Measuring BIM readiness and digitalisation in building permitting: a KPI-based framework

Abstract

Purpose Digital building permitting (DBP) is increasingly promoted as a key instrument for improving efficiency, transparency and interoperability in public administration. Building Information Modelling (BIM) is cited as a central enabler of this transition. However, existing research offers limited support for systematically benchmarking BIM-based building permitting (BP) systems across different jurisdictions. This study addresses this gap by developing and empirically validating a multi-level Key Performance Indicator (KPI) framework to support comparative benchmarking of BIM-based BP processes. Design/methodology/approach The study adopts a mixed-method research design. A structured literature review was combined with qualitative content analysis and thematic synthesis to develop an initial KPI framework spanning four subsystems. The framework was validated through seven semi-structured expert interviews with public authorities involved in municipalities across six countries. Expert feedback was analysed qualitatively, while scaled KPI responses were interpreted quantitatively to support cross-country comparison and benchmarking. Findings The results reveal substantial variation in BP implementation across jurisdictions. While electronic submission is widely established, deeper BIM integration, interoperability and automated compliance checking remain limited. The benchmarking results suggest the presence of different implementation patterns rather than linear maturity paths, with observed differences being influenced more by factors such as legislative clarity, modelling standards and organisational capacity than by technological availability alone. Experts emphasised that procedural inefficiencies tend to originate from upstream regulatory and institutional constraints. Originality/value The research responds to the growing need for evidence-based instruments and offers a validated, practice-oriented framework that supports systematic benchmarking of BIM-based BP systems and provides authorities and policymakers with a structured basis for identifying bottlenecks, comparing approaches and guiding evidence-based DBP.