79% of building sites have web access, survey claims

Web access is increasingly common on building sites according to research published in the latest Barbour Report.

The report claims that 79% of sites now have access to the web, a figure that is more than four times higher than that reported in 2001.

Of those regarding themselves as building products specifiers, more than 90% have broadband, and 57% claim that they would turn to the web first when looking for product information.

However, 43% of respondents were unable to name a manufacturer's website that they would recommend as a good example of what they wanted.

David Bentley, managing director of web consultancy NetConstruct, whose clients include SGB and Birse Build, called the report a “heads up warning to building materials manufacturers that they could be losing serious business in both UK and international markets by failing to invest in the web”.

The report, Delivering Product Information Online, was researched by Lychgate Market Research, who conducted telephone interviews with 152 individuals and an online survey with a further 145 respondents.