Digital concrete technology company Giatec has announced a commercial partnership with specialty chemicals manufacturer Sika aimed at accelerating the adoption of data-driven solutions across the global concrete value chain.

The collaboration will combine Giatec’s digital monitoring and analytics platforms with Sika’s extensive global presence and expertise in construction materials. Through the partnership, the companies intend to expand the use of intelligent technologies in concrete production, transportation, placement and long-term performance monitoring.

Sika operates in more than 100 countries and offers a broad portfolio of construction solutions, including high-performance concrete admixtures and advanced building systems. By integrating Giatec’s digital tools into Sika’s global network, the two companies expect to broaden access to technologies that help construction firms optimise quality control, efficiency and sustainability.

Ivo Schädler, Head Construction at Sika, said the collaboration reflects a shared ambition to support the industry’s transition towards more digitally enabled operations.

“By combining Sika’s materials science and construction expertise with Giatec’s innovative digital concrete solutions, we aim to help the sector move away from reactive methods towards proactive, data-enabled decision-making,” he said. “This approach can improve project quality, boost productivity and support more sustainable construction outcomes.”

The announcement comes as the construction sector increasingly embraces digital tools and artificial intelligence. Industry forecasts indicate that the global market for AI-driven construction technologies could expand significantly over the next decade, driven by demand for improved productivity, cost control and environmental performance.

Giatec’s technology ecosystem includes wireless concrete sensors, artificial intelligence-based software platforms and in-transit monitoring tools designed to provide real-time data on concrete behaviour during transport and placement. According to the company, these systems help contractors and producers improve consistency, reduce material waste and make faster operational decisions.

Pouria Ghods, CEO and co-founder of Giatec, described the agreement as a key step in expanding the company’s global impact. He noted that combining Sika’s global reach with Giatec’s digital expertise will help address long-standing challenges related to efficiency, performance and sustainability within the construction sector.

“Together we can deliver measurable value for producers, contractors and project owners by providing greater transparency and insight into concrete performance,” Ghods said.

Both companies are showcasing their technologies and discussing the partnership with industry stakeholders at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026, where representatives are presenting solutions designed to support the digital transformation of construction practices.

Technology firm Krank has introduced the Inspeq Platform, a modular operational layer designed to provide control-tower oversight of inspections, work order execution and fleet operations without replacing existing enterprise systems.

The platform is aimed at asset-intensive sectors including mining, construction, energy, utilities, insurance and heavy industry, where frontline teams face mounting pressure to maintain safe operations while improving efficiency. Despite widespread use of CMMS, EAM and ERP systems, many organisations continue to rely on fragmented, paper-based or disconnected inspection workflows, resulting in delayed reporting and slower decision-making.

Inspeq has been developed to bridge this operational gap. Rather than displacing established systems, it integrates with them, connecting frontline inspection activity directly to management in a unified, real-time environment. The platform consolidates inspections, work orders, site data and asset-level intelligence, enabling senior leadership to gain visibility across distributed operations without disrupting existing processes.

According to Khurram Mumtaz, Chief Technology Officer at Krank, the system was built around the realities of frontline conditions, including remote sites, harsh environments and limited connectivity. “We have developed the Inspeq Platform around what frontline teams need most on the job. It helps them catch issues faster, assign work instantly, and deliver the right insights to the right people at the right time,” he said.

A central feature of the platform is its Remote Work Orders capability, which allows senior inspectors or specialist technicians to conduct and supervise inspections remotely. Using live video calls, experienced personnel can guide on-site staff in real time, directing inspections and capturing high-definition images and video evidence. Findings are logged centrally as the inspection progresses, enabling reports to be completed remotely.

The approach is intended to maximise scarce technical expertise by extending oversight across multiple sites without requiring physical travel. Krank said the feature reduces travel costs, shortens inspection turnaround times and promotes consistent quality standards across geographically dispersed assets.

Inspection findings within Inspeq feed directly into live work order execution, ensuring that defects are addressed promptly and accountability is clearly assigned. Pre-start checks, maintenance schedules, discrepancy reporting and asset histories are consolidated within a single operational layer.

By sitting above existing enterprise systems, Inspeq aims to improve data accuracy, accelerate response times and reduce administrative burdens while supporting digital transformation without workforce retraining.

Krank said the platform was shaped by frontline feedback to create a scalable, mobile-first solution capable of aligning asset data, inspections and operational insight in real time.

As artificial intelligence reshapes global digital infrastructure, the Gulf is racing to build the high-density data centres needed to support it. But according to Greg Parker, senior managing director at FTI Consulting, the next generation of facilities is placing unprecedented pressure on construction sequencing, commissioning and programme certainty across the GCC.

“High-density data centre designs are fundamentally technology-led,” Parker explains. “The building envelope and MEP architecture are directly influenced by the type of power infrastructure, AI clusters, rack configurations, power density and redundancy targets being deployed.”

