Chapter E-Procurement in the Australian Construction Industry: Benefits, Barriers, and Adoption

Abstract

A clear benefit of e-procurement technology in the construction sector is its capacity for in reducing waste and costs. Despite its successful adoption in other major industries, the take-up of e-procurement in the construction industry has generally been slow. A variety of barriers to adoption have been identified in literature, predominantly at an international level. Whilst the benefits of e-procurement are well-known and the challenges and barriers to the adoption of these systems in the construction industry has been well-documented, research into actual outcomes following the adoption of e-procurement systems through a case study analysis is limited. Tracking and measurement of adoption rates in the Australian construction industry is particularly scarce. To build upon and add to the existing body of contemporary literature, this study seeks to examine the adoption of e-procurement technologies in the Australian construction industry. As the Australian construction sector enters a period of high inflation, technologies such as e-procurement have a critical role in mitigating these price escalations. Understanding the barriers and opportunities for wider adoption of e-procurement in the Australian construction industry is also a clear benefit with its capacity for digital transformation in the construction sector