WINNING OSHOMOMOH DAVID

The increasing digitalization of the construction industry has highlighted the growingrelevance of virtual platforms as alternatives to traditional face-to-face site meetings. Thisstudy examines the use, benefits, and challenges of virtual platforms for constructionsitemeetings in Benin City, Nigeria, where infrastructural limitations and cultural preferencesinfluence technology adoption. A quantitative research design was employed, withdatacollected from 140 construction professionals—including architects, engineers, quantitysurveyors, and contractors—selected from a target population of 842. Using MeanItemScores (MIS), the findings show that Google Meet, Zoom, and WhatsApp are themost commonly used virtual platforms due to their accessibility and low data requirements. Keybenefits identified include enhanced stakeholder participation regardless of location, reducedmeeting costs, time savings, and improved documentation. However, major barrierstoeffective adoption remain, such as poor internet connectivity, unstable power supply, limitedtechnical skills, and low acceptance among older professionals. The study concludes that
while virtual platforms significantly improve communication efficiency and stakeholder engagement, their full potential is hindered by infrastructural and cultural constraints. It recommends targeted digital training, improved technological infrastructure, and hybrid meeting models to support sustainable digital transformation in Benin City’s construction sector.