Strategic Focus: Is BIM Rewriting Building Lifecycle Management?
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Executive Summary
Building information modelling (BIM) is now a standard tool across planning and design, yet its adoption across subsequent lifecycle stages remains uneven. While most tangible BIM value has historically been realized during early project phases, the majority of asset costs and risks arise during the operations and refurbishment stages, necessitating the maintenance of a golden thread of data across the entire life cycle. Advances in open BIM standards, cloud‑based common data environments (CDEs) and digital twins are expanding the value of BIM, but persistent barriers – such as skills gaps, data handover challenges, and unclear ownership of lifecycle models – continue to limit end‑to‑end adoption across the real estate sector. This report equips architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) professionals, facilities management (FM) teams and owner-operators with best practice guidance for extending the use of BIM systems beyond design and construction.
Figure 1. Timeline of BIM evolution through the decades
Figure 2. BIM maturity dimensions
Figure 3. Geographical trends in BIM adoption, and key mandates
Figure 4. Value proposition, emerging use cases and relative impact of BIM across the life cycle
Figure 5. Value of BIM during operations, and operational complexity matrix for different assets
Figure 6. Best practices for owner-operators looking to maximize BIM’s lifecycle value
About the Authors
Sophie Planken-Bichler
Industry Analyst
Sophie is an Industry Analyst at Verdantix, specializing in AEC software and digital twins. She provides strategic guidance to both technology buyers and software vendors, del...
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Claire Stephens
Research Director
Claire Stephens is a Research Director at Verdantix, leading research into technologies and services shaping the real estate and the built environment, encompassing ...
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