Singapore: Refreshed BE IDP Focuses on AI and Cybersecurity

The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) have introduced the refreshed Built Environment Industry Digital Plan (BE IDP). Initially launched in 2020 as the Construction and Facilities Management IDP, the BE IDP was designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the built environment (BE) sector improve their digital capabilities.

Since its launch, the plan has gained significant traction among SMEs, who have embraced digitalisation to enhance operational efficiency. The updated BE IDP builds on this momentum, offering a more advanced and streamlined approach to digital transformation within the sector.

In collaboration with around 400 industry stakeholders, BCA and IMDA jointly developed the refreshed BE IDP, which focuses on three key transformation areas aligned with the Built Environment Industry Transformation Map (BE ITM). These areas include Integrated Planning and Design, Advanced Manufacturing and Assembly, and Sustainable Urban Systems.

The updated plan consolidates existing digital solutions into a refined roadmap that provides tools for cybersecurity, data protection, and digital skills training. This roadmap enables stakeholders to collaborate using integrated digital tools, improve cost efficiency, and enhance asset management through automation.

A major feature of the refreshed BE IDP is its updated Digital Solutions Roadmap, which is designed to keep pace with the latest industry trends and technological advancements. The roadmap is aligned with the three key transformation areas and offers tailored solutions to address various business needs.

These digital solutions enable project teams to plan and design collaboratively, manufacture and construct more efficiently and safely, and monitor assets with greater accuracy. By integrating these tools, the roadmap helps SMEs to remain competitive and adapt to the evolving demands of the industry.

The refreshed BE IDP includes a Digital Skills Training Roadmap, offering strategies to equip employees with the skills needed for digital adoption at various growth stages. Aligned with the updated solutions roadmap and Skills Framework, it allows SMEs to tailor training programmes and prepare their workforce for a digital future.

In addition to digital skills development, the BE IDP introduces a Cybersecurity and Data Protection Roadmap. This roadmap provides SMEs with practical measures to safeguard against cyberattacks and protect sensitive customer data. It offers guidance on identifying appropriate tools and best practices to enhance cybersecurity across the industry, ensuring that SMEs can operate safely in a digital environment.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and Generative AI are central to the innovation outlined in the refreshed BE IDP. The plan features AI-enabled solutions designed to improve operational efficiency, decision-making, and safety standards. Some key AI-powered tools include image recognition for automated defect detection during inspections, AI-driven analytics for real-time safety monitoring on construction sites, and Generative AI to automate tasks such as generating design layouts quickly and efficiently. These technologies are set to revolutionise the BE sector by enhancing productivity, safety, and quality.

To support SMEs in adopting these digital solutions, BCA and IMDA are collaborating to pre-approve a wider range of solutions under the Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG), enabling businesses to access funding for their digital transformation efforts. Since the launch of the initial IDP in 2020, over 900 SMEs have already benefited from the pre-approved digital solutions. These solutions cover a wide array of categories, including integrated planning and design, advanced manufacturing and assembly, and sustainable urban systems.

The launch of the refreshed BE IDP represents a significant step in the digital transformation of the BE sector, offering SMEs a clear roadmap to enhance their capabilities and competitiveness. With the integration of AI, cybersecurity measures, and tailored training programmes, the plan aims to propel the industry towards a more efficient, sustainable, and digitally advanced future.