Emerging Trends in the Adoption of Innovative Technologies by Building Firms in Lagos Metropolis

Abstract

Concerns over the slow pace and work progress among construction companies are pervasive. Nonetheless, technology has the potential to bridge this inefficiency gap. Thus, this study assesses the degree of adoption of innovative technologies during the building production phase with a view to enhancing project delivery. The study's objectives are to evaluate the socio-economic benefits of adopting innovative technologies, establish the degree of satisfaction with the organization’s deployment of innovative technologies, and determine the level of technology adoption at the construction stage. The study adopts a survey research strategy to collect data from the respondents in Lagos Metropolis. The population of the study comprises built environment professionals who work in construction micro-small-medium-enterprises (CMSMEs). Criterion based; deliberate, purposive sampling research strategy was deployed to select 109 respondents from the study’s population. The statistical tools used for the analysis include frequency, percentages, mean scores, relative implementation index, and ranking. The findings demonstrated that mobile technologies are the most often utilized among the twelve groups of technologies deployed during construction. In contrast, wearable technologies are the least deployed. The study concludes that the current level of technology adoption is low and varies among the CMSMEs. The divergence in technology adoption indicates that CMSMEs in Lagos Metropolis are yet to fully harness innovative technologies to boost construction operations during the building production phase. The study recommends that CMSMEs leverage innovative technologies to enhance the construction phase. This may be accomplished by creating a budget for its uptake and deployment during the building production phase in a bid to unlock its full potential and benefits. Besides, manufacturers of underutilized technologies should amplify product awareness among building firms in Lagos Metropolis. This may be accomplished by organizing training and demonstration programs for construction industry stakeholders on the benefits of deploying the technologies.