On the heels of Autodesk University, including dozens of engaging sessions from industry-leaders about the importance of data, the term “platform” came up often. But what does that concept really mean? A true platform is more than just a list of APIs connected to a SaaS solution. It provides a single experience where designers, engineers, and builders can harness the data and tools they need whenever and wherever they need them.

So, how can you ensure you’re getting a true platform experience? We cover top takeaways from the podcast below, including how to evaluate construction platforms and technology, and what to expect from data and digitization in the future.

Jim Lynch, Senior Vice President & General Manager, and Sid Haksar, Head of Construction Strategy, both with Autodesk, join the show to answer that question. Plus, they share pivotal moments from Autodesk University, discuss how to evaluate platforms and construction technology to ensure alignment to your business needs, and offer predictions on where construction is heading.

“The fact of the matter is that almost every SaaS product today has APIs that let you exchange data with other applications; but a true platform really plays a more active role in coordinating how products work together.” —Jim Lynch, SVP & GM, Autodesk Construction Solutions

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How to evaluate construction platforms and technology (5 considerations)

A key point of discussion in this episode is the importance of platforms in modern construction, and how AEC professionals can evaluate solutions that best fit their needs. As you’ll learn below, Jim and Sid both share actionable steps to help you do just that. 

But before we get to those tips, it’s worth defining what a platform actually is. 

“Everybody talks about platforms and there are many out there that seem to think that just because they have APIs, they have a platform,” says Jim. 

However, an open API doesn’t necessarily mean that the provider offers a solid platform.

“The fact of the matter is that almost every SaaS product today has APIs that let you exchange data with other applications; but a true platform really plays a more active role in coordinating how products work together.”

Jim continues, “A true platform ensures that data flows seamlessly and bidirectionally across all the capabilities in that platform.”

Sid agrees and adds that those using solid platforms have a more seamless and powerful experience, as it enables “high fidelity connections across teams, workflows, and data.”

So, how can construction professionals ensure that they implement a true platform? Jim and Sid recommend the following steps to help you find and evaluate vendors and solutions for your business. 

 

1. Make sure you know where data is stored and who has access

Getting a proper handle on construction data is essential for every firm. You need to have accurate and up-to-date information in order to execute on your projects. Data is also critical for measuring success and making business decisions.

For this reason, data must be the first factor you consider when evaluating solutions.

According to Jim, a good platform centralizes your data and makes it easy for teams to collaborate. 

“Some solutions limit access to the data. They only allow the license holder to have complete control and ownership of that data.” —Jim Lynch, SVP & GM

“Having a single source of truth is paramount. It is a core pillar in the strategy of really creating ways for companies to work from the same documents while respecting the data ownership aspects of it.”

Speaking of which, ownership and accessibility of information should also be considered, says Jim. 

“Some solutions limit access to the data,” he warns. “They only allow the license holder to have complete control and ownership of that data.”

PRO TIP

Before getting too far along with a technology provider, make sure you’ve asked them about how their platform handles data and how you and your team can access the necessary information. 

 

2. Discuss how the technology provider defines the project lifecycle

“A true construction platform supports the entire project lifecycle—from design, through reconstruction, out to the job site, out to operations and maintenance,” states Jim. That’s why the question of how a vendor defines the project is really important. 

If a vendor’s software only supports a single phase of the project, then it’s not truly a platform.

“I think a lot of providers define a construction project from the point they start on the project site, ending when they push it to operations and maintenance. But that’s not a real platform, that’s a point solution,” he explains. 

 

3. Ask about the solution provider’s customer success and training initiatives

In today’s increasingly competitive and complex construction landscape, you don’t want just any vendor on your side. You need a partner who’ll support you and your team throughout all your projects. 

Jim says that before selecting a technology provider, you need to ask them about the customer support, training, and resources they provide. 

“Do they have the expertise and skillset to support you? Do they have the teams necessary to really help you adopt, embrace, and in fact, get the most from your technology investment?”

These are just some of the questions that you should ask, he says. 

