Exploring Critical Success Factors for Cloud Data Management in the South African Construction Industry

The construction industry is a project-based sector primarily driven by construction projects that typically generate diverse and enormous data. Therefore, due to the industry’s intensive data feature, there is a need for a better data management tool that will ensure efficiency in the sector. Effective data management plays a pivotal role in the achievement of construction project goals, guaranteeing timely access to accurate information by the appropriate construction stakeholders. Hence, the paper seeks to investigate the critical success factors (CSFs) that support the effective implementation of cloud data management (CDM) solutions within the South African construction industry (SACI). The study employed a quantitative methodology, utilizing a carefully designed close-ended questionnaire that was disseminated among construction professionals and IT experts with construction backgrounds based in the Gauteng province, in South Africa (SA), and 104 individual responses were received. The data were analysed using descriptive statistical procedures and principal component analysis (PCA) as part of the exploratory factor analysis via the computer software SPSS. The study disclosed the multifaceted set of CSFs that substantially impact the efficient implementation of CDM, which include awareness of cloud services, top management commitment, and assurance of privacy. With factor analysis, these CSFs were lastly grouped into four clusters, namely “Efficiency and flexibility”, “Organizational and external”, “Usability,” and “Organizational scale” factors. This shows the level of influence that construction companies can have in driving the adoption of CDM services in the sector. Thus, by understanding and implementing these CSFs, construction companies can enhance their data management capabilities, leading to improved project efficiency and overall competitiveness.