From Perceived BIM-Use Applicability to Perceived BIM-Enabled Digital Transformation: BEP-Oriented PLS-SEM Evidence from Latin America’s AEC Industry

Building Information Modeling (BIM) represents an enabling information-management infrastructure within the broader digital transformation of the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry, rather than its sole or primary driver. This study examines associations among perceived BIM benefits, barriers, implementation strategies, perceived BIM-use applicability, and perceived BIM-enabled digital transformation. A quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational-explanatory design was applied using data from 73 AEC professionals in 11 Latin American countries. Exploratory factor analysis assessed the preliminary measurement structure, and partial least squares structural equation modeling evaluated the proposed associations. Perceived BIM-use applicability was operationalized through a BIM Execution Plan-oriented logic as professionals’ assessment of the relevance, feasibility, and potential usefulness of BIM-enabled information-management uses across planning, design, construction, and operation. Perceived benefits (β = 0.359, p < 0.001) and implementation strategies (β = 0.346, p < 0.001) were positively associated with perceived BIM-use applicability; whereas, perceived barriers were negatively associated (β = −0.315, p < 0.001). Perceived BIM-use applicability was positively associated with perceived BIM-enabled digital transformation (β = 0.573, p < 0.001). The findings position lifecycle-oriented BIM-use applicability as a proximal implementation assessment associated with perceived organizational outcomes, without implying that BIM is the only driver of AEC digital transformation.