McConnell Dowell invests in tech to enhance Melbourne projects

Construction giant McConnell Dowell has announced a substantial investment in technology - a decision that is expected to have a notable impact on several major Melbourne infrastructure projects, including Inland Rail Victoria, Epping Road Upgrade, and Swanson Dock.

The firm has entered into an agreement with TechnologyOne, the Australian technology provider and ASX100 company. This collaboration ensures that McConnell Dowell remains at the edge of modern construction technologies, supporting its extensive portfolio of over 80 projects on a global scale, the company shared in a statement.

McConnell Dowell boasts a rich history spanning more than 60 years, during which it has delivered critical infrastructure projects across Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific, and Southeast Asia. Currently, its major Australian undertakings include the nation-shaping Inland Rail project in Victoria, the innovative Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro project in Queensland, and Tasmania’s largest-ever transport project, the Bridgewater Bridge. On the international front, McConnell Dowell is involved in major metro rail works in Singapore and significant water, wastewater, and social infrastructure projects across New Zealand and the Pacific.

The company's latest transformation initiative involves adopting TechnologyOne’s market-leading Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution. This technological upgrade is set to enhance the capabilities of McConnell Dowell's 3,000-strong workforce, enabling better management of projects across its key operational hubs globally. The adoption of TechnologyOne's newly released Solution-as-a-Service (SaaS Plus) is particularly notable, as it offers a streamlined implementation process at a single yearly fee, significantly reducing implementation timeframes and costs while boosting customer satisfaction.

The upgraded technology will encompass all project management functions, including finance, procurement, subcontract and plant management. By providing essential tools for active performance management, the platform will ensure timely and accurate data, thereby enhancing productivity and supporting effective project delivery.

Dale Morrison, Chief Operating Officer at McConnell Dowell, expressed optimism about the new partnership. "This investment is an absolutely critical part of our digital transformation strategy. It will provide us with clarity and accuracy in assessing the performance of our project portfolio. Given our geographical footprint, we will have a unified core construction platform that incorporates emerging technologies while allowing team members to access key data anywhere, anytime, from any device."

Morrison also emphasised the strategic benefits of centralising data management and integrating key finance and project management tools into one comprehensive solution. "As McConnell Dowell rolls out the SaaS solution globally, it will streamline data management and migrate key finance and project management tools into one solution that will be used throughout the business. This adds to our project delivery capability," he said.

Proximity played a key role in choosing TechnologyOne as the preferred partner. "Partnering with another Australian leader was important to us. With TechnologyOne having a strong Melbourne presence, where McConnell Dowell’s head office is based, this allowed us to engage directly with their team at any time," Morrison noted.

Ed Chung, CEO of TechnologyOne, highlighted the significance of this partnership for his company. "We are looking forward to working with another powerhouse within the construction industry, supporting them to deliver important infrastructure projects globally," Chung stated.

He further elaborated on the advantages of their innovative SaaS Plus approach: "We have seen traditional ERP implementations too often have high costs, lengthy timelines, and low success rates. As leaders in the tech industry, we wanted to change that. Our SaaS Plus approach is centred around our Power of One philosophy, leveraging our deep industry expertise to provide our customers a quicker time to value."