Xpedeon survey finds UK construction systems still split

Xpedeon has published research showing that 74% of large UK construction organisations do not regard their systems as fully integrated. The survey points to widespread gaps in how project, commercial and finance systems work together across the sector.

The findings come from Xpedeon's Construction Systems Census 2026, based on an online survey of 500 senior professionals at UK construction companies with turnover above £50 million. Three quarters of respondents worked at businesses with turnover above £100 million.

Among those surveyed, 35% said they rely on partially integrated tools. Cost, limited internal IT resources and vendor incompatibility were each cited as barriers by 23% of respondents.

The results suggest many larger contractors still manage core processes across separate systems rather than through a single joined-up structure. That matters in areas such as cost control, financial reporting, and the movement of approved records and supporting evidence through the life of a project.

Nearly half of respondents, or 48%, said they were planning or open to changing systems within the next 18 months. That points to a potentially active market for software suppliers, resellers and systems integration firms serving the construction industry.

Integration pressure

The research comes as the UK construction sector faces pressure to deliver large projects more quickly under government planning reforms designed to speed infrastructure building. In that environment, fragmented internal systems could make it harder for contractors to maintain a clear view of costs, resources and commercial risk as projects progress.

The issue is not simply the use of multiple tools, but the breaks that can emerge when information passes between them. In practice, teams can be left reconciling records from site, commercial and finance functions instead of working from the same information set.

According to the survey, systems across the wider sample did not always provide a continuous financial view throughout the project lifecycle. Approved records, cost data and supporting evidence were not always kept consistently aligned as information moved between systems.

That disconnect is likely to be familiar in an industry that often combines legacy finance software, specialist estimating systems, procurement tools and site reporting applications. For larger groups operating across multiple entities or projects, the complexity can increase further.

Market opening

The combination of weak integration and a sizeable share of companies considering a switch could create openings for vendors focused on construction software. It may also benefit advisers and implementation partners that help businesses replace or connect systems without disrupting live projects.

For software providers, the findings suggest a market in which many firms have already invested in digital tools but still face practical problems joining up information. That can leave companies with technology estates that are broader than before, but not necessarily easier to manage.

Vivek Sharma, Executive Director at Xpedeon, said: "Technology investment has accelerated across the construction sector, but many organisations are still working to ensure information remains consistent from site through to commercial and finance. Partial integration still leaves too many handovers between systems. Those handovers create gaps between what one team knows and what another can see, making it harder to maintain a consistent financial view as delivery progresses. Construction-specific ERP systems are designed around the way projects are actually delivered. When commercial, procurement, finance and site teams are working from the same live project information, organisations can spend less time reconciling records and more time managing cost, risk and project performance."

The survey focused on senior professionals in larger UK construction businesses, so the findings reflect views from companies with substantial revenue and likely exposure to more complex operational requirements. Those businesses often handle multiple project streams at once, making data consistency and audit trails more important.

While the research does not break down responses by contractor type, it points to common issues across major parts of the industry. Housebuilders, developers and civil engineering contractors all face pressure to track spending and progress closely, especially when project timelines tighten and reporting demands increase.

For the wider market, the data suggests digital adoption in construction is no longer just about whether firms have software in place. The more pressing question is whether those systems give management and project teams a reliable shared view of what is happening commercially and financially on the ground.