Balfour Beatty is investing 拢7.2m embedding the use of Microsoft 365 Copilot across its business in what is being described as one of the largest commitments to artificial intelligence in UK construction to date.
Unlike publicly available tools, the AI-powered assistant embedded within Microsoft 365 applications will operate securely within Balfour Beatty鈥檚 in-house IT environment. Balfour Beatty reckons Copilot is already starting to make its business more efficient, productive and safe.
聽Balfour Beatty is also partnering with Microsoft to develop AI-powered 鈥榮mart agents鈥� to improve quality, health & safety and assurance (QHSA) processes. These 鈥榓gents鈥� will integrate data to provide actionable insights for on-site decision-making.
The first trial is on the A9 project in Scotland, focusing on early-stage reviews of inspection and test plans (ITPs). The 鈥榮mart agent鈥� identifies common issues such as using incorrect or outdated templates reaching technical experts, improving the consistency, efficiency, and quality of ITPs.
聽Automating the manual review process, which traditionally takes several hours and is repeated thousands of times across the company, accelerates delivery and allows engineers to focus on higher-value tasks such as design assurance and technical problem-solving 鈥� ultimately boosting productivity.
On site and in the office, Copilot is already changing how teams meet, plan and solve problems. Project director Martin McGough said: 鈥淐opilot has completely changed the way we run planning and problem-solving and meetings. By handling the note-taking and action tracking, it frees everyone up to focus on discussion. It has saved hours of manual review.鈥�
Joe Chastney, head of digital transformation, said he relied on Copilot to help with monthly portfolio reviews.
鈥淐opilot supports my preparation by intelligently surfacing key insights from a wide range of data sources,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t highlights areas that require attention 鈥� such as safety, risk and cost 鈥� enabling me to focus where it matters most.鈥�
Group chief executive Leo Quinn said: 鈥淭his investment demonstrates our commitment to harnessing the full potential of digital innovation to drive productivity and support our people. Expanding access to Copilot is the natural next step in our digital transformation, empowering our teams with intuitive, AI-driven tools that streamline workflows, reduce repetitive tasks, and free up time for high-value work.鈥�
Chief information officer Jon Ozanne added: 鈥淭his investment isn鈥檛 just about embracing technology. It鈥檚 about ensuring our business remains at the forefront of competitiveness and cyber security. Our decision to collaborate with Microsoft underscores Balfour Beatty鈥檚 determination to tackle the industry鈥檚 productivity gap, drive sustainable outcomes and enhance safety.鈥�
Microsoft UK & Ireland chief executive Darren Hardman said: 鈥淏alfour Beatty鈥檚 investment in Microsoft 365 Copilot is another sign of the confidence businesses have in AI's potential to deliver tangible productivity gains. By integrating Copilot into daily workflows, Balfour Beatty is empowering teams to work smarter, faster, and more safely. Our collaboration is a strong example of how AI is already having a measurable impact in the construction sector.鈥�
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