A new model for building and  construction

Yang Xin
CEO, Construction Head
Manufacturing BU, Huawei

The building and construction industry is undergoing a structural shift, driven by digital technologies—especially artificial intelligence. AI is reshaping how buildings are planned, designed, constructed, and operated, while building on established practices with new capabilities.

This shift is changing how the industry creates value. Instead of relying primarily on one-time construction revenue, companies are developing more stable, long-term income from operations and services. By extending their role across the full lifecycle—from investment and construction to operations and maintenance—they can strengthen financial resilience and build deeper, longer-term relationships with customers.

Data and AI are driving a new stage of development

Digital tools are now widely deployed across the industry, and adoption is accelerating. As of 2025, about 65% of projects relied heavily on digital tools, a figure expected to rise to 90% by 2030. At the same time, digital twin technology is moving from proof of concept to large-scale application, with penetration exceeding 20% in large infrastructure and smart city projects.

Within this broader shift, AI is emerging as a practical enabler across the construction lifecycle. It is being applied in areas such as design, contract review, scheduling, progress tracking, and risk management, helping improve both efficiency and decision-making. AI is also supporting the transition to greener, low-carbon development by enabling better design choices and more effective management of energy use and emissions.

Taken together, these changes are moving the industry beyond traditional, labor-intensive approaches toward more data-driven, coordinated, and intelligent ways of working.

Four priorities for transformation

No longer optional, adopting AI is becoming a core requirement for improving productivity, safety, and sustainability. The question is not whether to deploy new technologies, but how to apply them in ways that deliver value. This calls for a new mindset, one that goes from focusing on individual tools to rethinking how the entire system operates.

In practice, this transformation is unfolding across several priorities. Investment decisions are becoming more data-driven, with AI and digital twins supporting better risk assessment, forecasting, and resource allocation. In construction, the integration of Building Information Modeling (BIM), IoT, and AI is helping connect design, execution, and operations, improving visibility, scheduling, and cost control.

At the same time, the industry is extending its focus beyond construction toward long-term operations. Digital technologies enable continuous management and optimization of buildings, improving performance, user experience, and asset value over time.

Equally important is the trend toward greater collaboration. Shared data standards, open platforms, and closer coordination across stakeholders are essential to making these systems work effectively. Digital and intelligent transformation is not a solo effort, but a shared process that depends on the broader ecosystem.

Putting it into practice

Huawei approaches the digital transformation of the building and construction industry through what it describes as a “One Body and Two Wings” framework. At the core of this approach is a digital platform built around real-world business needs, supported by two complementary areas: digital business and smart space. Together, they help drive transformation across the industry.

Drawing on its capabilities in cloud, networking, edge computing, and devices, Huawei works with customers and partners to deliver integrated solutions across a wide range of scenarios, from individual buildings to communities and cities.

These approaches are already being applied in practice.

In Thailand, Huawei partnered with DTGO Group on Forestias, a large mixed-use development in Bangkok, where it deployed an all-optical network to support large-scale digital connectivity. The solution reduced equipment room requirements by 80%, cut network power consumption by 60%, and improved fault location efficiency by 90%, supporting more efficient and sustainable operations.

At the Baolong Industrial Park in Shenzhen, digital twin and intelligent scheduling technologies have improved freight efficiency by more than 30%. By integrating AI into operations and logistics, the park can now be managed at scale with minimal staffing, demonstrating a more efficient operating model.

For Lianfa Group, Huawei helped build a unified digital platform connecting more than 600 systems, reducing service deployment time by 50% and enabling more coordinated operations across the business.

In the healthcare and wellness sector, Huawei has supported smart elderly care projects by integrating technologies such as mmWave radar and intelligent home systems, enabling functions such as fall detection, voice interaction, and health monitoring, and improving both safety and quality of care.

At the Capital International Exhibition & Convention Center in Beijing, more than 37,000 devices have been integrated into a unified digital architecture. This has improved fault detection and response times, while predictive maintenance has reduced downtime and enhanced overall operational efficiency. In hospitality, Huawei has deployed high-speed network infrastructure in hotels such as Meliá in Spain, improving connectivity, response times, and the overall guest experience.

Looking ahead

Huawei’s solutions are now used across a wide range of projects worldwide, including enterprise campuses, real estate developments, hotels, commercial complexes, healthcare facilities, and cultural venues. These deployments support improvements across investment, construction, and operations, helping customers move toward more sustainable and efficient development models.

Looking ahead, Huawei will continue to work with customers and partners to build integrated platforms across the construction value chain. By combining digital technologies with industry expertise, the aim is to improve how buildings are designed, operated, and experienced, while supporting more sustainable urban development.

Ultimately, the goal is clear: to build better buildings, better cities, and a better quality of life.