The Digitization of the Construction Process in Poland – Assumptions, Implementation Analysis, and Evaluation of GUNB's Digital Solutions

Abstract

The General Office of Building Control (GUNB) in Poland has implemented a range of digital tools aimed at enhancing the efficiency of administrative services and information management within the construction investment process. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the implemented solutions and to determine their impact on the organization of the entire project lifecycle. The hypothesis was adopted that digitalization contributes to increased efficiency in the execution of administrative procedures. The study is of a review-analytical nature (desk research) and is based on the analysis of secondary data, legal acts, reports, and informational materials published by GUNB and other public institutions. The digital systems evaluated include e-Budownictwo, the Electronic Construction Journal (EDB), and the Digital Building Record Book (c-KOB), as well as selected registry systems. The analysis was conducted using the following efficiency criteria: temporal, organizational, economic, informational, environmental, and functional. The findings indicate that digitalization has significantly streamlined document workflow, information accessibility, and inter-stakeholder communication throughout the investment process. Estimates suggest a potential reduction in administrative burden exceeding one million man-hours annually, alongside a decrease in paper consumption of approximately 19,000 tonnes per year. Concurrently, several barriers limiting the full effectiveness of the implemented solutions were identified, including insufficient system interoperability and a persistently hybrid documentation model. The results confirm that digitalization of the construction sector yields measurable organizational, informational, and environmental benefits; however, fully realizing its potential requires further system integration, process automation, and continuous improvement of tool usability and accessibility.