working with a BIM partner makes sense

Beyond Cost Why Working With a BIM Partner Makes Sense

Back in June 2017, the US government released the 2018 infrastructure budget proposal. This plan included $200 billion of federal spending over the next decade and this would spur about $1.3 trillion in overall spending tied to the various infrastructure projects from cities, states, and private firms. 

There’s no doubt about the opportunities the sector has to offer. It’s also true that the USA leads the world when it comes to construction. This is a massive industry. But why are so many headlines dominated by news of delayed projects, missed deadlines, penalties, and poor financial performance? 

One of the reasons is the sector lags others in the adoption of technology. Software-driven solutions exist for streamlining planning, operations, project management, and maintenance. But adoption is lower than optimal.

BIM, a key technology used in the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) industry is a great example. The software is a proven enabler of better planning, collaboration, monitoring, resource estimation, and maintenance support. Some other leading construction markets have made the use of BIM mandatory for public infrastructure projects. Consulting powerhouse PwC estimates that the UK has seen savings of over 400 million Pounds per year since their BIM mandate. 

But qualified BIM resources are hard to find. Those that are available are expensive. This is an even bigger problem for small construction companies or companies located away from the traditional tech hotspots.

This is where working with BIM partners is rising up the popularity charts. Like the software sector, companies have often felt that the chief reason to work with a BIM partner was to leverage the cost advantage. But there are some other solid reasons why working with BIM partners makes sense:

Hub of talented professionals – As we mentioned, finding talented BIM professionals is a major obstacle for companies looking to kick off BIM for their projects Managment. This problem is easily solved by hiring a BIM partner. There is no need for the construction company to find, train or retain people. The partner brings the right skills to the table. They ensure that their experts are updated with the latest developments in technologies and construction methods. What the construction company gets is a reliable source of expert BIM talent.

The experience to learn from – All construction projects are complex. But adding the layer of technology like BIM, inevitably, brings in a major variation. This may need changes in other areas like communication, review patterns, and workflows. A BIM partner with the right credentials can make it easier for construction companies to make that change. They don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Instead, they can lean on the experience of the BIM partner who has “been there, done that”. The partner will communicate frequently and clearly and address any problems proactively. This will make it easier to increase the collaboration between the stakeholders. This could also, potentially, mitigate several other risks associated with the projects and reduce frustration and pitfalls in the long run. This enhances outcomes by improving efficiencies. 

Fast off the blocks – By hiring BIM partner agencies, construction firms can get an instant injection of expert BIM talent. The BIM partner would usually have larger BIM-specialist teams in place that they would have built up over many years. They would have a reputation as a BIM expert. This gives them the advantage of being able to hire fast when needed. For the construction company this means that if there’s a need to ramp up a team, this can be done right away. This is an important aspect for firms who want to get their projects started right away. Of course, the reverse also applies in that when the spike in work is done, the BIM partner can also scale back equally quickly. This ability to ramp up and scale back on-demand could become a massive competitive advantage for the construction company.

Consistent quality – The right BIM partner will have, both, breadth and depth of experience. Such partners would have worked on large, complex projects. They would have end-to-end experience of different types of construction projects. They would know the impact that BIM can deliver at each stage of such projects and what they have to do to deliver that impact. This will enable them to infuse those benefits into every stage of your projects too. Rather than the construction company having to “learn on the fly”, it can depend on high-quality BIM output from the very start. This will ensure consistency and quality across the entire project, irrespective of nature or scale.  

Hire a BIM Partner for Maximum ROI

The AEC, MEP, and construction industry is undergoing several changes and innovations. The companies that embrace this change are likely to stand out and make an impact. Working with an expert partner can make it easier for construction companies to adopt the challenging new technologies that can deliver transformative impact. It’s either that or stay rooted in the old ways and watch the construction world pass them while riding the technology wave