The key is to find a vendor who can support your entire business, not one that’s focused on how fast they can deploy their technology and quickly move on to another customer. The right vendor is there, “to help you take advantage of and collaborate better with the design team, with the team on the job site, with the pre-construction office, and ultimately, with the owner of the project.”

 

4. Explore their ecosystem of partners and integrations

The next step is to look into the other companies and providers that the vendor works with, and explore the depth of their partnerships.

Bear in mind that not all integrations are created equal. As Sid puts it, “Having partner logos on a website does not really mean much if those integrations are weak and limit the customer’s ability to utilize their existing solutions in an efficient and seamless manner.”

He adds that weak integrations that lack data interoperability and require manual processes “can ultimately lead to greater risk on a project.”

As such, properly vetting the vendor’s integrations and figuring out exactly what information is synced will lead to smarter decisions on which solution providers to choose. Autodesk, for instance, has deep integrations with the industry’s top solutions and also makes it easy for users to create flexible integrations through ACC Connect. 

“One of the exciting pieces of news that we announced at AU was that we now have over 200+ integrations leveraging both forge and partner cards,” shares Sid.

“We also have ACC Connect, which enables customers to build their own custom integrations over 100 workflows that we offer, in a no-code environment.”

 

5. Talk about their pricing model

It’s best to go with a vendor that offers flexible licensing. The best solutions don’t limit the way the customer can purchase technology.

As Sid points out, “being a platform comes with a lot of responsibility to customers. We are essentially asking companies to standardize their core processes on one platform.”

“Construction professionals need to ask if these platforms really offer flexibility in how they can purchase software, rather than deploying a one-size-fits-all approach.” —Sid Harska, Head of Construction Strategy

“To that end, construction professionals need to ask if these platforms really offer flexibility in how they can purchase software, rather than deploying a one-size-fits-all approach.”

Sid adds that you should also determine if the vendor has price certainty so you’re not left with uncomfortable surprises during the terms of your contract. 

“In listening to the industry and our customers, [Autodesk] offers multiple ways for people to consume our offerings, whether it’s user-based or account-based. We also strive to offer price certainty and really be a partner to them,” he shares. 

 

The importance of data, digitization, and the future of construction technology

When asked about the future of construction, Jim and Sid both agreed on the importance of data. 

The most successful firms will be the ones who can effectively manage and harness the data that they have—something that many companies are struggling to achieve. According to a recent study by Autodesk and FMI, the majority of construction teams don’t have a formal data strategy in place—and many don’t trust the data they do have available. 

Data management is clearly a challenge that we must overcome, and the first step in doing that is to digitize systems and processes. 

“Embrace digital technology to capture project information from early on in the project through to handover and operations.” —Jim Lynch, SVP & GM

Jim encourages teams to “apply or embrace digital technology to capture project information from early on in the project through to handover and operations.” Taking this step, he says, enables you to amass digital information, which you can integrate into your project management and financial systems. 

“This then leads to the optimization stage, the idea of actually using technologies like machine learning to be able to look back at that information, extract key insights, extract key learnings, and drive better outcomes on future projects.”

In line with this, Sid points out the value of standardization. 

“Getting access to the data is exceedingly challenging, and it’s really a prerequisite in order for companies to start driving actionable insights from that information,” he remarks. 

“I would say standardizing on an open and integrated platform enables that first part of the journey in capturing data in one place. Then subsequent to that is really the ability to surface information in a highly consumable manner so you can make appropriate business decisions.”

The bottom line: data and digitization are the future of construction. The sooner you organize and manage these components in your business, the better positioned you’ll be in the market.

 

Listen to the Full Episode of Digital Builder

Can’t get enough of platforms, data, and construction tech? Catch the full episode of Digital Builder to hear more from Jim and Sid. You can listen to it on:

• Apple Podcasts 
• Spotify
• Stitcher
• Google Podcasts
• or wherever you listen to podcasts.

The post Digital Builder Ep. 20: Evaluating Construction Platforms and Technology appeared first on Digital Builder.

