The Digital Thread for EPC: Connecting Engineering, Procurement & Construction
How a unified digital thread across engineering, procurement, and construction eliminates the data silos that cause 80% of EPC project delays.
The Silo Problem
In a typical EPC project, data lives in dozens of disconnected systems:
- Engineering → AVEVA, SmartPlant, AutoCAD, Revit
- Procurement → SAP, Oracle EBS, custom ERPs
- Construction → Primavera P6, Aconex, Procore
- Operations → OSIsoft PI, SCADA systems
Each system generates valuable data, but without a unifying layer, that data stays trapped. The result? Rework, delays, and cost overruns driven by information gaps.
The Digital Thread Concept
A digital thread is a continuous, traceable link between all data generated throughout a project's lifecycle. It connects:
- Design intent (what was engineered)
- Procurement status (what was ordered and when it arrives)
- Construction progress (what was built and when)
- As-built reality (what actually exists vs what was planned)
How Konnect xD Implements This
Konnect Core's Medallion Architecture provides the foundation:
- Bronze Layer — Raw data ingested from all source systems
- Silver Layer — Cleaned, standardised, and cross-referenced data
- Gold Layer — Business-ready datasets with relationships and lineage
Combined with Computable MOC (our Git-like versioning for project data), every change is tracked, every relationship is preserved, and every stakeholder sees one source of truth.
The Impact
Projects using an integrated digital thread report:
- 30% reduction in RFIs (Requests for Information)
- 25% fewer change orders due to design-construction conflicts
- 40% faster handover documentation completion