Introduction
In an increasingly complex economic environment, marked by rising material costs and new trade policies, technology has become a strategic element for the construction sector in Mexico. Although its adoption has been slow, current circumstances—following the US tariff policy on steel—have begun to accelerate the digitalization process, particularly among companies striving to remain competitive in an uncertain landscape.
The Current Construction Landscape
According to Eduardo Orozco, Regional Business Director of Trimble Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, nine out of ten construction projects are delivered late and over budget, a trend that diminishes companies’ competitiveness.
“The current challenges, such as US tariffs on steel and rising costs, have forced many companies to reconsider their operational methods. Implementing technology reduces errors, improves margins, and decreases risks—all crucial in a sector where competition is fierce,” Orozco explained in an interview.
Trimble specializes in technology solutions for construction, ranging from structural design software to cloud collaboration tools. Among their offerings is Tekla Structures, a software that can be implemented in Building Information Modeling (BIM). According to Orozco, this software has enabled clients to cut engineering process times by 50% to 80%.
Barriers for SMEs
Despite the benefits that technology offers, digital lag poses a significant challenge in the construction sector. Mexico, according to Orozco, is about 10 years behind countries like the US, Germany, or Japan in technological adoption for construction.
However, there have been notable advances. One of the most relevant is the 2024 regulation mandating BIM use in public infrastructure projects. The real challenge lies in the gap between large and small businesses (SMEs).
“In larger construction firms, the use of digital tools is more normalized. But in smaller and medium-sized enterprises, there’s still a lot of misinformation,” the expert mentioned.
Contrary to popular belief, cost is not the primary barrier since there are numerous free solutions available. Resistance stems from a lack of training and fear of change.
“It’s a human reaction to think, ‘I’ve always done it this way, why change?’ But the reality is that those who fail to adapt will fall behind,” Orozco warned.
Growing Interest Amidst Economic Uncertainty
Amid threats of recession and international trade tension, Trimble has started to notice a shift as they register an increasing number of certification and training requests in recent months.
“The construction sector is undoubtedly challenging. With tariffs and costs on the rise, these technology tools become essential during times of crisis,” Orozco pointed out.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is driving the digital transformation in Mexico’s construction sector? The rising costs of materials and new US trade policies have prompted companies to adopt technology to reduce errors, improve margins, and decrease risks.
- What role does technology play in the construction sector? Technology offers solutions such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) software, which can cut engineering process times significantly.
- What challenges do SMEs face in adopting technology? Despite the availability of free solutions, SMEs struggle with a lack of training and fear of change, which hinders their digital transformation.
- How are larger construction firms and SMEs different in their technology adoption? Larger firms have more normalized use of digital tools, while SMEs face more misinformation and resistance to change.
- What recent trends indicate about the construction sector’s embrace of technology? Amid economic uncertainty and rising costs, there is a growing interest in construction technology certifications and training.
