NTT Data and LeapThought eye Singapore’s construction sector

Japanese systems integrator NTT Data and New Zealand’s LeapThought have teamed up to support digitalisation efforts in Singapore’s architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry.

The two companies will set up a centre of excellence which will spearhead research and business development activities. They will also create products to speed up digital transformation in the AEC sector, for which an industrial transformation map has been developed by the Singapore government.

As part of the construction ITM, the AEC sector in Singapore has gone through a steady transformation to embrace digitalisation.

Today, faced with the unprecedented challenges of a global pandemic, such as social distancing and the pausing of non-essential work, the industry is acutely aware of the need to accelerate the pace of its digital transformation to adapt to new ways of working.

“The market size and relatively short time period to achieve the needed digital transformation brings a plethora of opportunities for technology players like us,” said Krishnappan Ramanathan, managing director of NTT Data. “Singapore’s initiative in leading this digital journey in this industry puts the nation at the forefront to establish this partnership in Singapore.”

Ramanathan added that with Singapore as the pivot, NTT Data and LeapThought plan to expand their reach to the rest of the region, by offering “future-proof solutions which will have a tangible and direct impact on increasing productivity and efficiency”.

LeapThought offers a construction management platform that is being used by more than 200 companies in Singapore. Its CEO Ratnakar Garikipati said the partnership with NTT Data will support greater digitalisation in the AEC sector, offering users intelligent analysis of an entire construction project to help them build smarter and faster.

“By streamlining construction processes, we can allow for greater automation that will ultimately ensure conformity to quality and safety standards, as well as making construction sites more efficient and more sustainable for workers,” Garikipati added.

Singapore’s building and construction industry is expected to reach S$22.5bn by 2024. The transformation of the sector will result in redesigned jobs involving higher skills, more competitive salaries and better work environment to meet the aspirations of Singaporeans.

For example, new roles such as production engineers and supervisors overseeing manufacturing of prefabricated concrete walls, as well as building information modelling managers, have been introduced to the sector.