Did you know the building industry faces several challenges in creating more useful databases, primarily due to fragmented data structures, lack of standardization, and the need for flexibility? Many software applications operate with their own unique file formats and data structures, making it difficult to integrate and analyze information across platforms. This results in isolated, myopic solutions that fail to provide comprehensive insights.
Another major obstacle is the lack of widely accepted Standards, Templates, and Workflows (STWs). Without a unified framework, companies struggle to maintain consistent and clean databases, leading to inefficiencies and errors. Additionally, resistance to change—especially among professionals who have spent decades adapting to different systems—slows adoption of new data management methods.
Financial and operational concerns also play a role. The transition to structured, standardized databases requires significant investment in technology, training, and process restructuring. Without clear financial incentives and demonstrated benefits, many industry players hesitate to commit to these changes.