John Holland Leading the Digital Transformation in the Construction Industry

John Holland Leading the Way in Digital Transformation in Construction Industry

The construction industry has long been known for its slow adoption of digital technologies, lagging behind other sectors in embracing emerging trends. However, John Holland, a prominent player in Australia and New Zealand’s construction industry, is challenging these norms with its innovative approach to digital transformation.

In a recent report by Deloitte, it was highlighted that only 26 per cent of construction and engineering businesses in Australia, Japan, and Singapore are currently using AI and machine learning technologies, with just 35 per cent planning to use them in the future. This underscores the industry’s need for greater technological advancement.

John Holland has been at the forefront of this digital transformation, focusing on rapidly emerging technologies such as AI, digital twins, and the Internet of Things. According to Bastian Uber, Chief Digital and Information Officer at John Holland, exploring these technologies is essential for the company’s growth and competitiveness in the market.

The company’s AI journey began in 2021 with the implementation of machine learning and optical character recognition to process invoices, resulting in significant productivity gains. Building on this success, John Holland partnered with Microsoft in 2023 to develop a private version of OpenAI’s chatbot, ChatGPT, to harness the power of generative AI while ensuring data security.

The private ChatGPT solution has been widely adopted by employees, with over 200 unique daily users and more than 1,000 queries processed each day. This technology has not only improved employee productivity by assisting in content creation and summarization but has also enabled secure collaboration on joint venture projects with other companies.

The success of the ChatGPT solution led John Holland to join the Copilot for Microsoft 365 Early Access Program in September 2023, further solidifying its commitment to leveraging advanced AI technologies for continued growth and innovation.

With its proactive approach to digital transformation, John Holland is setting a new standard for the construction industry, demonstrating the potential of emerging technologies to drive efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness in a traditionally conservative sector.