EPC method can exploit the potential for minimizing project delays with the improvement of information centralization and offers the possibility for improving the experience of end customers [6]; it is widely adopted by Chinese construction companies (not least LSOEs) [7] and has resulted in considerable shifts in their benefits [8]. With a guarantee from LSOEs under EPC regulation, it has been suggested that the EPC primary constructor has greater freedoms and motivation to keep tracing progress and updating the contingency analysis to ensure the quality of the project, instead of prioritizing rushed deliveries [9].  
Laboratory experiments on BIM's uses in the construction sector have already demonstrated its numerous benefits [10] and raised many researchers' and practitioners' concerns about the actual performance of these techniques in terms of time and cost aspects. Many international institutions from construction, architecture, civil engineering, and even the finance industry have investigated the benefits of digital technologies in construction projects in their methods [11]. However, compared to laboratory experiments, actual project experiments contain abundant uncontrolled variable factors (e.g., reluctance from stakeholders, fraud involving sensitive data, culture, and price index) [12], which reduce the reliability of data information and their interpretation [13]. In order to extend digitalization (e.g., the implementation of advanced digital techniques in construction projects), a locally aimed and reliable analysis should be established for understanding how digitalization impacts construction projects, as well as the direction of construction's digitalization at a local scale, instead of generalizing for each country or even each state. However, many local government sectors and institutions promote BIM with data from overseas, which may result in misinterpretations among national researchers and practitioners that may even hinder the progression of the digitalization of construction in China [14].  
This study aims to develop a consequence-oriented analysis to interpret the true impact of an improvement in BIM-based digitalization in EPC construction projects locally and acceptably. First, the current BIM situation in the Chinese construction industry, the leading digital technologies, the detailed EPC contract mechanism, and the market size of EPC construction projects in China are demonstrated through a literature review in order to provide readers with an understanding of the background of this study. Secondly, some local institutions and companies were invited to help as consultants and data collectors in this study. Meanwhile, a questionnaire containing basic required information (e.g., project manager information, engineer information) and key project information (e.g., design cost, building cost, project period, and cost factor) was designed and authorized, and on-site investigations were scheduled in order to collect constructors' opinions on BIM and its performance. With the results of this study, a relatively authentic and locally aimed discussion is performed on how digitalization (BIM integration) impacts construction projects' performance. Furthermore, this study exploits the results and project data to explore the main directions of digital technology implementation in local construction projects and how local construction companies engage in digitalization. Some limitations of the study are noted, and future research directions are provided in the Conclusions.