In the project-driven construction industry, a change is emerging that promises a decisive competitive advantage in the current economically challenging times: more and more companies are relying on artificial intelligence (AI) to identify potential construction projects at an early stage and thus strategically manage their future order situation. Instead of relying on tenders, networks or chance discoveries as in the past, companies are increasingly using data-based systems that often identify new project opportunities months or years in advance.

The technology accesses a large mass of publicly accessible and sometimes specialized data sources – such as dedication plans, company expansion plans or budget plans from local authorities. By analyzing this data, AI can identify patterns that indicate future construction projects at an early stage – long before they are officially put out to tender or announced.

“The ability to find out about planned projects at a very early stage is increasingly shifting competition to the pre-tender phase,” says Dr. Isabell Claus, Managing Director of the European AI technology company thinkers.ai. “Those who are informed more quickly today can sometimes position themselves with the client several years before the competition – be it by starting discussions on the identified project, as a technical expert or through targeted offers.”

Another advantage of the technology lies in capacity planning. Construction companies can plan resources better and work more economically by looking ahead to future projects. Smaller companies also have easy access to information that was previously only available with considerable effort.

On the other hand, data protection is viewed critically when using publicly accessible but personal data – for smaller construction projects, for example. “Here, the technical possibilities should be limited to what automated data analysis is legally and ethically permissible,” says Claus.

Despite unanswered questions, the trend is clear: the role of AI in project acquisition in the construction industry is growing. Digital early warning systems could establish themselves as a standard tool in the medium term – with considerable potential for change in terms of market transparency and competitive conditions.