Digitalisation adoption toward NCP 2030 in the Malaysian Construction Industry

The National Construction Policy 2030 (NCP2030) serves as a cornerstone for fostering sustainable development in Malaysia by 2030. However, the Malaysian construction industry encounters obstacles in embracing digitalisation, including a lack of knowledge, resistance to change, and contradictory research findings. This research aims to investigate the readiness of the Malaysian construction industry to adopt digitalisation in construction aligned with the NCP2030. The objectives of this research are to identify the readiness of Malaysian consultant firms to adopt digitalisation in their construction process and to explore the challenges of digitalisation adoption in the Malaysian construction industry. Furthermore, to examine the way forward of Malaysia's construction toward digitalisation transformation. This study employed a simple random sampling survey as a research instrument with a total of 35 respondents replying to the survey and was analyzed through IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) statistics (Version 29). The findings reveal a moderate level of readiness in the Malaysian construction industry, aligned with the NCP2030. Despite facing challenges, such as resistance to change, the industry demonstrates a proactive commitment by providing digital literacy training and embracing digital tools. In addition, most consultant firms are now using various digitalisation strategies in their work process, including Internet of Things (IoT) and Data Analytics in their projects. This commitment is exemplified by the industry's quick adoption of digital technologies, ranging from basic software to advanced solutions. It is significant for the project personnel to utilise digital tools to promote sustainable and efficient construction practices.