Construction fails without collaboration.

Can you imagine a GC refusing to work with the project architect or a subcontractor unwilling to reply to submittals? I’m sure they’re out there, but they won’t win much repeat business. So then why would some software vendors create “walled-gardens” or prevent integration with their legacy on-premise software? Shouldn’t software collaborate and communicate the same way you do? 

You need software systems that not only allow, but in fact promote the smooth flow of data and documents to the systems you use. You deserve software that exhibits some key characteristics: 

1. A broad and ever-expanding ecosystem of integrations, including the cutting-edge technology that may transform your business, as well as the critical workflows on which you rely daily 
2. A set of technological capabilities that make it easy for other software companies, and for builders like yourself, to integrate data into a central platform 
3. Continued investment in that ecosystem and those tools 

Last week, we announced that Autodesk Construction Cloud now has over 200 partners who have built direct and seamless integrations with our applications via APIs and Partner Cards. Each one of these partners recognizes that linking data with Autodesk solutions helps customers build better.

What’s more, over 120 of these integrations now work with Autodesk Build, our new, comprehensive field and project management solution that unifies the best-in-class features from BIM 360 and PlanGrid with new capabilities such as cost and schedule management. In just the last few months, the partners listed at the bottom of this article have developed integrations to one or more Autodesk Construction Cloud applications. 

Here’s a little more about our partner ecosystem and integration capabilities: 

 

Autodesk’s robust ecosystem of easy-to-deploy integrations 

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Building and maintaining an ecosystem this expansive requires a solid technological foundation. Autodesk Construction Cloud built that foundation with three primary integration methods: Partner Cards, Forge APIs, and Autodesk Construction Cloud Connect.  

 

Partner Cards allow easy integration deployment and use 

Partner Cards provide another way for software applications to integrate with Autodesk Construction Cloud quickly and easily. Partners can embed their application’s interface in a tile within the Insight dashboard in Autodesk Build or the Project Home dashboard in BIM 360.

By selecting and adding these Partner Cards, which support technologies including reality capture, BI tools, workforce planning, and more, our customers create a command center within Autodesk Construction Cloud for their analytics and decision making to drive better, more timely results. 

 

Advanced APIs power critical construction workflows 

Through our Forge Platform, Autodesk has made robust, open APIs available to partners and customers. With the high quality and advanced capabilities of these APIs, enhanced by standardization across many Autodesk products and developer support provided by the dedicated Forge team, partners can confidently build integrations powering critical construction workflows.

hh2’s integration between Autodesk Build and Sage represents just one example as explained below. Partners have also built advanced integrations marrying BIM models to reality capture, tying jobsite activity to risk analytics, and more. 

New ERP and Accounting Integrations 

While our customers embrace new technologies such as drones, virtual reality, and advanced reality capture, they also understand the value of robust and reliable processes and workflows. With that in mind, we are excited that Autodesk Build’s Cost Management capabilities now integrate with leading construction ERP and accounting solutions.

For instance, hh2 Cloud Services’ integration between Autodesk Build and Sage 300 Construction and Real Estate demonstrates the value customers can realize when software tools collaborate. Now, customers can synchronize key financial data between their project management activities in Autodesk Build and their accounting system of record in Sage.

“With [hh2’s Universal Construction Model], Autodesk customers now get technology to make sure their key financial data flows swiftly and error free.” —Devon Dorrity, President & CEO of hh2 Cloud Services

“Financial information must be constantly up to date, no matter which software application you use,” said Devon Dorrity, President & CEO of hh2 Cloud Services. “hh2’s Universal Construction Model, or UCM, has already connected thousands of construction companies to the critical systems they need to manage their projects. With the UCM, Autodesk customers now get technology to make sure their key financial data flows swiftly and error free.” Learn more about how customers benefit from last week’s Autodesk University session featuring hh2. 

