Construct Venture invest in Ditio
Oslo, 17.03.2023 - The Bergen-based software company Ditio aims to make construction sites more sustainable with artificial intelligence and is raising money in a new issue. As new investors, Dovetail signs on backed by Ferd Impact, together with Construct Venture.
International growth ambitions
In a short time, the newcomer Ditio has established itself as a leading supplier of real-time data and AI solutions for digital management of projects in the Norwegian construction industry. Among other things, the company develops artificially intelligent tools for tracking, planning and optimization of mass transport, which will help make construction sites more sustainable.
The company has now brought in new capital to ensure further growth and international expansion. The new investors are Dovetail backed by Ferd Impact, as well as Construct Venture - OBOS and AF Gruppen's joint industrial venture setup. Skanska - which has been an investor since 2019 - continues as the largest shareholder.
The ownership team is strengthened with both industrial and international software expertise, which fuels the company's growth ambitions. Ditio will not only use artificial intelligence to streamline the process of cutting emissions but will become the preferred software supplier for both large and small players in the global construction market.
- We had our first meeting with Ditio in February last year, and everything we have learned about them over the past year has made us confident that we are a good match, says Codruta Gamulea Berg, Partner at Dovetail, which invests in technology-based companies. - We have spoken to many of the company's customers and are extremely impressed by the feedback. It is rare for a product to be so successful in an industry with low degree of digitization, where it has been notoriously difficult to gain access to - and value from - data.
Strong industrial owners
When Construct Venture - with OBOS and AF Gruppen as owners enters as owner, it will be a significant commitment from some of the biggest players in the industry.
As part of the due diligence process, AF Anlegg tested Ditio's software on one of their projects, with very good feedback. – We have strong faith in Ditio commercially and feel that the solution has high industrial relevance, and with this investment want to contribute to a gathering of forces within construction to make the industry's resource use and environmental impact more efficient, says Jan Fossgård in Construct Venture.
Overview and sustainability
Ditio gives customers the opportunity to stream real-time data from the construction site, and provides a full overview of everything from time registration to follow-up of subcontractors, load lists, location and equipment. Skanska became Ditio's first major customer a few years ago, and since then signed up the majority of major players in the Norwegian market as active customers.
- It is nice to see that we are a preferred supplier for the larger contractors, who have often grown from the systems that suited them when the requirements, the complexity and the company were smaller. We seem to have cracked a code that provides a positive experience for construction workers to collect data in real time, as a natural part of the workflow. It is particularly rewarding to see how customers use Ditio data to develop advanced analytics for better control over resource use, profitability and CO2 emissions, says Erik Aadland, CEO Ditio.
It is the sustainability aspect that is particularly interesting for Skanska, which has committed to becoming climate neutral by 2045, and must halve its emissions already by 2030.
- As an example, construction machinery accounts for a fifth of the greenhouse gas emissions from the construction industry. Integrating technologies such as route optimization through machine learning and artificial intelligence in real-time management of construction machinery gives the driver control over the load, recommends optimal speed and reduces inefficient idle time. Which results in better utilization of the machines and lower greenhouse gas emissions, says Christoffer Hernæs, CDO at Skanska and chairman of Ditio.
Ditio's new mass hauling solution goes beyond reducing idle time, but also streamlines the process of ensuring that non-contaminated soil and rock masses are recovered or utilized, while contaminated masses are transported to approved landfills.
About Ditio
Ditio is a software company, founded in Bergen in 2015, that offers digital solutions for management and control of resources, activities, and production in construction projects. Ditio's apps collect and process real-time information from people and machines in the field. The goal is to provide customers such as Skanska, Veidekke, Risa, AF Gruppen, Mesta Anlegg, and HI Entreprenører with better project management and profitability. The company has developed a solution for optimizing mass transportation, based on GPS-based tracking and efficiency measurement, which also automates planning and emission reporting.
About Dovetail
Dovetail is a new investment company established by the design and technology agency Bakken & Bæck and the family-owned investment company Grenir. Dovetail invests in technology-based companies and combines capital with practical and complementary experience in design, development, strategy, and finance. The goal is to realize untapped potential through active ownership.
About Construct Venture
With its focus on growth companies through Construct Venture, AF Gruppen and OBOS want to contribute to establish a smarter and more future-oriented supplier industry in building and construction that also gives the industry competitiveness. The partnership is industrially supported based on smart capital, where AF and OBOS contribute with industry expertise, processes and well-functioning systems, in addition to financial strength. The companies are making their projects available for testing and developing technology concepts on a large scale.