Infrastructure Boom at Risk: New Data Warns of Budget Creep, Inefficiencies & Costly Rework

May 20, 2025 — As global construction demand surges to record highs, new research from Revizto, an integrated collaboration platform for architecture, engineering, construction and operations (AECO), exposes a critical crossroads for the $13 trillion global industry. While investment in infrastructure, data centers and public projects are booming, the construction industry is being increasingly threatened by mounting inefficiencies, spiraling budgets and costly rework challenges driven by outdated practices and disconnected technologies that hinder collaboration.

The inaugural global “Bridging the Gap: 2025 Digital Design & Construction Report” reveals a staggering 92% of global AECO professionals see significant budget changes during construction, despite contingency funds being built in. The most common increase is 11% to 20% above the original estimate, a reality faced by 42% in the U.S. and 51% in the United Kingdom.

With governments across the U.K. and U.S. investing billions into infrastructure, projects continue to grow in scope, scale and complexity, exposing design and construction companies to greater risk. The report found 41% of global industry leaders identify infrastructure as the top growth area in design and construction, yet 56% say change orders, client changes and scope creep are the primary causes of costly project rework. This is closely followed by unexpected site challenges (53%) and design errors (45%).

Despite notable innovation and success among early adopters, technology uptake in construction remains limited, falling short of the industry’s broader ambitions. While 63% of AECO professionals are closely following technological developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, technology integration and adoption was the most frequently cited business challenge, with 27% of teams still relying on outdated tools for project delivery.

With global construction spend projected to hit $22 trillion by 2040, the opportunity is vast, but despite growing awareness of the problem, the sector is struggling to close the gap between technological ambition and operational reality. The report highlights a clear appetite for innovation, with the majority of industry leaders seeking solutions to bridge the gap.

Revizto commissioned a survey through Censuswide of over 2,000 individuals from across the global AEC sector. More than 80% of respondents are in leadership roles, around 75% of respondents are from firms with revenues greater than $100 million, and the majority (65%) of respondents work on projects with budgets of $51 million to $500 million.

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