Digitalization Among the Quantity Surveyors: Strategies to Embracing the Change

Abstract

Quantity Surveyors all around the world have been adopting digital technologies due to their tremendous benefits. However, digitalization among quantity surveyors in Malaysia is slow due to low technology adoption. Therefore, this study aims to identify the barriers to digitalization in the quantity surveying profession and recommend strategies to minimize those barriers. A quantitative approach was applied with questionnaires serving as the data collection instrument. The questionnaires were distributed to 671 registered quantity surveyors in Malaysia, which were obtained through the random sampling method. About 134 of the response received and the findings were analyzed using descriptive analysis. Findings revealed the top four categories of barriers are: (1) financial constraints (2) lack of education (3) technical inadequacy and (4) time restrictions. A total of 11 strategies were proposed to minimize the respective barrier to increase the adoption of digitalization. Findings from this study provide insight into the barriers faced by the QS in implementing digitization, which lead to the proposal of strategies to embrace the change. The proposed strategy can act as a foundation for QS to prepare themselves, upgrading and planning the suitable step to thrive in tomorrow’s construction industry. The research has expanded the existing studies on digitalization in the quantity surveying profession, particularly in Malaysia, and assisted researchers, construction industry practitioners, and policymakers, especially in developing countries views.