Functions of common data environment supporting procurement of subcontractors

Abstract

The paper is focused on exploration of selected common data environment functions supporting procurement processes of subcontractors. As common data environments are becoming widespread within the construction industry, they must provide all project stakeholders with necessary functions to support their business processes. Generally speaking, common data environment is a digital space, where project stakeholders can share data and information between themselves. However, current common data environments can offer more functions than just a storage and a way of sharing data and information. They can provide their users with workflow and status management for setting up approval processes, mobile applications for monitoring construction site progress, as well as functions for managing BIM projects. That is why it should also be possible to manage procurement processes of subcontractors within existing common data environments. This paper's focus is to analyse selected common data environments and their available functions supporting procurement processes of subcontractors. Information presented in this paper was obtained from online sources, also questionnaires with predefined questions were sent to CDE representatives and videoconferences were conducted with CDE representatives. Main goal of this paper is to analyse, if selected common data environments have available functions for managing procurement processes of subcontractors. Identified functions are evaluated in accordance with current praxis of managing procurement processes of subcontractors for building construction projects, which also involve development of building projects in rural areas. The paper also describes strong and weak points of identified functions.