First Balfour marked a significant milestone in its digital transformation journey with the launch of its construction management system (CMS) on Sept. 16, 2025. In partnership with Autodesk Construction Cloud and CIM Technologies Inc., the CMS integrates planning, execution, monitoring and collaboration into a single platform designed to streamline project delivery. 
The system is the first in the Philippines to harness Autodesk Construction Cloud with AI-powered cost management and advanced analytics dashboards, enabling realtime insights and improved project management visibility. This builds on the foundation set in 2024 through Project UNLAD (Unleashing Next-Level Automation and Digitalization), First Balfour’s digital transformation initiative that paved the way for digital innovations.
The launch of the CMS represents the company’s first major step in adopting cutting-edge technologies to enhance project management and operational efficiency.
First Balfour vice chairman and chief executive officer Anthony Fernandez underscored the launch as the beginning of a bigger digital journey.
“We are launching the first part of our digital transformation. There’s a lot of hope. There are a lot of big expectations. And I know we have a very strong team. We’ve carefully put this team together.
We’ve got partners like CIM and Autodesk. So, I’m confident that about this time next year, we’ll be well on our way in our digital transformation.
And maybe then we can start thinking about what’s the next step,” Fernandez said.
Overall CMS project champion and First Balfour deputy sector head for energy-geothermal John Peralta explained the value of the system: “CMS is a digital platform that brings all the aspects of our projects together in one place—from tender, planning and scheduling to cost tracking, document management and collaboration.”
Emphasizing how the system transforms day-to-day operations, Peralta further highlighted its benefits: “By having real-time access to accurate information, our team can now work more efficiently, reduce errors and respond quickly to any issue or problem as they arise.
They will not only improve coordination, but also significantly boost project productivity across all our projects.”
Autodesk Construction account executive Dennis Lim said: “Because of this collective effort, we’ll be seeing meaningful results: improved coordination across disciplines, data-driven cost control, higher quality and safety outcomes and a future-ready foundation with open integrations.”
At the conclusion of the program, First Balfour managing director for construction operations Rey Villar exhorted the organization to take ownership of the initiative and ensure its success.
“In the past, it took days or even weeks to gather project information. Now, with this platform, everyone can be online in just minutes. The responsibility is now ours—let’s make the CMS a success,” he said.
