A review of procurement and management of building services systems: complexities and technology adoption

Rapid advancements in digitalisation are reshaping the global supply chains and revolutionising traditional procurement and management practices. Within the construction industry, the procurement and management of building services systems present greater complexities compared to other construction elements. This study aims to identify these complexities and explore the potential of emerging technologies to address them. A scoping literature review of 32 peer-reviewed articles was conducted to identify the complexities in the procurement and management of building services systems from different perspectives and to identify applicable digital technologies. The findings reveal that complexities span across collaboration, approvals, design requirements, technical calculations, life cycle, communication, regulatory requirements, maintenance, cost, technical skills, etc. Technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), Blockchain, Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI), Digital Twin and IoT, and Building Management Systems have been widely adopted to address these complexities. This identification urges the necessity of a systematic and technology-integrated approach to the procurement and management of building services systems. The findings from this research assist construction professionals in selecting appropriate technologies aligned with the specific requirements and phases of building services procurement and management.