Barriers to the Adoption of a Blockchain-Based Information Management System in the South African Construction Industry

Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa Opeakinradewo@gmail.com Digitalisation has been introduced into construction processes to improve the management and exchange of project information. Blockchain technology can provide a secure and decentralised platform for information management; however, barriers may prevent its adoption in the construction industry. The study therefore evaluated the barriers to adopting a blockchain-based information management system (BBIMS) in the South African construction industry. The research adopted a mixed-method approach. Semi-structured interviews with 12 experts yielded 16 barriers, which the experts ranked using a relative importance index. A questionnaire based on the qualitative findings was administered to construction and information technology professionals, yielding 269 usable responses. Descriptive statistics and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) were used. Connectivity ranked first, followed by user knowledge, document ownership restrictions, platform acceptance and software integration. The EFA analysis revealed four components that accounted for 75.826% of the total variance and were named human-related, technology platform-related, security-related and involved-parties’ barriers. The findings suggest that the identified barriers are germane to the adoption of BBIMS in the construction industry. BIM, GenAI, and Design Knowledge: Rethinking the Design Process through AI-Assisted Façade