6DigitalSkillsBecomingEssentialforConstructionProfessionals.
Dubai(News Desk):: Accordingtoarecentskillsreport,59%ofquantitysurveyingandconstructionprofessionalsidentified advanced digital tools as the most important skill for the future.
Constructionhasalwaysreliedonpracticalexperience:understandinghowprojectsaredelivered,spotting risks early and knowing when something on site is not right. These skills remain essential, but as digital tools become more embedded across the industry, the way construction teams work is changing.
Asadigitalplatformworkingwithconstructionteamsaroundtheworld, PlanRadarhasidentifiedsixskills that are becoming increasingly important on the modern jobsite, helping professionals work more efficiently and adapt as construction becomes more digital.
1. Creatingcleardigitalprojectrecords
Gooddocumentationismorethantakingaphotoorwritingaquicknote.Siteinformationshould clearly show what happened, where it happened, who is responsible and what action is needed. This makes it easier for contractors to respond and for reviewers to confirm that work has been completed correctly.
A2023casestudyfoundthatintroducingstructureddigitalquality-controldocumentationreduced supervisors’ documentation workload by 80–90%. Standardised data entry also improved the accuracy and usability of inspection records. Clear, organised information also provides a stronger foundation for future automation and AI.
2. Coordinatingdigitalworkflows
Construction professionals increasingly need to understand how information moves through a project, not just how to use individual tools. An inspection, Request for Information (RFI) or approvalshouldhaveaclearpath,showingwhostartsit,whatinformationisneeded,whoreviews it and when it must be escalated.
Thismattersbecausedelaysintheseworkflowscanhavearealimpact.A PlanRadarstudyof1,728 constructionprofessionalsfoundthatoneinfourrespondentssaiddelayedapprovalstypicallyadd more than a month to project timelines. Clear digital workflows help teams keep responsibilities visible, reduce missed actions and move decisions forward faster.
3. Workingconfidentlywithdigitaldrawingsand BIM
ConstructionprofessionalsdonotneedtobeBIMspecialists,buttheyshouldbeabletonavigate digital drawings, understand revisions and connect site issues to the correct location. This is becoming increasingly important in the UAE as Dubai continues to digitise building processes.
ThroughitsBIMplatform,DubaiMunicipalityallowsconsultantstouploadIFCmodelsand automatically check them against Dubai BIM Standards and selected building regulations.
Astheseprocessesbecomemoresophisticated,theseskillswillbecomemoreimportantonsite. Professionals who can confidently use digital models will be better placed to connect design information with actual site conditions.
4. Capturingusefulvisualevidence
Visual documentation is becoming a more important part of how construction teams track progress,andcommunicatesiteconditions.Professionalsneedtoknowwhatshouldbecaptured, when it should be recorded and how images can support later decisions.
A UAE case studyat Expo City Dubai saw a contractor use 360-degree reality capture across 28 buildings,creatingaround180capturesoftheproject.Thevisualrecordhelpedteamsmonitor progress,identifyissuesandimprovereporting.Usedeffectively,visualevidencegivesteamsa clearer record of site conditions and makes progress easier to review without relying solely on repeated physical inspections.
5. Buildingpracticaldataliteracy
Constructionteamsgeneratelargeamountsofinformationdaily.Theskillisknowinghowtoread that information and identify what actually needs attention.
Professionalsshouldbeabletospotrecurringqualityissues,overdueactions,approvaldelaysand differences in performance across teams or locations. They also need to understand when a number is useful and when it needs more context.
Thisdoesnotmeaneveryprojectmanagerneedstobecomeadataspecialist.Itmeansbeingable to ask the right questions, check the information behind a result and use project data to support better decisions.
6. UsingAIwithprofessionaljudgement
A2025RICSsurveyofmorethan2,200constructionprofessionalsfoundthat46%identifiedalack of skilled personnel as one of the main barriers to AI adoption. As AI becomes more common in construction, professionals will therefore need more than basic awareness of the technology.
TheyshouldunderstandwhereAIcansupportroutinework,howtoquestionitsoutputandwhen professionalverificationisrequired.AIcanorganiseinformation,identifypatternsandsummarise records, but decisions involving safety, contracts or technical responsibility still require humanjudgement.
Digital skills are becoming part of everyday construction, but the pace of technological change means professionalscannotbeexpectedtomastereverynewtool.Whattheindustryneedsinsteadarecurious, adaptable people who are willing to keep learning, question how technology is used and apply it in ways that improve project delivery.
