The Impact of Cloud-Based Construction Management Systems on Project Delivery in Nigeria

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the awareness and usage patterns of Cloud-based Construction Management Systems (CCMS) features, measure their impact on project delivery variables (time, cost, quality, communication, and safety), and identify primary barriers hindering holistic implementation. A quantitative research design was employed, utilizing a structured questionnaire distributed to construction professionals. Awareness of CCMS was analyzed using percentages and mean item scores, while the Relative Importance Index (RII) was used to rank the barriers to CCMS deployment. Following a Shapiro-Wilk test, which confirmed a non-normal distribution of the survey data (p < 0.05), the non-parametric Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficient was utilized to analyze the impact of CCMS feature usage on project delivery outcomes. Contrary to recent literature characterizing the sector as digitally resistant, the results reveal a robust awareness of core CCMS functionalities, including Real-Time Document Management (61%), Mobile Field Data Collection (69%), and Safety Inspections (55%). However, actual implementation remains fragmented and "spatial" rather than uniform. Correlation analysis confirms that CCMS usage significantly optimizes project delivery; specifically, Request for Information (RFI) tracking and mobile field data strongly enhance team communication at .68 and .72 coefficients respectively, while digital quality and safety inspections positively impact site health and safety with a coefficient of .85. The study identifies financial constraints (RII-.93), inadequate site infrastructure (RII-.89), and stakeholder misalignment (RII-.88) as the primary implementation barriers. Surprisingly, the "digital skills gap" ranked a distant fourth with RII of .85. Findings indicate a rapid upskilling of the modern construction workforce, proving that human capital and digital literacy are no longer the primary bottlenecks to technology adoption. To achieve comprehensive CCMS integration, industry stakeholders must pivot their focus from basic IT training toward resolving systemic, structural, and economic challenges.