Sensors and sensibility: examining the role of technological features in servitizing construction towards greater sustainability

The role played by the technological development of products in shaping more sustainable ways of working in the built environment is examined through a case study of a systems integrator of mechanical and electrical systems in the UK construction industry, ConstructCo. They are exploring ways in which they can improve the through-life performance of their systems through servitization. The aim was to understand how and why emergent technological features, stimulated by embedding new sensors within their systems, were affording different user groups within the organization’s value chain to act in more servitized ways. The case analysis found that new energy-metering sensors were integral to the development of greater transparency between ConstructCo and their clients. Equally evident were the various ways in which equipment-condition monitoring sensors were shaping a collective motive across ConstructCo’s supply chain towards exploring the justification for implementing predictive maintenance. The role played by new sensor technology in shaping ConstructCo’s pursuit of servitization highlights the need for research to pay greater attention to material agency when explaining how organizational practices accommodate the implementation and use of technological developments in construction. Furthermore, using servitization as the research context offers fresh insights into transitioning towards greater servitization in construction.