Construction practice is rooted in project-based thinking as organisations use temporary teams to create one-off products in response to unique and changeable site conditions.
As a result, product platforms have begun to emerge in construction. However, the introduction of broader, platform-based business models promises fundamental and holistic change to traditional construction.
Such business models leverage a combination of strategies in terms of product and process that require investigation, definition, critique, and adaptation for their potential use in construction.
This project investigates construction’s disparate ecosystem to consolidate the broader network of actors through an examination of industry-wide business-level platforms.
Date commenced and duration
September 2021; 12 monthsLead researcher
Partners
Digitalisation
Business Model Innovation
Theme coordinator

Dr Robert Moehler
Projects
#25 Operational Excellence framework of steel fabrication and processing in the OSM and prefabrication sector (Phase 1)
#3 Projects to Platforms: Investigating New Forms of Collaboration – Scoping Study
#31 Demystifying Volumetric Construction: A Study of the Bathroom Pod
#30 Critical Path IMPACT through Productisation
#17 The implication of Industry 4.0 for the construction industry: towards smart prefab
Platforms and Process
Theme coordinator

Dr Duncan Maxwell
Projects
#25 Operational Excellence framework of steel fabrication and processing in the OSM and prefabrication sector (Phase 1)
#3 Projects to Platforms: Investigating New Forms of Collaboration – Scoping Study
#31 Demystifying Volumetric Construction: A Study of the Bathroom Pod
#9 Implementing DfMA and Lean in Construction: Best Practice Guidelines through a Study of Building Services and Structure
#17 The implication of Industry 4.0 for the construction industry: towards smart prefab
Keywords
- Business Ecosystem
- Business Model change
- Digital Platforms
- Platforms
- Supply Chain Innovation