BIM 2025 Roadmap: Pillars and Metrics

The Bentley Systems’ Year in Infrastructure (YII) 2025 conference in Amsterdam highlighted a clear maturity in the sector: Building Information Modeling (BIM) and digital technologies have transcended their function as design tools to become strategic pillars that dictate the resilience and profitability of global infrastructure.

Interviews with industry leaders confirmed that the focus has shifted from technological adoption to the strategic management of value throughout the asset lifecycle.

The Strategic Trident

The infrastructure sector, especially for large-scale projects, is consolidating its digitization strategy around three interconnected elements: BIM, Digital Twins, and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

This technological trident is viewed as the only solution capable of handling the inherent complexity of megaprojects and addressing the critical shortage of skilled engineering talent. The observed trend is that companies are seeking to standardize the implementation of these systems to maximize their impact.

The Shift Towards Value Metrics

A central finding from the discussions was the insistence on establishing clear metrics that quantify the real benefit of digital investment. Showing design efficiencies is no longer enough; executive management demands to know how digitization translates into financial value, operational savings, and better asset performance.

The key question summarizing this shift in focus is:

“Bentley Systems is actually putting the three main pillars into large infrastructure projects, and what metrics to use to measure the total value that exists?”

This point underscores the need for BIM model data, enriched by Digital Twins and AI, to be translated into tangible business results, such as optimizing maintenance plans or reducing risks.

The BIM Professional as an Accelerator Agent

The role of the BIM professional is evolving towards that of a strategic change agent. Their cross-functional position within the organization makes them a crucial catalyst for the adoption of innovation.

Industry leaders emphasized that the impact of digitization depends on these professionals being able to influence every phase of the infrastructure lifecycle, from conception to operation. The BIM community has the responsibility to translate technological potential into effective working procedures, demonstrating the return on investment and ensuring successful technology adoption.

The objective is clear, the BIM professional must use their position to:

“influence and accelerate the adoption of these innovations in every phase of the infrastructure lifecycle.”

Ultimately, YII 2025 confirmed that the future of BIM is strategic, driven by a combination of advanced technologies and professionals trained to lead the transformation towards a more resilient, efficient, and quantifiably valuable sector..