Platforms for construction: definitions, classifications, and their impact on the construction value chain

This paper presents platforms as a solution to rethink how we build, addressing the pressing paradox between meeting growing housing demands. The construction sector has not fully grasped the advantages of platforms beyond standardisation and efficiency. In contrast, other sectors have begun acknowledging that platforms can capture increased value through interactions among firms within a networked ecosystem. Learning from other sectors, this paper investigates platforms in the construction context, aiming to define, classify, and assess their impact on the construction value chain. The research approach was abductive, involving a cross-sectoral review of 190 platforms across 16 Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) industries and semi-structured interviews with stakeholder groups of the construction value chain in Australia. The findings categorise platforms as physical, digital, or hybrid, highlighting their potential to move value-added activities upstream, facilitate collaboration, and foster innovation through data-driven insights. The paper’s novelty lies in the exhaustive cross-sectoral review, the classification of platforms in the construction context, and the proposition of a platform approach as a versatile framework tailored to diverse needs and circumstances that offers a fresh perspective on sustainable building practices. The practical contribution of this study lies in offering guidelines for industry practitioners aiming to develop or refine a platform-based approach tailored to the construction context.