Members of the National Federation of Builders (NFB) and its Major Contractors Group (MCG) recently visited Helsinki to examine how artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced construction planning models are being implemented in Finland’s challenging climate.

The study trip, led by NFB Chair and EvoEnergy MD Mark Wakeford, began with a visit to AiforSite, a Finnish company integrating AI into construction workflows.

Their platform includes Wendy AI, real-time location tracking, 360° reality capture, site cameras, and condition monitoring—tools designed to optimise site productivity and compliance.

The delegation also explored the application of Takt planning, a process-driven delivery method comparable to Lean Construction but structured around a rhythmic, repeatable schedule.

This approach is increasingly being used on large projects in Finland to improve delivery certainty, particularly in tight logistical environments.

Site Visits

Laakso Hospital:
A €1 billion hospital project delivered under an alliance contract. The project uses a Digital Twin and strict just-in-time logistics. The Takt approach has enabled the delivery of up to 250m² of completed floor area per day.

Tripla Commercial Unit:
Located adjacent to an electrified rail line, this project used video simulations to communicate a two-year Takt schedule. The site faced cold-weather concreting and proximity to live rail infrastructure, both of which required specific process adaptations.

Residential Scheme by Fira:
This visit highlighted how Fira increased delivery from 120 to 500 homes annually over five years using Takt. The project team discussed implementation challenges, learning curves, and data-informed decision-making in residential construction.

Policy and Housing Discussions

Separately, NFB’s Head of Policy and Market Insight Rico Wojtulewicz met with Finland’s Ministry of the Environment to discuss planning, housing supply, and the delivery of Housing First policies across different levels of government.

“It has been a fabulous trip and heartening to see the realisation of systems and processes UK construction are aware of but have struggled to implement,” said Mark Wakeford.
“Takt and AI clearly demonstrated that they could take time off development programmes, while reducing costs.

“If businesses have the flexibility and bandwidth to do things differently, I always think it is worthwhile seeing how other people solve the same problem we have.”