PlanRadar, a software company, warns that the sluggish uptake of technology in the construction sector could worsen the housing shortage crisis amid soaring affordability concern
PlanRadar, a leading software company, has raised concerns about the construction industry’s slow adoption of technology, highlighting its potential to exacerbate Australia’s existing housing shortages.
Referencing projections from the State of the Nation’s Housing Report 2022–23, which estimates over 1.8 million new households forming across Australia between 2023 and 2033, PlanRadar warns that this growth trajectory could further strain the housing deficit. The company forecasts a cumulative shortfall of approximately 106,300 dwellings in the next five years and around 79,300 dwellings from 2023 to 2033.
Leon Ward, digital construction specialist at PlanRadar, emphasized the role of unequal access to and adoption of construction technology tools in perpetuating this divide. Outdated construction methods and technologies contribute to various inefficiencies, including higher construction costs and missed deadlines, exacerbating the scarcity of available housing and affordability challenges.
PlanRadar underscored the broader impact of slower tech adoption, hindering construction’s ability to implement innovative and sustainable practices. The lack of advanced digital tools for project management, resource optimization, and collaboration hampers firms’ competitiveness in a fiercely competitive market.
The company attributed industry-wide hesitancy to invest in software, hardware, and training to technology adoption, particularly among smaller firms. This aversion is compounded by potential skills gaps in digital literacy among construction workers, necessitating further investment in training and upskilling.
Despite these challenges, Ward stressed the importance of prioritizing technology adoption to address the Australian residential construction sector’s challenges. He emphasized the potential for efficiency gains, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability through the embrace of digital tools, advocating for their widespread adoption to drive positive outcomes in the real estate sector.
