Digitalisation:
The Safest Bet for Singapore Construction in 2025
Digitise your permits, protect your workers, and clinch tenders faster—find out how the top builders are doing it in 2025.
Why “good enough” safety is no longer enough
A single stop‑work order can set a main contractor back hundreds of thousands or even millions in liquidated damages and tarnish a hard‑won reputation.
From 1st April 2024, public‑sector projects worth S$3 million or more must adopt an electronic Permit‑to‑Work (ePTW) system under Singapore’s Workplace Safety & Health (WSH) requirements. Developers, HDB project teams and specialist sub‑cons that still rely on paper forms or scattered spreadsheets risk non‑compliance, slower approvals and—most importantly—avoidable accidents.
Digitalisation isn’t just a buzzword; it’s now the quickest, most reliable way to achieve safer, more profitable worksites. This post explains how Integrated Digital Delivery (IDD), Common Data Environments (CDEs) and platforms such as ISETIA, reduce risk, help you win tenders and protect your bottom line—and what you can do next.
WSH 2025: Why ePTW Is Now Non‑Negotiable
- Mandated by MOM for public works – ePTW gives real‑time visibility of high‑risk activities and automatically flags conflicting permits.
- Audit‑ready digital trail – Automatic time‑stamping and version control satisfy both MOM inspectors and ISO 45001 auditors.
- 30–50 % faster approvals – Digital workflows slash the back‑and‑forth that often delays hot‑works or confined‑space jobs.
By adopting IDD, industry leaders significantly reduce project risks, improve safety, enhance collaboration and achieve exceptional compliance and efficiency standards.
Need to comply before your next tender?
From Paper to Platform:
How IDD & CDE Slash Risk and Rework
The Building & Construction Authority (BCA) calls digitalisation the “key enabler” of the Built Environment Industry Transformation Map. To drive the digitalisation in the sector, BCA works closely with various partners within the BE sector to support the implementation of Integrated Digital Delivery (IDD) in their projects.
| Traditional Workflow | Digital IDD + CDE workflow |
|---|
| Separate drawings, schedules, permits, emails, etc | Master data source in Autodesk BIM 360 or ISETIA CDE |
| Manual updates → version confusion | Live model + automatic revision control |
| Site issues discovered late | Clash detection + mobile issue tracking |
Contractors report up to 70% fewer RFIs and 25% less rework when models, permits and safety checklists live in one connected environment.
ISETIA + Novade:
A Game-Changing Combo for Real‑Time Safety Insights
ISETIA serves as a cloud‑based Common Data Environment (CDE) where project teams can plan, manage and visualise documents, schedules and risks. Novade, meanwhile, is the boots‑on‑the‑ground field app filling up ePTWs, collecting inspections, incidents and data. When you connect the two, you get:
• Seamless field‑to‑office data sync – Novade pushes permit and inspection records straight into ISETIA, allowing management to always work off the latest site information.
• One Platform. All Your Project Intelligence.
ISETIA connects the dots across your scheduling, design changes, RFIs, and Novade data — giving you real-time dashboards, powerful visual analytics, and seamless integration with other tools.
AI CCTV & Analytics:
Preventing Accidents Before They Happen
Pair your ePTW with AI‑powered video analytics (Ailytics – PSG Grant Avaliable) and you can:
• Detect PPE violations in real time
• Trigger alerts when workers enter exclusion proximity zones
• Analyze Trends and understand if action plans are working through data for safety meetings and evaluate sub contractor performances.
Projects using Ailytics alongside Novade have seen a 50% reduction in manual inspections, 7x increase in hazards detected.
FAQ – Quick answers for busy safety managers
Is an ePTW system compulsory for private projects?
While the 2024 mandate applies to public-sector projects, private developers are also adopting Novade to enhance on-site safety. Contractors in private developments use Novade as a comprehensive site management tool — leveraging ePTW for real-time data, proper documentation, and proactive safety deterrence.
Can I manage ePTW directly inside ISETIA?
ISETIA is designed as a cloud‑based Common Data Environment (CDE), not a mobile site‑level permit tool. You’ll still use a field solution like Novade to create and approve ePTWs on‑site; ISETIA then pulls that data in for centralised dashboards, document control, RFIs and more.
How long does implementation take?
Most firms go live in 4–8 weeks for a single site, including template setup, mobile training and data migration.
What about data security?
Our recommended solutions are ISO 27001‑certified and hosted on Singapore‑based data centres, meeting PDPA requirements. With successful use cases.
Does CSG support initial assessments for IDD readiness?
Absolutely. CSG Software offers digital readiness checks to provide clarity and actionable insights for effective IDD adoption, by having a sitdown session with you, we are able to assist you through understanding your needs.
Your Next Step Towards Zero‑Harm Sites
Digitalisation is no longer optional; it’s the new safety baseline. Firms that move first enjoy faster approvals, stronger bids and, most importantly, fewer injuries. Whether you manage HDB projects, industrial IDD works or private projects, the tools exist today to make “zero harm” a reality.
Act now: Book your discovery call to see how an integrated ePTW + CDE stack will transform your 2025 project pipeline.