Opportunities, Adoption of 4IR Technologies by SMEs in the Construction Industry: A Systematic Review

Abstract

The construction sector, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), faces increasing pressure to improve productivity, competitiveness, and sustainability amid rising project complexity and digital transformation. The adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies offers opportunities to enhance SME performance through efficiency, data-driven decision-making, and organisational resilience. These technologies align with key Sustainable Development Goals, notably SDG 8, SDG 9, and SDG 11. This study presents a systematic review of 38 peer-reviewed, Scopus-indexed journal articles and conference proceedings published between 2020 and 2025, limited to English-language publications in engineering, business management and accounting, social sciences, and environmental studies. The findings show engagement across developed and developing economies. The United Kingdom leads with 10 publications, followed by South Africa with 7, reflecting increasing research interest in a developing-economy context. Malaysia ranks third with 6 publications, indicating sustained digitalisation Southeast Asia, while East Asian contributions highlight the role of digital maturity and policy environments. Despite this engagement, research from developing regions particularly Africa remains limited, with South Africa and Nigeria the only African countries appearing prominently, highlighting persistent research and implementation gaps. The literature identifies key opportunities associated with 4IR adoption, including improved project coordination through BIM, enhanced productivity and cost efficiency via automation and digital platforms, and improved sustainability performance through real-time monitoring and resource optimisation. However, the limited availability of longitudinal and context-specific studies in developing countries shows the need for targeted policy support, investment in digital infrastructure, and capacity-building initiatives to enable inclusive and sustainable digital transformation among construction SMEs.