Growth Under Pressure - Where Construction Industry CEO’s Should Focus Now
Australia’s building and construction industry faces both enormous challenges and enormous opportunities. Margins remain under pressure, skills shortages continue to bite, and regulatory settings are becoming more complex. At the same time, buyer expectations are shifting rapidly, and clients are demanding faster delivery, greater transparency, and higher levels of service from their construction company .
Growth is no longer about chasing scale at any cost and for CEOs and CMOs who are leading construction businesses, these pressures are not just operational headaches, they are strategic “must-haves”. The companies that will outperform in the years ahead are those that align operational discipline with customer-focussed innovation, simplifying how they work, strengthen relationships across their value chain, and adapt quickly to market shifts while staying commercially strong.
Put simply, leaders who view growth through the dual lenses of business efficiency and customer experience, via implementing strategies that are delivering the most meaningful and measurable impact, are the ones setting themselves up to succeed.
The following ten opportunities represent practical advice for strategic transformation and are designed to help building and construction companies create meaningful strategies for measurable impact in 2025 and beyond.
1. Compress Build Times to Unlock Capacity and Profit
Reducing the time it takes to complete builds improves profitability, frees up internal resources, and enhances the overall customer journey. With refined workflows and more reliable supply coordination, companies can achieve faster project turnaround without sacrificing quality.
2. Modernise Sales & Marketing with CRM Intelligence
Construction firms that invest in dedicated CRM platforms gain better insights into their prospective clients, better pipeline visibility, stronger lead nurturing capabilities, and more data-driven decision-making. It’s no longer enough to rely on spreadsheets and gut feel — growth demands systematic sales execution.
3. Align Your Product Range with Market Shifts
Responding to buyer demand with relevant, flexible product offerings is key to staying competitive. Companies that adapt quickly to changing demographics, affordability pressures, and lifestyle trends are better positioned to capture new segments and increase volume.
4. Tighten Cost Control to Defend Your Margins
Margin protection has become a strategic priority. Builders who focus on granular job costing, procurement discipline, and scope clarity are reducing leakage and insulating their profits from volatility in materials and labour markets.
5. Simplify Operations to Improve the Client Experience
Operational inefficiencies don’t just slow down delivery — they frustrate clients and staff alike. Streamlining internal handovers, improving communication internally, and with customers, and digitising process flows are critical to delivering a consistent and positive customer experience.
6. Invest in Sales & CX Training to Convert More Leads
Your team’s ability to build trust and guide potential buyers is a major differentiator. Training in customer empathy, technical fluency, and consultative selling drives stronger engagement and boosts conversion throughout the sales funnel.
7. Harness AI & Generative AI to Redefine the Future of Construction
AI is moving from hype to impact, streamlining design, scheduling, cost control, and supply chains. Generative AI also powers marketing, documentation, and client engagement. Builders adopting AI across both operations and customer touchpoints will deliver faster, more accurate, and more responsive outcomes—setting a new industry standard
8. Use Dynamic Pricing to Stay Agile and Competitive
Static pricing models can lead to lost opportunities or eroded margins. Builders adopting flexible pricing strategies — adjusted by geography, market demand, or material costs — are able to respond quickly to shifts while remaining commercially strong.
9. Improve Supplier & Trade Partner Collaboration
Supply chain breakdowns often stem from poor coordination. Firms that invest in shared scheduling, clear communication protocols, and collaborative planning with trades and suppliers are avoiding delays and maintaining smoother build flows.
10. Build Trust with Transparent Client Portals
Clients today expect digital access and real-time updates. Client portals that offer visibility into selections, timelines, and progress foster confidence, reduce confusion, and lower the burden on internal teams.
In 2025, the most successful players in the building and construction industry aren’t simply chasing more projects but are choosing smarter ways to grow. They recognise that real advantage comes from combining operational efficiency with an exceptional client experience.
For leaders, the task is clear: identify your biggest opportunities and build strategic plans that convert ideas into momentum, and momentum into growth. Whether it’s compressing build times, embedding AI, or creating more transparent client relationships, each lever should be measured not just by activity, but by the impact it creates.
In an environment where every decision is magnified by cost, labour, and customer expectations, strategic clarity will separate the growth seekers from the pack. Those companies who align their people, processes, and partners around meaningful growth opportunities will defend their margins and position themselves as the builders of choice in 2025 and beyond.
The 24HR Business Plan has worked with over 30 Building and Construction related companies, giving their team a depth of strategic insight into the sector. If you’d like to discuss how 24HR Business Plan could help develop a practical, actionable and succinct plan for your business, please get in touch with our Founder and Senior Advisor, Andrew Baxter - andrew@24hrbp.com
