The BIM (Building Information Modeling) software market is expected to grow to $21bn (c.£15.7bn) by 2025 following ongoing digital transformation within the construction industry.
That’s according to new research data from Cambashi – a specialist in research, consulting, and training for engineering and industrial software markets – which estimates that around $14bn (c.£10.5bn) was spent on BIM software in 2021.
Cambashi’s latest BIM Observatory research data indicates that, while the construction industry’s use of software could be described as being in the ‘Stone Age’ compared with manufacturing’s deployment of digital engineering software, evolution is noticeably driving BIM software uptake.
Petra Gartzen, lead analyst at Cambashi, said: “Remote working trends resulting from the global pandemic, as well as government initiatives and regulations, are driving digital transformation in the construction industry.
“This in turn is accelerating a growth in demand for BIM software, enabling the construction industry to evolve from the ‘Stone Age’ to the ‘Digital Age’.”
She added: “Overall, we estimate that $14bn was spent on BIM software in 2021. Despite disruptions caused by the global pandemic, the market growth has remained positive at 9% in 2020 and 11% in 2021.
“We forecast the BIM software market to continue with double digit growth CAGR of 12%, reaching $21bn by 2025.”
Cambashi’s research data incorporates three categories of BIM:
- BIM Design, which includes software used in the design stage of building and infrastructure projects
- BIM Construct, which covers software for collaboration on planning and building, such as data management, estimating, and costing
- BIM Operate, which includes software for facilities management
According to Cambashi’s Employment dataset, around 200 million people work in a BIM-related profession, incorporating architecture and design, civil engineering, and structural engineering services – as well as building owners/operators.
Key trends covered by the research include Building Digital Twin/IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things), simulation, and offsite manufacturing of prefabricated buildings.
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