"What matters is not how digital we are, but what we achieve"

B4T: In 2026, BIM World MUNICH will take place for the tenth time. Looking back: What has surprised you most over those ten years?

Christian Stammel: Above all, the speed with which the range of topics has expanded. When we started, we first had to explain what BIM even is. At that time, it was very much about software, modeling, standards, and the question: How do we get BIM into all trades? Today we are having a completely different discussion. We talk about Artificial Intelligence, digital twins, robotics, automated manufacturing, standardised construction, carbon accounting, the circular economy and intelligent building operations. And something else has changed: our understanding of the value of data. Previously, the digital model was often the goal. Today we know: The model is only truly valuable if its information can be reused - from planning through construction phases to operation.

B4T: Has the role of BIM World changed with that?

Christian Stammel: Absolutely. Today the question is no longer: What is BIM? But: What can we actually improve with it? It's about bringing information together and organizing collaboration better. Planning, construction, and operation of a building need a shared, consistent set of data. The real value lies in the processes: when information of the right quality is available at the right time, we can make better decisions, detect errors earlier, use resources more efficiently, and manage buildings better throughout their entire life cycle. Of course, this also changes BIM World. The most exciting innovations today often arise at the interfaces between disciplines. And it is precisely these disciplines that we want to bring together.

„Do we even know at the beginning of a project what information will be needed later?“

B4T: Nevertheless, digital transformation in construction still seems difficult in many areas. What is holding it back?

Christian Stammel: Our technology is often ahead of our processes. Today we have fantastic tools. At the same time, data still resides in different systems and formats. Responsibilities change over the course of the project. And information is lost at the transitions between planning, construction, and operation. But that is the crucial point. A digital twin or an AI application can only be as good as the data it is based on. Therefore, simply discussing open standards and interoperability is not enough. From the outset, we need to capture, structure and store the relevant information so that it can be reused in every subsequent phase - during construction, operations, refurbishment and, eventually, deconstruction. In practice, we are still some way from achieving this. Building services information in particular is often incomplete or inconsistently represented in the BIM model. The consequences become clear during operations, when this information is missing or requires time-consuming updates. We therefore need to think about building operations well before the keys are handed over, starting at the design stage. That is why CAFM World gives this subject greater prominence within BIM World. 

B4T: Looking ahead to the next few years: Which technologies will actually change the industry - and what might just be hype?

Christian Stammel: Artificial intelligence is here to stay. I am convinced of that. But it will be crucial where it actually creates added value. We will see AI, for example, in planning, in assessing design alternatives, in checking models and documents, but also in operation and predictive maintenance. I find the combination of BIM, sensor technology, and AI particularly exciting. This creates a Realtime Digital Twin, i.e., a digital twin that is constantly fed with real-time data. When real operating data is continuously linked with digital models, completely new possibilities emerge. Buildings can flag maintenance needs at an early stage, operational strategies can be optimized, and decisions can be made on a much stronger evidence base. A second major field is automation. Robotics, prefabrication, and industrial production methods will increasingly enter the construction industry. But here too: machines need clear and machine-readable information. And the third major topic for me is sustainability. We need to know much more precisely what materials we are installing, what CO₂ impact is associated with them, and what happens to these materials later.

B4T: So BIM is increasingly becoming a tool for the circular economy?

Christian Stammel: Absolutely. We can only seriously talk about reuse if we know what is in a building. What materials were installed? From which manufacturer? What are their technical properties? How were they connected? What is their CO₂ footprint? This information will become enormously important. Of course, regulation accelerates this development. But I would not see the topic only from a regulatory perspective. Good data also has economic value. We can use material more efficiently, reduce operating costs, use buildings longer, and preserve resources better. Perhaps we therefore also need to change our understanding of a building. It is not just a finished product. It is also a long-term material and data asset.

B4T: With AI and robotics, the question inevitably arises: What role will humans still play in the future?

Christian Stammel: A very large one. Technology can relieve us of tasks. It does not relieve us of responsibility. I even believe that the demands on people in our industry will increase. In the future, we will need even more specialists who can think beyond their own trade. People who understand data, recognize connections, communicate with other disciplines, and can critically evaluate the results of digital systems. The most interesting new job profiles will probably emerge precisely at these interfaces - between construction knowledge, data literacy, technology, and management.

„We do not need ever more isolated digital solutions. We need to turn the technologies we already have into reliable, connected processes.“

B4T: Where has the industry progressed further than you would have expected in 2016, and where has it fallen short?

Christian Stammel: Technology has progressed much further. Cloud platforms, digital twins, sensor technology, AI, or automated model checks have created possibilities that we could hardly foresee in this form in 2016. Our processes, however, have not kept pace. I believe this will be the defining challenge for the industry's digital transformation. We also need to recognise that the industry faces many competing pressures, which often push digitalisation down the agenda. We have many very good individual solutions. The big task now is to connect them with each other. We do not need ever more isolated digital solutions. We need to turn the technologies we already have into reliable, connected processes.

B4T: If we jump forward another ten years: What does your personal vision for 2036 look like?

Christian Stammel: The well-known industry expert Mikis Waschl put it very well: "In real estate, it used to be location, location, location. Today, we talk about data, data, data." I completely agree with this. The value of a property is no longer measured solely by its location. The data available about a property, and how effectively it can be used, are becoming increasingly important too. I would like to see a built environment where digital information is readily available throughout the entire life cycle. We should no longer have to discuss whether data from planning and construction reaches the operator. That must be a given. Buildings and infrastructures could be continuously linked to their actual condition via digital twins. AI helps us make better decisions from this information. At the same time, we know which materials were used and how we can reuse them. And ideally, we wouldn't talk so much about "digitalization" anymore. It would then simply be a natural part of good planning, construction, and operation.

B4T: Will we already see something of this vision at the anniversary edition on November 24th and 25th?

Christian Stammel: Absolutely. Of course, ten years of BIM World is a moment to look back. But much more exciting is the question: What's next? We expect more than 8,500 participants from planning, construction, real estate, operations, technology, science, associations, and start-ups. This brings together a very broad ecosystem. In terms of content, we will see the areas driving change across the industry: Artificial Intelligence, digital twins, sustainable and circular construction, infrastructure, robotics and automation, and the digitalization of building operations. However, we don't just want to show visions. Visitors should be able to see what is already working today. Which solutions are actually being used? What brings concrete added value to a project? And what can be implemented in one's own company tomorrow?

„If people have discovered a concrete idea, found a solution to a problem, or met someone with whom they can advance a project - then BIM World has fulfilled its purpose.“

B4T: And when do you go home satisfied at the end of the two days?

Christian Stammel: If people go home with more than just a few business cards. If they have found a practical idea, found a solution to a problem, or met someone with whom they can advance a project - then BIM World has fulfilled its purpose. Because no one can solve the major challenges of our industry alone. Productivity, skilled labor shortages, climate protection, affordable construction, and resilient infrastructure are interconnected. Perhaps after ten years, this is also the most important realization for me: The crucial question is no longer how digital our industry is. What matters is what we actually achieve with these digital capabilities.