Accenture launches Construct for capital project services

Accenture has launched Accenture Construct, a new global business focused on owner-side capital project services.

The unit will help project owners plan, deliver and optimise large infrastructure and capital projects, including airports, power grids, data centres, rail networks and advanced manufacturing facilities. It brings together Accenture's existing capital projects work in strategic advisory, engineering, project delivery and technology services under one structure.

The launch comes as companies and public bodies increase spending on infrastructure linked to data centres, the energy transition and the replacement of ageing assets. Accenture estimates the addressable market for integrated owner-side capital project services at USD $260 billion and expects it to reach USD $348 billion by 2030.

Over the past three years, Accenture's capital projects business has grown fourfold, supported by cumulative investment of USD $2.5 billion. Accenture Construct launches with more than 5,000 practitioners across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific.

Accenture is positioning the business around a longstanding problem in construction and infrastructure delivery: fragmented accountability. Large projects are often split among advisers, consultants, contractors and specialist firms, leaving owners to manage the gaps and absorb delays, cost overruns and execution risks.

The new business will use a common project data foundation to provide a single operational view across the delivery chain. AI-based workflows will support predictive decision-making during project planning, delivery and operation.

Julie Sweet, Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Accenture, linked the launch to changes in infrastructure demand and project delivery methods.

"Global demand for critical infrastructure capital programs is accelerating at the same time as AI is fundamentally changing how projects are planned, delivered and operated," said Sweet.

"Together, these shifts are significantly increasing our market opportunity for the capital project services provided by Accenture Construct, which combines deep capital project expertise with global scale, built to give owners a new level of visibility and certainty," she said.

Five segments

Accenture Construct is organised into five global lines of business: data centres; utilities and telecommunications; transportation and civic infrastructure; advanced manufacturing; and process industries.

Its data centre work spans conceptual design, site planning, construction management, deployment and commissioning. In utilities and telecommunications, the scope includes fibre and 5G networks, power plants, grids, water systems, wind projects and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Transportation and civic infrastructure includes airports, hospitals, rail networks and roads. The advanced manufacturing segment will focus on software-defined and automated production facilities for sectors such as semiconductors, vehicles, industrial equipment and pharmaceuticals. The process industries unit will cover areas including decarbonisation infrastructure, liquefied natural gas, chemicals, mining and oil and gas.

Adam J. Shaw will lead the business as Chief Executive Officer, Accenture Construct. He said the company is trying to solve a lack of alignment in project delivery rather than a lack of technical skill.

"Capital projects haven't lacked expertise; they've lacked alignment on shared success outcomes. Owners assemble exceptional teams, but accountability is often dispersed across the delivery ecosystem," said Shaw.

"Accenture Construct brings those capabilities together under one accountable partner, combining deep delivery expertise with AI and data to help owners make better decisions, reduce uncertainty and deliver better outcomes," he said.

Existing work

Accenture cited existing work with Vale on an industrial capital portfolio, with the Florida Governmental Utility Authority on governance, capital delivery and operations across a multi-county water utility authority, and with Metrolinx GO Expansion as part of a programme delivery services consortium.

The new business also draws on a series of acquisitions that expanded Accenture's presence in capital projects and infrastructure services. Firms folded into the broader operation include Alfa Consulting, Anser Advisory, Arca, BOSLAN, Comtech Group, Fibremind, Greenfish, IQT Group, Orlade Group, Soben and Verum Partners.

Accenture Construct will work with DLB Associates, Accenture's majority-owned joint venture, on data centre projects in the United States. DLB will continue to provide data centre lifecycle services to US-based clients, including planning, feasibility, commissioning and operational readiness.

The launch adds to Accenture's broader push to build larger industry-specific businesses spanning consulting, engineering, operations and data-led project delivery. For the company, capital-intensive sectors offer an opportunity to expand beyond advisory work into longer-term execution roles tied to major infrastructure programmes.

Many project owners are looking for a single partner that can stay involved from strategy through handover, reducing transition costs, knowledge loss and accountability gaps between the firms involved in a project.