly cited obstacle, named by 24% of respondents, followed by limited digital skills at 23%, lack of integrations at 17%, and poor data foundations at 15%.

Only 10% said they were already seeing value from AI with no barriers remaining. The figures suggest that, for most firms, adoption is still constrained by governance, workforce and data issues rather than access to software alone.

The findings come against the backdrop of a construction sector still dealing with persistent delivery problems on large projects. According to the survey, 92% of respondents said they experience cost overruns of 6% or more, suggesting schedule and budget pressures remain widespread across the industry.

For technology leaders, those pressures make system integration and data control more important. Construction projects often involve long timeframes, tight margins, and collaboration between multiple contractors, consultants and owners, making it harder to maintain consistent information across separate tools and organisations.

Marc Schütz, chief product officer at Revizto, said the issue was as much about control as functionality.

"CIOs are no longer just asking if a technology works. They're asking if it delivers multifunctional value without adding bloat, and whether it keeps control of critical project data in their hands. In the report findings, and via our own customer conversations, we are increasingly hearing that locking data into a single vendor is viewed as a serious risk. The path forward isn't more technology. It's better control over the technology already in play," Schütz said.

Trust issues

The findings suggest vendor lock-in is a growing concern for firms trying to connect design, engineering and project delivery systems. In fragmented software environments, companies can become dependent on individual providers for access to project information built up over several years.

David Felker, CIO at Trilon, said the issue goes beyond software selection.

"The construction industry has more technology than ever, yet control has become more fragmented. This is not a tooling issue. It is a trust and data ownership issue. We must be intentional about retaining control of our data and using it to drive better outcomes," Felker said.

The survey was commissioned through Censuswide and formed part of a broader study of architecture, engineering and construction professionals across eight markets. The wider respondent group included project managers, design leads and BIM managers, as well as CIOs, with most participants working in senior leadership roles at companies with annual turnover above USD $100 million.

That concentration among larger firms matters because these businesses typically operate broad supplier networks and complex project portfolios, where technology decisions can have implications across multiple sites and partners. In that context, data portability can affect procurement, compliance and project continuity.

Steven Capper, CIO and chair of Revizto's advisory board, said enthusiasm for AI has started to run ahead of the industry's readiness.

"Now, there is real AI fatigue in our industry, and it's getting harder for CIOs to articulate AI's tangible benefits. The pressure to deploy AI is arriving before the coordination problems beneath it have been solved. Deploying powerful tools on top of broken workflows doesn't accelerate delivery; it accelerates failure. The smart CIOs will focus on getting the fundamentals right before expanding capability and automation," Capper said.