Exploring Building Information Modeling (BIM) Adoption in SMEs: A Bibliometric Analysis and State-of-the-Art Review

This study reviews and summarizes existing research on how small and medium-sized construction enterprises adopt Building Information Modeling (BIM), while also highlighting potential areas for future investigation. The analyses aimed to address two research questions: RQ1: What research areas are explored in scientific publications on the use of BIM in small and medium-sized enterprises? RQ2: What future research directions should be pursued regarding the implementation and development of BIM in SMEs? A bibliometric analysis and science-mapping analysis was conducted on 162 Scopus-indexed publications (2007–2025) using Excel, VOSviewer and Biblioshiny, complemented by a state-of-the-art review of 69 recent studies (2022–2025). Keyword analyses revealed five thematic clusters: implementation and adaptation, collaboration and integration, construction industry digitalization, project management, and information systems. Within the identified areas, a state-of-the-art review was conducted to indicate the main research domains and directions for future research. Emerging topics include Industry 4.0-enabled digitalization, common data environments, interoperability, decision-making, human resource management, and safety and risk assessment. Future studies should examine managerial competencies, behavioral drivers of adoption and value creation in resource-constrained contexts. Policymakers and professional bodies should combine capacity building, incentives and lightweight interoperable tools to lower entry barriers for SMEs. Integrating bibliometric mapping with qualitative synthesis, this paper offers an evidence-based research agenda and guidance to support BIM diffusion in SMEs.