When moving between countries in the construction sector, differences can appear on various levels, such as legislation, project management, construction culture, and technological approaches. For example:

• In Scandinavian countries, the construction field is highly regulated, with strict quality and safety requirements that may be somewhat stricter than in the Baltic States. At the same time, Latvia and other Baltic countries tend to offer more flexibility, but this also requires a deeper understanding of local laws and standards.

• In Scandinavia, workforce qualifications are generally higher, whereas in Latvia and the wider Baltic region, there is a greater reliance on foreign labor. Adapting to the workforce's language and cultural diversity is essential, which tends to be more integrated in Scandinavia than in the Baltics.

• The Scandinavian construction sector often emphasizes long-term planning and quality, while in Latvia, you may encounter a more project-oriented approach with tighter schedules, necessitating quick decision-making and flexibility.
  
  
• Scandinavian countries predominantly use modern technologies and digitization tools like BIM (Building Information Modeling), which are widespread there. In the Baltic region, technological adoption is somewhat slower but progressing rapidly. However, documentation on construction sites in Latvia is much stricter than in neighboring countries (Sweden, Norway, Finland, Estonia).

• Particularly in smaller or more conservative companies where paper documentation is habitual, parallel use of paper and digital systems can still be observed. In larger and more modern projects, the aim is to minimize paper usage, but in practice, you can still find paper copies or physical signatures on certain official documents due to incomplete digitization or lack of familiarity among stakeholders.
  
  
• Significant progress has been made in recent years in the digitalization of Latvia's construction sector, and BIS is a good start. Digitalization encompasses the entire construction process, but the level varies between stages.
  
  
• Overall, Latvia has made notable progress in digitization, but the sector is still in a transitional phase. The complete disappearance of paper documents and full adoption of digital solutions by all stakeholders will take more time, though the advancements are substantial.

Mapri Buve currently manages 20 projects in Bauhub, of which 13 are active. The rest are either completed or in the warranty period. I’m 100% certain that more projects will be added to the system.

Our project teams at Mapri Buve are developing and learning every day as they use Bauhub.

How we use Bauhub and how it helps us:

• All the necessary documentation for projects—plans, drawings, contracts, schedules, and other essential documents—is easily accessible in Bauhub and consolidated into a single system for all stakeholders. This reduces the risk of participants working with outdated versions and ensures quick access to information. Of course, someone must manage and update the system.

• Bauhub allows for real-time document updates and notifications for all parties involved when changes are made. This improves communication and prevents delays caused by a lack of information.

• Teams, clients, supervisors, designers, and subcontractors—all involved in a project—can add comments and annotations directly to drawings and documents, simplifying problem-solving and providing a clearer overview of urgent issues. Collaboration among stakeholders has become much smoother as everyone can quickly and easily access the necessary data and documentation without waiting for paper copies or emails. This reduces errors and unnecessary time loss.

What do you see as the biggest obstacles to adopting new software and technology in construction companies? How can these obstacles be overcome to encourage other construction firms to follow suit?

In the construction sector, many different analog tools and systems are used simultaneously. Integrating new software with existing systems can be challenging. Decision-makers may resist adopting new technology, especially if they lack direct experience with digitization. Innovations can seem risky and unnecessary.

Overcoming these obstacles requires understanding that successful adoption of technology needs strategic planning, training, and leadership support. It’s important to emphasize that digitization is not an end in itself but a tool—a tool that improves efficiency, reduces errors, and helps save costs in the long run. Progress should be made step-by-step, with support provided to employees so they can adapt to changes and embrace new solutions.

For Mapri Buve, Bauhub has been incredibly helpful. As a board member, I view Bauhub as a tool that allows me to monitor project status and progress remotely since I have constant and up-to-date access to all critical information. Everything is in one place and easily accessible.

Arita Šolina, Assisting Project Manager at Mapri Buve about Bauhub:

"Local, Convenient, Progressive: When using Bauhub, it is nice to know that such a quality product that facilitates the organization of construction processes is provided by one of our own neighbors - right here in Estonia. Bauhub support is easily accessible and open to suggestions to make the Bauhub environment as user-friendly as possible."

Bauhub has made daily work easier in the following ways:

• Accessibility of all documentation in a single environment;
  
  
• You can easily view drawings in both PDF and DWG formats, as well as 3D models;
  
  
• A comprehensive communication history for each individual task in the task section;
  
  
• A quick and easily trackable document flow – coordination and signing in one environment.