The NEC time bar that catches everyone out

8 Jun 2026 · 1 min

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1:27

In this presentation, William Doyle MRICS explains how using a digital platform for NEC contract site record keeping transforms the role of records from mere evidence to a strategic asset. He outlines three key advantages: (1) aggregating records into big‑data sets enables trend analysis, the calculation of productivity rates, and more accurate forecasting within NEC procedures; (2) a single, digitally‑leveraged source of data can be presented in multiple formats tailored to different stakeholders—such as shift‑pattern managers, cost accountants, programme planners, and payment applicators; and (3) linking the record data with other digital sources—commercial events, work‑activity logs, and BIM asset components—creates untapped opportunities for richer insight and integration. The speaker emphasizes the excitement and potential of adopting these digital practices in construction projects.

Chapters

So to manage NEC contracts effectively using a digital platform for site record keeping, I think it opens up all sorts of possibilities. I think firstly it takes the role of the record beyond just being a point of evidence to justify a particular account on record. I think having them in aggregate in a trendable big data way enables us to establish productivity rates and really help us with some of the forecasting and prospective forward-looking parts of the NEC procedures. I think the, the second bit, and this goes for whether you're a contractor or a project manager, of course, you know, just simple access and the way in which the data is orientated as well. So, you know, different audiences will look at records for different reasons. And having a single source of data leveraged digitally means that we can present that single source in multiple different ways, whether we're satisfying somebody who's looking after shift patterns or we're using that for cost defining cost records, or we're assembling a program based on some productivity, or we're looking at, you know, applying for payment. I think there's lots of different ways digital enables us to leverage it in those different ways. And thirdly, combining it with other digital sources. So indexing those records with real events and matters from a commercial point of view, or indexing them to things like activities at work or asset components in the BIM model, perhaps. Really fantastic opportunities that are so untapped at the moment. Really exciting area to get into.