Day: September 17, 2021

AutoCAD is an incredible tool, helping architects, engineers and design teams to create precise 2D and 3D models with ease. But companies often run into problems when it comes to sharing those designs – which can cause significant challenges on projects further down the line.

To share information from AutoCAD with other stakeholders, most design teams will convert their files into PDFs or other read-only formats. And there are two good reasons for this.

On the one hand, this reformatting ensures that everyone will be able to access the file, regardless of the software they have. Secondly, the process helps protect a firm’s intellectual property from the risk of editing or repurposing.

However, using read-only files complicates the feedback process. Owners and collaborators are forced to mark up changes on PDFs – or even by hand – and return those documents through any number of channels.

This creates risks:

Exported information is immediately outdated – and there’s a chance of commenting on, or even building from, previous version of designs.There is limited traceability over who has received which files, and when.Chasing and collating feedback is a time-consuming process, and it can be hard to clarify changes.Multiple channels are used, increasing the danger of miscommunication.

There is a great alternative available to improve collaboration – and outcomes – on projects. Here’s why project teams should add Autodesk Build into AutoCAD-based workflows.

1. There’s a single source of truth to minimise errors

Autodesk Build enables teams to share design files securely in their native format, which can be accessed from any desktop, laptop or mobile device. The real-time platform creates a single source of truth available to everyone on the project.

New versions automatically replace old documents, eliminating the risk of working from outdated plans. And because there’s unlimited storage and version management, it’s possible to compare past versions of designs – resulting in fewer errors and a deeper understanding of the project.

Importantly, Autodesk Build offers alignment to the ISO 19650 naming convention to support better data management.

2. Communicating changes is quicker, clearer and more collaborative

Autodesk Build bridges the gap between the design team, owners and construction companies. Files can be accessed in a wide variety of formats, from the office or the site, and either viewed or edited depending on the permissions set.

Through the online cloud viewer, stakeholders can directly and precisely annotate plans with their feedback and changes. Design reviewers can be tagged and notified instantly, enabling teams to discuss alterations in real-time for a more collaborative dynamic. Reviews are completed more quickly and effectively, while information is shared that will lead to better outcomes on the build.

3. The clear audit trail results in greater trust

Any file uploaded to Autodesk Build is traceable, whether it’s a PDF, DWG or any other format. At any given time, it’s possible to visualise the history of a file – including when it was created, who has viewed it and any changes that have been made. There is a guaranteed audit trail, with everyone seeing the latest information as it is generated.

This eliminates any doubt or disputes about what has been received by different stakeholders, saving time on follow ups and tracking. Ultimately, this higher level of transparency also leads to greater confidence across the project team – supporting stronger relationships between collaborators.

4. You can connect stages and workflows across the project lifecycle

Rather than a simple document management system, Autodesk Build is a project communication tool that connects stakeholders across the lifecycle. Files become the starting point for exchanging information and beginning additional workflows.

For example, to streamline communication with the build team, designs can be published from AutoCAD to an on-site mobile device within two steps, complete with approval processes and audit trails.

Other workflows can be started within the system: for example, attaching a cost to an issue with an RFI or setting up a meeting to discuss the problem; creating daily logs or defining snagging lists; storing GPS referenced photos or managing assets and their deployment status.

With multiple data points in one place, the project team can benefit from more detailed, holistic data and reporting. And through machine learning, the platform can offer predictive analytics, so that teams can mitigate issues before they occur.

5. There’s the versatility to progress from 2D to 3D

Many companies are gradually transitioning from 2D to data rich formats like BIM modelling. However, in the meantime lots of knowledge will be stored in traditional file types, with projects often including a hybrid of multiple formats. With Autodesk Build, teams have the flexibility of managing and visualising a wide range of file types as they transition.

What’s more, the workflows are very similar for different formats; for example, you can create issues on any file format supported by the viewer. This means that Autodesk Build can not only support traditional workflows, but help companies undertaking the journey from 2D to 3D for the future.

Building better outcomes

Integrating Autodesk Build into AutoCAD workflows helps to connect everyone from design team and supporting disciplines to the construction team and owners.

Having an accessible single source of truth streamlines workflows, improves transparency and mitigates errors, for better collaboration – and better outcomes – on construction projects.

And importantly, by supporting advanced data analysis and the transition to 3D modelling, this platform can help designers to transform for the future.

To learn more Autodesk Build, visit our website.

The post Top 5 Reasons to Add Autodesk Build to Your AutoCAD Workflows appeared first on Digital Builder.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.dennis-construction.com/?p=350

WZW Construction is a Sydney developer-builder. The company manages projects end-to-end; it purchases land, plans the design, builds, and then sells its properties through its in-house real estate team.

