The European Commission’s website dedicated to supporting actions for the Digitalisation of Construction SMEs is now online. The website aims to act as a one-stop-shop portal to access services offered to SMEs in the construction sector interested in digitalising their business and working practices, including notably information regarding the digitalisation of businesses and digital technologies in construction. The main objective of the Commission is to support the overwhelming majority of SMEs in the sector in their digital transition, with the ambition to achieve increased productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness.
The launch of the website is part of a project supporting the digitalisation of construction SMEs lead by the European Innovation Council and SME Executive Agency (EISMEA). The services offered, as well as the research required to design them, are based on the recommendations of a European Commission study on Supporting digitalisation of the construction sector and SMEs, to which EBC contributed.
The website contains a digital maturity scan to evaluate the digitalisation level of a company. Moreover, a handbook to provide a general understanding of digitalisation in construction and steps and recommendations for digital company processes, company culture and technologies is available. To further deepen the knowledge provided in the handbook, a calendar of training sessions is provided. Finally, a collection of best practices by construction SMEs which implemented digitalisation projects can also be found on the website. EBC is pleased to see that many of its recommendations have been taken into consideration.
The website is currently available in English, French and German. While welcoming and supporting the initiative, EBC strongly encourages the Commission to make the website accessible in all official EU languages so as to really and effectively reach the micro, small and medium-sized companies that make the construction sector, which are mostly active at the local and national level. All the more so given the potential contribution of an adequate digitalisation of construction activities as an enabler to achieve the EU’s ambitious energy and environmental goals.
 | You can access the website here |