Issues & trends

PricewaterhouseCoopers construction viewpoints

This page offers a brief overview of some issues in the industry. For more detailed look at some key trends, please take a look at the opinions of PricewaterhouseCoopers partners from around the globe in the PricewaterhouseCoopers construction viewpoints section.

Competition and investment

Large construction and infrastructure projects are being commissioned across the globe. In Latin America and the Far East, for example, this is the result of attempts to increase the competitiveness of industry in the regions, and as a way of driving further foreign investment. In developed nations, the same factors apply, in addition to the need to upgrade or replace older facilities with modern ones. Contractors expanding to other parts of the world may need to work to understand very different business environments, which can pose new challenges for sustaining profitability.

Driving factors


What else is driving the industry?

Pressure on public spending across the world is generating downward pressure on margins.

Client demands for lower priced contracts are forcing construction companies to restructure and to change their marketing strategies and approaches to pricing. E-commerce is changing the way in which business is carried out by altering the tendering process and stimulating new ways of project collaboration. There are also novel approaches to client handling through the use of partnering arrangements .

Niche players

The global construction industry is relatively fragmented, with many companies attempting to become dominant players by focusing on specific niches. By focusing on the creation of an international network of contacts, these companies are alerted to job opportunities and can better target their marketing efforts. As a leading advisor to organisations in this sector, we can help you focus on the issues that are important to clients as well as you.

For example:

Managing disputes between other contract partners is becoming increasingly critical for small and large-players alike in the industry. We have extensive experience in dispute analysis and investigations .

Property management

For many clients, property is either a significant proportion of balance sheet assets or represents a major overhead cost. We can show you why your business strategy should have a separate property strategy, as both input and output, and how to include it. It helps large users of property maintain effective control of property assets, and also helps them appraise, plan and manage capital projects effectively to control unnecessary risk for stakeholders.