Until a few years ago, the company mainly developed hi-rise apartments in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. But recently, consumer sentiments have changed; inner-city living is no longer quite so necessary or desirable. In part, that’s down to some of the high-profile horror stories of poor construction in buildings like Sydney’s Opal towers, but also in part to the pandemic which has reduced demand.

“Everyone is moving to a work-from-home model,” says Wesley Wei, project manager at WZW. “And if you’re working from home, you don’t want to be crammed into a 60 square metre apartment.”

As a result, WZW now focuses on constructing duplex homes in the suburbs of Australia’s largest city. It’s a strategy that is reaping the rewards. The company now has around 500 projects in the pipeline and annual revenue approaching $15 million.

For the last year, the company has been using Autodesk’s BuildingConnected to manage tendering and subcontractor engagements.

Why WZW chose BuildingConnected

Due to a small workforce, WZW relies heavily on teams of subcontractors during the construction phase of each project. A year before embracing BuildingConnected, the company started using PlanGrid to streamline the resolution of defects once construction was completed. Until then, they had relied on a tedious manual process.

PlanGrid was simple and easy to understand. Wei found he could give it to anyone, and they would be able to use it. Because every piece of information on the build was suddenly at his fingertips, the process of inspecting units and logging faults instantly became more efficient. The time savings were significant.

So when Wei was offered the chance to try BuildingConnected, he didn’t hesitate. He had already seen how implementing technology could improve the business. Before BuildingConnected, preparing trade packages and emailing them individually was time-consuming.

 “We were doing everything manually. We’d store the responses in folders and key all the information into a spreadsheet,” says Wei. The whole process took far too long—time WZW simply didn’t have to spare.

The process also led to confusion for subcontractors. When they received the tender packages, they had to interpret complex information and make assumptions about the effort and materials required. There was a chance of subcontractors underquoting—and therefore putting their business at risk—or overquoting—which could put the project at risk.

What BuildingConnected offered was a chance to standardise and simplify both sides of the process. Its contractor database would speed up the process of sending out the tender packages, and the tender responses would be centralised and easy to access. The tender comparison tool, in particular, promised transparency and insight into the process of comparing quotes that Wei knew would save time and money.

year with BuildingConnected

Once the trade packages were set up in the system, Wei was ready to go. From then on, preparing tender packages was as simple as copying and pasting information and then sending out a link to complete the quote in BuildingConnected.

“BuildingConnected saves us a lot of paperwork,” says Wei. “We put the information into the system, and it spits out what we need.”

The new system is now fully embedded in WZW’s tender process. When Wei needs to assemble a team of subcontractors for a project, it’s no longer an exhausting process. “When I’m looking for contractors, I use BuildingConnected all the time,” says Wei. “We also use it to go back and make sure people have charged us in line with their quotes.”

Although the system is easy to use and the implementation went smoothly, WZW has faced some challenges with adoption from subcontractors. Although each receives an invitation to tender via a link in BuildingConnected, some continue to produce their quotes in the traditional way and email them through.

“They are old school,” says Wei. “When they see a system like BuildingConnected they’re just not used to it. So they’ll send back a quote in the way they know how to.”

But Wei is far from deterred. He has seen the benefits and transparency that BuildingConnected brings to the process of engaging subcontractors and will not be returning to the old process. Instead, when a quote is received by email, Wesley and his team enter all the details manually into BuildingConnected. They do it because it’s worth it. BuildingConnected does far more than just managing the process of obtaining quotes; it gives total visibility over who has quoted what and why there are differences. In fact, Wei estimates that running the tender comparison tool across all quotes received saves around 35 minutes for every package. Multiply that across numerous packages and up to 500 individual projects, and the impact is enormous.

Obviously, Wei’s aim for the long term is to have all subcontractors using the same process. He can foresee a time in the future where only quotes submitted in BuildingConnected are considered as generations who are more comfortable with technology start to influence the way subcontractors respond to quotes.

“If it’s large-scale and very competitive,” he says, “then absolutely. But if there’s not much competition­—only one or two quotes to consider—then even if someone isn’t using BuildingConnected I will have to consider them.”

The benefits of BuildingConnected

Wesley Wei has always had an affinity with technology. He knew there was a better way to manage the tendering process and has found it in BuildingConnected. In the year since he first started using it, the system has made the process of comparing tender submissions quick and easy. As a result, it is now the company’s lead tool to manage tenders and subcontractor engagements.

Specifically, BuildingConnected has brought:

Streamlined Bid Management for the entire tender processEasy Bid comparison making any anomalies or outliers in the ways subcontractors have estimated the cost easy to spot. It’s also a great leveller—the cheapest headline doesn’t always equate to the best overall offer.Cost validation to check invoices against what was initially quoted. It allows the company to query invoice amounts and provides more certainty over its costs.

You can request a demo of BuildingConnected here

The post Throwing Away the Manual: How WZW Is Automating Its Tendering Process to Save Time and Money appeared first on Digital Builder.