Multi-layered assessment of emerging internet based business for construction product information

Abstract Since the Internet has become widely available for construction product information (CPI) acquisition, Internet search engines and Internet based CPI providers have rapidly replaced traditional methods such as product catalogs, product manufacturer's distributors, professional magazines, and word of mouth. This paper provides useful knowledge about this emerging Internet-based business of CPI for the stakeholders in the A/E/C industry. This paper investigates the business from three different perspectives; a) the effectiveness of current CPI providers' websites, b) business operation models of this new industry sector, and c) critical factors for the successful operation of the Internet based CPI business using multiple surveys in the U.S. and South Korea. Lessons learned from the multi-layered assessment in this study has been actively applied and incorporated into a new web-based construction production information system which is currently developed through government support in South Korea. This study shows that reliable assessments of existing and rapidly growing CPI businesses in developed countries such as the U.S. and England can provide effective guidelines and strategies for successfully implementing this emerging market into different environments of developing countries.