Data Analytics Pioneer Drives 95% Efficiency Gain in Construction Valuation

By Ugo Aliogo

Long before artificial intelligence became a buzzword in supply chain management, one data analyst was quietly revolutionizing how construction projects managed financial assessment and resource allocation. Oluwagbemisola Akinlade’s groundbreaking work as Assistant Project and Supply Chain Manager at Sujimoto Construction Ltd in Nigeria demonstrated how data-driven frameworks could transform operational efficiency in ways previously thought impossible.
Between April 2018 and June 2021, Akinlade pioneered the development of a data-driven framework for the valuation of building works that achieved a remarkable 95% reduction in overall valuation time, a transformation that fundamentally changed how the construction firm approached project financial management. This wasn’t merely an incremental improvement; it represented a paradigm shift from manual, subjective assessments to systematic, objective analysis.

The challenge Akinlade confronted was endemic across the construction industry: traditional valuation processes relied heavily on manual site inspections, paper-based documentation, and expert judgment approaches that consumed enormous time, introduced inconsistencies, and created bottlenecks in contractor payments and project progression. For a construction firm operating in Nigeria’s dynamic real estate market, these inefficiencies translated directly into delayed payments, strained contractor relationships, and compromised project timelines.

Akinlade’s solution centered on establishing comprehensive data systems that could capture, standardize, and analyze valuation data systematically. By creating structured frameworks for recording work progress, material usage, and cost allocation, she enabled the construction firm to move from sporadic, manual assessments to continuous, data-informed valuation processes. The 95%-time reduction meant that valuations that previously required weeks could now be completed in days or even hours, dramatically accelerating financial flows and improving stakeholder confidence.

Beyond valuation efficiency, Akinlade’s work extended to strategic supplier management. She established and maintained a comprehensive database of reputable suppliers across various categories of supplies, goods, and works, ensuring a robust and reliable network for procurement needs. This systematic approach to supplier information management provided the foundation for informed sourcing decisions, competitive pricing negotiations, and risk mitigation capabilities that would prove essential as supply chains faced increasing volatility.

Perhaps most significantly, Akinlade achieved a 45% reduction in project delays through enhanced communication and synergy across project stakeholders. By implementing data systems that provided transparent visibility into project progress, resource allocation, and financial status, she enabled more effective coordination between design teams, contractors, suppliers, and project management. This improved alignment reduced the miscommunications and information gaps that frequently derail construction timelines.

The skills Akinlade developed during this period combined with project management methodologies would form the foundation for his subsequent evolution into more sophisticated analytics roles. Her ability to translate complex operational challenges into structured data problems, then design practical solutions that delivered measurable business value, distinguished her as a practitioner who understood both technical capabilities and organizational realities.

This experience also revealed Akinlade’s capacity to drive change in traditionally conservative industries. Construction has historically been slow to adopt digital technologies, with many firms relying on established practices and manual processes. Successfully implementing data-driven frameworks in this context required not just technical skill but also change management capabilities the ability to demonstrate value, build stakeholder confidence, and overcome resistance to new approaches.

The foundation laid during these years at Sujimoto Construction would prove invaluable as Akinlade progressed to subsequent roles requiring increasingly sophisticated analytical capabilities. Her later work developing interactive dashboards at Data Techcon, improving order promising processes at Cummins, and creating automation tools at Dell Technologies all built upon the fundamental insight she demonstrated at Sujimoto: that systematic data capture, rigorous analysis, and practical application could transform operational efficiency in ways that created tangible business value.

As organizations across industries recognize the strategic importance of data-driven decision-making, Akinlade’s early work serves as a compelling case study in how individual practitioners can drive meaningful transformation through thoughtful application of analytical frameworks to real-world operational challenges.