Infrastructure Boom at Risk: New Data Warns of Budget Creep, Inefficiencies and Costly Rework in the Construction Sector

Posted on May 20th, 2025 | Filed under Press Releases

41% of global leaders in architecture, engineering, construction and operations see infrastructure as the top growth area for design and construction.
Yet, 56% say client changes and scope creep are the primary causes of costly project rework.
Although the construction industry is making progress in digitization, technology integration and adoption still emerged as the top business challenge among leaders, cited more often than any other issue.

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, May 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — As global construction demand surges to record highs, new research from Revizto, the leading integrated collaboration platform for architecture, engineering, construction and operations (AECO), exposes a critical crossroads for the $13 trillion global industry. While investment in infrastructure, data centers, and public projects are booming, the construction industry is being increasingly threatened by mounting inefficiencies, spiraling budgets, and costly rework-challenges driven by outdated practices and disconnected technologies that hinder collaboration.

The inaugural global Bridging the Gap: 2025 Digital Design & Construction Report reveals a staggering 92% of global AECO professionals see significant budget changes during construction, despite contingency funds being built in. The most common increase is 11-20% above the original estimate, a reality faced by 42% in the US and 51% in the UK.

With Governments across the UK and US investing billions into infrastructure, projects continue to grow in scope, scale and complexity, exposing design and construction companies to greater risk. The report found 41% of global industry leaders identify infrastructure as the top growth area in design and construction, yet 56% say change orders, client changes and scope creep are the primary causes of costly project rework. Closely followed by unexpected site challenges (53%) and design errors (45%).

Despite notable innovation and success among early adopters, technology uptake in construction remains limited, falling short of the industry’s broader ambitions. While 63% of AECO professionals are closely following technological developments in AI and automation, technology integration and adoption was the most frequently-cited business challenge, with 27% of teams still relying on outdated tools like email, Excel, and PDFs for project delivery.

With global construction spend projected to hit $22 trillion by 2040, the opportunity is vast, but despite growing awareness of the problem, the sector is struggling to close the gap between technological ambition and operational reality. The report highlights a clear appetite for innovation, with the majority of industry leaders seeking solutions to bridge the gap.

Arman Gukasyan, Founder and CEO of Revizto, said:
“The construction sector is at a pivotal moment. With governments investing billions in infrastructure and the global market projected to reach $22 trillion by 2040, the opportunity is immense – but so is the risk. Our research shows that outdated practices and fragmented project delivery are costing the industry and public billions, underscoring the urgent need for smarter, more collaborative ways of working to help reduce waste and reworks on essential and complex projects.”

Roman Baran, Senior Manager, Digital Construction at Canary Wharf Group said:
“This report highlights what many of us have long understood: improving collaboration is the clearest path to boosting productivity in construction. With the right tools, like Revizto, we can bridge the gaps between design and delivery to reduce rework, minimize budget overruns, and improve outcomes.”

About Revizto
Revizto is the leading Integrated Collaboration Platform for the Architecture, Engineering, Construction & Operations (AECO) industry, transforming the way we design and build by driving efficiency, reducing errors, and simplifying complexity. From real-time coordination to automated clash detection and issue tracking, Revizto keeps all stakeholders aligned throughout the entire project lifecycle. Backed by Summit Partners, Revizto is relied on by firms around the world like Jacobs, AECOM, AtkinsRealis, McCarthy, Skanska, Stantec, and others to deliver projects with greater confidence and control.

Methodology
Revizto commissioned a survey through Censuswide of over 2,000 individuals from across the global AEC sector. More than 80% of respondents are in leadership roles, around 75% of respondents are from firms with revenues greater than $100 million USD, and the majority (65%) of respondents work on projects with budgets of $51M – $500M USD. Survey results have been rounded to the nearest unit (one digit) for reporting purposes. Revizto was not named as the research partner.