The current order situation for 2024: A sector in transition
The construction sector in Germany is showing significant tensions in 2024. The Federal Statistical Office reports a real revenue decline of 1.5% for the entire year. After 15 years of growth, employee recruitment has come to an end; the industry lost 11,500 employees. These figures highlight the pressure that companies are under. Efficiency is no longer a bonus, but a survival strategy. Order intake declined in real terms by 0.7% in 2024 compared to already weak previous year. This development forces companies to optimize internal processes to secure remaining margins. The development of the construction industry now requires a change in thinking.
Business expectations reflect this uncertainty. Only 7% of construction companies anticipate an improvement in their situation, while 38% expect a deterioration. This pessimistic overall mood is fueled by the lack of orders, which, according to a ZDB survey of 1,600 companies, is the most common reason for construction delays. For project managers and executives, this means that every project must be managed with maximum precision. Comprehensive construction documentation, as enabled by Valoon, is no longer an optional extra but a central necessity for minimizing risk. Thus, the current situation paves the way for the next level of digitization.
Residential construction in crisis: numbers, facts, and consequences
Residential construction is the troubled child of the German construction industry. A real revenue decline of a dramatic 14% is forecasted for 2024, which is expected to continue with another 7% in 2025. The federal government’s target of 400,000 new apartments per year is clearly missed with anticipated completions of only 250,000 to 255,000. This deficit of almost 40% exacerbates the housing shortage and increases pressure on the executing firms. Projects must be completed faster and with fewer errors to remain profitable.
The causes of the crisis are manifold: Increased interest rates and high construction costs discourage investors. The order backlog in residential construction has decreased to just over five months. This means an uncertain future in the construction industry and the necessity to quickly increase efficiency. This is where Valoon comes in:
- Legally secure construction documentation: Every instruction and every defect is stored directly from WhatsApp in the construction diary.
- Automatic reports: Save several hours of manual effort each week when creating construction reports.
- Comprehensive defect management: Capture and track defects with photo evidence, deadlines, and responsibilities.
- Simple time tracking: Employees log their hours via WhatsApp, and the data flows directly to the office.
These tools reduce administrative effort by hours and create space for the actual work on the construction site. Given the tense situation, optimizing project documentation is a direct lever for cost reduction.
Stable order situation in civil engineering: A glimmer of hope with potential
In contrast to building construction, civil engineering is showing robustness. Thanks to investments in energy and mobility transitions, civil engineering is experiencing a real growth of 9% in 2024. Public construction is also increasing by 3%. This stability offers opportunities for companies active in this sector or those that can shift their capacities there. However, there are also risks in the construction industry, which cannot be ignored.
The biggest bottleneck in civil engineering is not the lack of orders, but the lack of personnel. In this sector, 74% of companies see the shortage of skilled workers as the biggest obstacle. To achieve more with fewer personnel, digital tools are essential. Valoon overcomes language barriers with a live translation feature in over 20 languages directly in WhatsApp, ensuring that all employees, regardless of their background, understand instructions correctly. This improves productivity and reduces mistakes arising from misunderstandings. This simple solution helps to effectively address the shortage of skilled labor in the construction industry. effectively.
Cost challenge: How digitization protects your margin
Costs remain a central challenge. Persistently high material and energy costs diminish profits. At the same time, planning uncertainties and regulatory hurdles lead 36% of companies to want to reduce their investments. In this environment, it is crucial to keep internal costs firmly under control. Inefficient communication and incomplete documentation are hidden cost drivers that can amount to thousands of euros per project.
Here, digitization offers a direct lever for cost reduction. A tool like Valoon, based on the familiar messenger WhatsApp, requires no training effort for employees on the construction site. Acceptance is immediate. This leads to a better data basis for all decisions. The following points show the potential for savings:
- Reduction of liability risks: Comprehensive, legally secure documentation protects you from unjustified claims and reduces the costs of legal disputes by up to 25%.
- Avoidance of double entries: Information from the construction site is recorded only once and is immediately available digitally.
- Optimization of resource allocation: With precise digital time sheets and measurements, you can plan personnel and materials more accurately.
- Acceleration of approval processes: Digital reports and photo documentation enable faster decisions and reduce project delays.
These trends in the construction industry show that a lean and efficient organization is key to success.
Conclusion: Emerging stronger from the construction crisis with Valoon
Die Order situation in the construction industry for 2024 requires companies to act agilely and cost-effectively. While residential construction is weakening, opportunities continue to arise in civil engineering. The key to success lies in optimizing internal processes to ensure the profitability of each individual project. Manual paperwork and unstructured WhatsApp groups are an untenable risk in the current market situation.
Valoon transforms communication chaos into structured, legally secure, and highly efficient construction documentation. Save up to 5 hours per site manager each week, reduce liability risks, and increase productivity on the construction site – all without complicated new software. Secure your competitiveness now and guide your company safely through the crisis. Book your free demo and discover how easy the transition is.
More Links
A press release from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) from February 2025 offers insights into various economic sectors, potentially including construction.
Der Central Association of the German Construction Industry (ZDB) provides information about the construction industry in the years 2024 and 2025.
Der Main Association of the German Construction Industry provides a PDF document with numbers and facts on the construction industry’s economic development in Germany.
Das ifo Institute provides information on the ifo business climate index, an important economic indicator that rose in May 2025.
Das Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) presents economic indicators specifically for the construction industry on its website.
Statista provides statistics on the ifo business climate for German residential construction.
Die Hans Böckler Foundation provides relevant labor market-related data or analyses that may be significant for the construction industry.
Das Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR) publishes analyses compact from the year 2025 that deal with developments in the fields of building, urban, and spatial affairs.
Das DIW (German Institute for Economic Research) provides an interview on the expected trend reversal in the construction industry in 2026.
FAQ
How can Valoon help my construction company in the current order situation?
Valoon helps you streamline your processes and reduce costs. Through automated and legally secure documentation via WhatsApp, you reduce administrative effort by up to 5 hours per week and minimize expensive liability risks. This increases your margin on every project.
Is the implementation of Valoon complicated for my employees on the construction site?
No, not at all. Valoon is based on WhatsApp, a tool your employees already know and use daily. It is not a new app, and no training effort is needed. This ensures 100% acceptance from day one.
How does Valoon help with language barriers in the team?
Valoon includes an integrated live translation feature for over 20 languages. Instructions sent by a project manager in German are received by foreign language employees directly in their native language and vice versa. This prevents misunderstandings and increases productivity.
What does Valoon cost for employees on the construction site?
For employees on the construction site, using Valoon is completely free. They simply continue using their WhatsApp. Costs only apply to users in the office who use the central web platform for management and evaluation.
How quickly can I start with Valoon?
You can get started in just a few minutes. The setup is straightforward and does not require extensive IT integration. Book a free demo, and we will show you how to set up your first project in no time.
Is documentation with Valoon and WhatsApp really legally secure?
Yes. All messages, images, and documents are stored unalterably with timestamps and senders in compliance with GDPR on German servers. You receive a complete construction diary that can serve as evidence in legal disputes.
