She cautions that we should be careful not to codify or entrench any particular positions that will be preventative in the future.

But it is not necessarily the best example to learn from.For one thing, the product range is far bigger and more diverse than construction would need.

More importantly, Amazon is not a neutral broker, a place where the price is set by the market.Amazon is itself a participant in the market and therefore sets or influences pricing.A digital marketplace for construction should be as neutral as possible, providing a space for buyers and sellers to find each other, without influencing the transaction.. Xometry.

This US-based ‘manufacturing on demand’ company links customers wanting components (including BMW, General Electric, NASA, Dell and Bosch), to a network of 5,000 suppliers across the USA, Europe and Asia.Typically, a client uploads a request for a proposal via 3D models or technical drawings and specifications.

This is distributed to pre-qualified suppliers who have the capability and capacity to respond.

A price is calculated within seconds (for straightforward processes such as CNC machining) to a day or so for more complex requests.She also says that while her team has really begun to understand the business model innovation that’s possible, they don’t yet understand how to take it forward.

Action research is needed to be able to study and do at the same time.Testing out some different business models on live construction projects would be risky, she says, but also a magnificent opportunity.. Bryden Wood has previously discussed the fact that the issues currently holding back the construction industry aren’t the technical aspects, but rather the cultural issues, insurances, warranties etc.

In essence, we need someone to take the brakes off, overcoming the friction and constraints.COVID-19 facilitated that to a certain extent, with companies forced to transition to digital very quickly and managing to do so successfully.