DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN CONSTRUCTION: A SWOT AND PESTLE ANALYSIS OF INDUSTRY REVOLUTION 4.0 IN MALAYSIA

Authors

  • Yee Ling Lee Department of Civil Engineering, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Siong Kang Lim Department of Civil Engineering, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Ooi Kuan Tan Department of Civil Engineering, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Siaw Yah Chong Department of Civil Engineering, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Ming Han Lim Department of Civil Engineering, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

Keywords:

digital transformation, industry revolution 4.0, construction industry, SWOT, PESTLE

Abstract

The construction industry plays a pivotal role in shaping economic growth, environmental sustainability, and societal well-being. It traditionally revolves around three critical dimensions: quality, timeliness, and cost. In the wake of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR4.0), the sector is undergoing rapid transformation driven by digital technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence, and automation. However, the industry's readiness to adopt these innovations remains uneven. This study investigates the current state and future potential of IR4.0 adoption in the construction industry through a structured Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis, complemented by a PESTLE framework to assess the external Opportunities and Threats. The findings are based on a scoping review of 144 peer-reviewed publications from the past five years, ensuring up-to-date insights. Results reveal that IR4.0 technologies have contributed to measurable productivity and efficiency gains globally, with countries such as Germany and China leading implementation efforts. The study emphasises that the effective integration of IR4.0 in the Malaysian construction sector requires coordinated efforts across government, academia, and industry to address systemic challenges and skill gaps. Ultimately, the paper highlights both the transformative potential and the strategic imperatives required to future-proof Malaysia's construction ecosystem in the digital age.

Author Biographies

Yee Ling Lee, Department of Civil Engineering, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

Dr Lee Yee Ling is the assistant professor under the Department of Civil Engineering, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science from the Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman in Malaysia. She was graduated the degrees of Ph.D. in civil engineering in the year 2016 from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and a bachelor of engineering in civil engineering in the year 2010 from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Her areas of expertise are included noise monitoring, cold-formed steel design, lightweight concrete, and lightweight composite structures. She was awarded several research awards, including the gold medal awards from 2016 international invention innovation competition in Canada, Malaysia technology expo 2015, international invention, innovation & technology exhibition 2016 and Malaysian research conference and innovation exhibition 2015. She is currently working on research in noise monitoring, acoustical concrete materials, and deep learning.

Siong Kang Lim, Department of Civil Engineering, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

Dr. Lim Siong Kang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering, a Master's degree, and a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, all from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.

Dr. Lim's areas of expertise include blended cement concrete, concrete testing, lightweight concrete, polymer concrete, cementitious grout, polymer grout, high-performance concrete, and materials testing.

Ooi Kuan Tan, Department of Civil Engineering, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

Dr. Tan Ooi Kuan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman in Malaysia. He obtained a Doctorate in Business Administration with a specialization in Engineering Management from Universiti Utara Malaysia in 2015, a Master of Technopreneurship from United Business Institute, Belgium in 2005, and a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering (Hons) from Universiti Putra Malaysia in 2002.

Dr. Tan is a registered professional with The Board of Engineers Malaysia (P.Eng) and the Malaysia Board of Technologists (Ts). His areas of expertise include environmental safety and health management, engineering management, technopreneurship, and entrepreneurial behavior. Currently, he is conducting research in engineering management, focusing on smart construction digitalization, construction project management and safety, and human development in construction.

Before joining academia, Dr. Tan gained extensive experience in the engineering design and construction industry as a practicing engineer. His business acumen also led to his promotion to HR and Admin Manager, leveraging his combined expertise in engineering and business.

Siaw Yah Chong, Department of Civil Engineering, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

Dr. Chong Siaw Yah is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science. She obtained both her Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering and her Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Her areas of expertise include soil stabilization.

Ming Han Lim, Department of Civil Engineering, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

Dr. Lim Ming Han is the Chairperson of the Centre for Disaster Risk Reduction and an assistant professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science. He earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in 2017, his MBA with a major in Entrepreneurship from Open University Malaysia in 2016, and his Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in 2012.

Dr. Lim's areas of expertise include noise monitoring, noise prediction, stochastic modeling, artificial intelligence, programming, business planning, and management. He has received numerous research awards, including gold medals at the 2016 International Invention Innovation Competition in Canada, the Malaysia Technology Expo 2015, the International Invention, Innovation & Technology Exhibition 2016, and the Malaysian Research Conference and Innovation Exhibition 2015. His current research focuses on noise mapping prediction and artificial intelligence.

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Published

2025-09-30

How to Cite

Lee, Y. L., Lim, S. K., Tan, O. K., Chong, S. Y., & Lim, M. H. (2025). DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN CONSTRUCTION: A SWOT AND PESTLE ANALYSIS OF INDUSTRY REVOLUTION 4.0 IN MALAYSIA. Journal of Civil Engineering, Science and Technology, 16(2), 237–256. Retrieved from https://publisher.unimas.my/ojs/index.php/JCEST/article/view/7507

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Vol. 16 No. 2 (2025): Journal of Civil Engineering, Science and Technology

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