In the GCC, where extreme heat and wind-blown sand are persistent operational risks, that relationship is even more acute. Liquid cooling is rapidly emerging as the only scalable solution for high-density AI environments. However, the higher specification and extended lead times of associated MEP systems are reshaping delivery models.

Sequencing under desert conditions

Parker notes that much of the industry discussion centres on modularisation and manufacturing-style delivery. Yet he cautions that modular approaches alone do not guarantee cost or schedule benefits.

“Modularisation has existed in the construction industry for decades,” he says. “Without corresponding changes to capital delivery models, procurement strategies and flexibility to accommodate customer requirements, modularisation alone does not reliably deliver CAPEX efficiencies or materially accelerate Ready-for-Service dates.”

Where customer requirements and system architectures are tightly aligned, targeted modularisation can improve schedules. But benefits seen in cooler climates do not always translate easily to the Gulf. Environmental ingress, particularly sand, presents a serious threat to high-density cooling systems.

In AI facilities, Parker explains, tolerances are tight and thermal margins are minimal. “AI chips operate close to their thermal limits, and HVAC derating in extreme heat conditions becomes severe.” As a result, envelope performance and airtightness are critical-path issues. Wind-blown sand can clog high-density heat exchangers “in a matter of hours rather than months”, driving renewed focus on airlock access strategies and positive pressurisation.

Structural design is also shifting. High-density AI racks significantly increase pounds-per-square-foot loads, often necessitating deeper piling or slab-on-grade solutions. Meanwhile, higher-pressure refrigerant systems introduce heavier components and more complex welding requirements, increasing the risk of hard-to-detect leaks and complicating long-term reliability.

Summer construction further compounds these pressures. Regulatory work-hour restrictions and extreme temperatures reduce productivity and increase defect risk, particularly during commissioning and integrated testing, which remain site-based despite prefabrication gains.

Technical and labour constraints

AI workloads are driving what Parker describes as a “step-change” in rack density, power demand and cooling complexity. Electrical infrastructure must often be upgraded, with earlier engagement required to secure utility capacity. Structurally, thicker slabs, higher reinforcement ratios and deeper foundations add cost premiums compared to conventional facilities.

Cooling systems present equal challenges. Liquid-cooled environments demand pharmaceutical-grade cleanliness and ultra-tight installation tolerances. Yet there is a global shortage of highly specialised mechanical and electrical trades capable of delivering 80–100kW per rack environments.

“These challenges cannot be solved by increasing manpower alone,” Parker emphasises. “Progress is constrained by the availability of highly skilled teams.”

Lead times for critical equipment are extended and largely inflexible, making early procurement decisions central to programme certainty. Commissioning in desert climates is particularly complex. Liquid cooling systems require stringent flushing regimes and disciplined water-quality management, especially given regional variability.

Commissioning-led delivery

To mitigate risk, developers are shifting towards commissioning-led planning models. Selective modularisation, including E-houses and skid-mounted systems, is being combined with enhanced logistics management and, in some cases, parallel on-site pre-assembly yards.

Digital tools are also evolving. The use of digital twins now extends beyond design coordination into virtual commissioning and logistics simulation. This allows teams to validate buildability and test control logic before installation, reducing late-stage rework.

Hybrid remote commissioning models are emerging in response to specialist shortages. Using live telemetry and virtual control centres, experienced engineers can support multiple projects simultaneously, reducing mobilisation requirements and improving first-pass issue resolution.

Supply-chain engagement is moving upstream. Developers are aligning with MEP suppliers during early design phases to secure manufacturing slots and place long-lead orders ahead of EPC appointments. Defensive procurement strategies, including in-region warehousing of critical components, are increasingly common.

Energy strategy is equally central. On-site generation and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are no longer contingencies but core elements of programme certainty, particularly where grid upgrades lag behind development timelines.

Scaling at pace

Looking ahead, Parker sees a widening gap between announced capacity and actual construction output across the GCC. Since 2023, marketed capacity has grown sharply, while delivery rates in some markets have effectively flatlined.

To bridge this gap, he advocates greater standardisation through an “80:20 kit-of-parts approach” that enables rapid scaling while retaining flexibility. At the same time, developers are strengthening in-house capital delivery teams to maintain direct control over outcomes.

“The challenge for developers is not simply building ‘bigger’ or ‘denser’ facilities,” Parker concludes. “It is delivering highly engineered assets where power, structure, cooling, logistics and specialist labour must align precisely.”

As AI-driven demand accelerates, success in the GCC will depend on early design freeze, defensive procurement, digital validation and energy-aware design strategies. In a market defined by extreme climate and compressed schedules, certainty, resilience and scalability are fast becoming the defining competitive advantages.