Framework for Assessing Digitalization in Construction Companies and Sites

Digital innovation is profoundly transforming the construction sector, enhancing efficiency, safety, and sustainability. Emerging technologies improve productivity and quality while creating safer and more sustainable work environments. However, adopting these technologies requires cultural change and continuous training, with significant long-term benefits for all stakeholders. The effects of digitalization on Italian businesses are receiving increasing attention, particularly after the pandemic, which accelerated digital transformation across various sectors. Digitalization is significantly impacting Italian contractors, but its adoption and impact still vary greatly depending on the size of the company, the sector, and its technological maturity. Analyzing the state of digital transformation helps identify key technologies, adopted solutions, and challenges. Understanding these elements also raises questions about how digital innovation impacts construction companies and their production processes in practice. Given this scenario, the paper describes a framework, based on a playful approach, developed as a facilitative tool for mapping the main digitized or digitizable processes of the company, including its supply chain and the variable coalitions in which the company itself is involved. As a result, following the analysis of the summary report, the construction company can decide whether to proceed with a more in-depth assessment to establish a digitalization action plan. This strategy would focus on organizational and management reconfiguration, employee and supply chain training, recruitment of new profiles, and the acquisition of tools and outsourced services. These intentions must be accompanied by metrics and performance indicators to evaluate the return on investment.