From custom development to collaborative sharing: exploring the collaborative driving mechanism for digital twin innovation in construction projects

Purpose This research investigates how organizational, technological, standardization, and data-service conditions jointly drive digital twin collaborative innovation (DTCI) in construction projects. It examines how transitioning from custom-developed solutions to shared ecosystems enhances multi-stakeholder value co-creation and interoperability. The moderating effects of the data service environment (DSE) and the mediating role of standardization structure (SS) are also analyzed to clarify the pathways through which these conditions are translated into collaborative innovation outcomes. Design/methodology/approach Using a survey of 231 smart construction professionals, structural equation modeling (SEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) were applied to assess the relationships among technological conditions, construction process organization, standardization structure, DSE and DTCI. The sample reflects diverse project types and cross-organizational contexts. Findings Construction process organization and technological conditions show positive associations with DTCI. Standardization structure mediates these relationships, while DSE moderates effects. A high-quality DSE amplifies impacts of processes and technologies, whereas a low-quality DSE renders effects negligible. Configurational analysis reveals no single factor operates in isolation; a robust data service environment emerges as the only core condition across pathways linked to high collaborative innovation outcomes. Originality/value This research bridges gaps in understanding the collaborative driving mechanism linking organizational readiness, technological conditions, standardization structures, data-service environments, and digital twin innovation in construction. Drawing on the extended TOES framework and integrating configurational methods, it offers a novel framework for optimizing collaborative ecosystems. These findings provide critical insights for advancing scalable and shared digital twin practices in the era of digital transformation.