In Architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry, the implementations, capabilities and benefits of Building Information Modeling (BIM) are well practiced by large players for over a decade. The million dollar question is, do startups need to adopt BIM just like the bigshots?
Several startups in the AEC industry have been using conventional CAD methods for a long time and a technology swap on the next day would be really an overwhelming task, especially for startups running on slim budgets. However, the economic landscape has changed phenomenally during the last couple of years, with 6% GDP growth alone coming from the construction industry.
In this blog post, let’s discuss the reasons why startups need to adopt BIM from day one!
Reason #1: Creating a WOW Factor..!!
BIM is an obvious recommendation for large ventures, as it facilitates architects, consultants, contractors, designers, engineers, and other stakeholders to work with the same information. Additionally, developers can extract 3d models, rendered images, workflow patterns and several other perspectives for every project. However, the story is entirely different when it comes to startups.
Startups often work with clients who are not familiar with BIM – to be frank, with the general design process as well. Davey McEathron, the founder of Davey McEathron Architecture comments, “The efficiencies that are built into a BIM program are one of the things that we tout when we are in front of a client trying to win that business. When you show a client a 3D model and start spinning it around, it kind of blows their mind.”
When startups implement BIM technology it instills work reliability, as clients can now have a crystal clear visualization of how their project is going to look.
Reason #2: Saves Hell of a Time
When startups make use of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) rather than BIM, they are just using a drafting program instead of a responsive modeling program. If it requires any change in drawings, the drafters or the architects need to make the modification in all the drawings simultaneously. This consumes a hell of a time and increases the chances of human-error, thus jeopardizing the credibility of the drawings.
However, if startups start using BIM software, it recognizes the respective changes three-dimensionally and updates all the drawings respectively. This facilitates the startups to focus more on productive tasks, rather than correcting all the drawings manually (that too with fingers crossed, hoping not to find any user-error in future).
Reason #3: Say NO to Outsourcing for Rendering Services
When it comes to cutting a deal with the client, rendering tools become a necessity to appeal to their interest. However, startups that don’t practice BIM usually find it a herculean task when working in-house and prefers them to be outsourced. Even outsourcing doesn’t make the process hassle-free. It’s expensive and often miscommunication also becomes a major bottleneck, leading to incompetent results.
Vanessa Bizzell, the Owner and the Founder of Bluemouse Ltd comments “We use our renderings a lot in marketing, and I think that’s how we sell our services, really. We do talk about the software quite a lot, and we’ve won lots of work on the basis of 3D images & rendering.”
For startups, it’s actually difficult to compete if you have to outsource the rendering services when big players make their own three-dimensional models in-house.
Reason #4: Future Looks Promising for BIM
Going by the statistics, over the next 10 or so years a time would arise where the builders would start using BIM as a stipulation for construction purposes. With Augmented reality, virtual reality and other modern technologies knocking on the doors of BIM it’s certain that BIM in the near future is going to be a WIN-WIN situation. The current use of BIM is just the tip of the iceberg with great potentials and spheres yet to be explored.
Reason #5: Crafts an Image – Thus Promotes Marketing of your Startup
Branding is something that will boost your marketing efforts, be it a startup or an established business. Branding is not just about an interesting logo but it also represents the reputation, customer service and advertising strategies of the company. Exhibiting your skills and abilities play a vital role in sealing the deal with new clients. This is where the possibilities of walkthrough presentations and collaboration with other latest technologies can come in handy for startups.
Geoffrey Tears of Mohle Designs Comments“If people come to us and ask, what do you think this project is going to look like? Or how might this work?We can do a quick rendering or a quick 3D model to show them what we’re thinking. That’s really helped us to catch the eye of some of the people here in Houston.”
If startups haven’t already considered BIM for their marketing efforts, they have actually lost the race even before it’s started. So better be late than never!
Reason #6: Assures Trust & Recurring Clients
Timely and budget-friendly submission of the project is of at most significance when it comes to the AEC industry.The adaptation of BIM right from the kick-off stage of the project can ensure precise, accurate and intelligent data transfer at all stages of the project. This, in turn, can bring in recurring business and promote the client’s trust in the vendor.
Philip Noland of Noland Design Studio comments “At the end of the day, the way BIM helps is by increasing my ability to provide excellent work, so that other people can say Hey, this guy does excellent work”.
If Noland’s startup can provide this hype with the help of BIM software, then why wait??
Reason #7: Stay Neck-to-neck with your Competition
In the AEC industry, often startups compete with well-established firms to win a project. To win a project and then successfully complete it, they would definitely need a level ground to play. With the introduction of BIM software to startups, not only startups can cut down their project time, they can also establish to the clients that they are as skilled and equipped as multi-million firms regardless of their size.
Lionel Scharly of Scharly Designer Studio comments “You can impress if the tool is good. With Revit, we can make a good rendering and we can make an animation that you can show to the client. That’s how we stay a step ahead of competitors sometimes.”
Autodesk Revit and Tekla Structures are few software domains which are ideal for building information modeling purposes and several professionals recommend it to startups to stay in neck-to-neck competition with larger firms.
Conclusion:
With these 7 points, I guess I have successfully answered the “million dollar question”.
YES!Startups DEFINITELY need to adopt BIM just like the larger players, to be one of them.
It can significantly accelerate productivity and successful client engagement.Adopting BIM can definitely change the way clients look up to you (startups). To the clients, you’re not just a startup, who is striving to establish to them, you’re the ultimate solution provider to all their drafting and 3d modeling needs. With BIM, you’re not just competing, but also staying a step ahead in your competition.
If future looks promising with BIM, they why don’t you embrace it NOW?
Author Bio: Hobbes S Sujith is Digital Marketing Lead at Advenser. A company specialized in offering BIM Services to Architectural, Engineering and Construction(AEC) industry. He completely devotes his time and energy to network with other digital marketers and inspires his team. With 14 years’ experience in the digital marketing industry, he currently focuses on providing digital marketing solutions in AEC sector.