 

Autodesk Construction Cloud Connect gives customers ultimate control 

Autodesk Construction Cloud Connect, which itself leverages Forge APIs, democratizes integrations and gives the customer ultimate control over how their integrations work. The solution enables users to lay out their integration workflows in a flowchart-like interface, easily routing data and documents between Autodesk Construction Cloud and hundreds of pre-built connectors to common cloud software tools.

Early customers quickly deployed integrations to solutions such as cloud storage (e.g., Microsoft SharePoint, Box, and Egnyte) and analytics tools (e.g., Smartsheet and Microsoft Power BI). More recently, customers’ creativity and the platform’s flexibility have unlocked even more use cases. For instance, customers now synchronize change orders, purchase orders, and other financial data with QuickBooks Online while others create customized, automated alerts via Microsoft Teams, fostering even greater collaboration. 

 

Our continued investment in integration technology 

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Building and growing a strong ecosystem necessitates continued investments in capabilities, such as the ones mentioned above, and updates and enhancements to make developing more powerful integrations even easier. Since last year, Autodesk Construction Cloud has added APIs for many of the capabilities on Autodesk Build, including Assets, Forms, Locations, Photos and more. As additional APIs roll-out over time, customers and partners will undoubtedly create even more impressive and useful integrations. 

We have also continued to invest in Autodesk Construction Cloud Connect. Last week we announced the solution now supports Autodesk Takeoff. Customers can now automate the export of the details of their quantifications in Autodesk Takeoff and capture that information in other tools such as QuickBase, Smartsheet, and a variety of database applications.

Automating these data flows will help customers convert their takeoffs into estimates and budgets faster and more accurately than ever before. Customers could even setup automatic, periodic exports to spreadsheets and immediately distribute them to critical teammates via email or communication tools such as Microsoft Teams. 

In addition to developing new integration technology, we’re also investing in how we support our partners and customers. For instance, over the last year, we have created new training and enablement tools for Autodesk channel partners to teach them the advanced capabilities in Autodesk Construction Cloud Connect. Now several partners stand ready to help customers expand beyond simple and routine integrations to implementing highly advanced and specifically tailored workflows. 

 

Integrations that work for you 

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Because collaboration pervades construction, it pervades our approach to construction software. When it comes to integrations, we constantly strive to improve how we connect our solutions with other vendors’ solutions, and how we connect with those vendors. We work hard to enable collaboration by expanding our partner ecosystem, developing technology to support our integrations, and continuing to invest in both our ecosystem and that technology. We are eager to collaborate with project teams to deliver the valuable integrations enabling them to work best.

If there are integrations you need to make your business more efficient or you know software vendors you think Autodesk Construction Cloud should integrate with, please reach out to us via email at [email protected] and please encourage your other software vendors to join our ecosystem. 

 

Latest Integrations for Autodesk Construction Cloud 

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This is a list of our latest additions to our Integration Partner Ecosystem. If you’d like to see all 200+ integrations, we encourage you to explore them by category or product here.

 

3D Repo: Automatically import the latest 3D models from Autodesk Build, Autodesk Docs, or BIM 360 into 3D Repo via ACC Connect to easily identify and manage project risks.

Aespada: Manage on-site logistics directly in your Project Home dashboard with the Aespada Partner Card.

Airtable: Embed specific views from Airtable in the Airtable Partner Card, making it easier to track project information. 

Arkio: Easily import BIM 360 models into Arkio to collaboratively explore building spaces, markup existing Revit and Rhino models, and present design options in VR, on your computer, tablet, or phone. 

BIM Holoview: Construction teams can easily view 3d models and create BIM 360 Issues with photo attachments directly from BIM Holoview on HoloLens and Oculus Quest. 

Build.Works: Effectively manage production planning and execution in Build.Works by easily accessing 3D models stored in Autodesk Build, Autodesk Docs, or BIM 360. 

Cupix: Building teams can now use Cupix’s rich, 3D 360-degree site-view mode to “walk through” job sites remotely, creating RFIs, issues and tasks immediately and assigning them to project stakeholders on the BIM 360 and PlanGrid platforms. The Cupix integration imports 3D models from BIM 360 to compare to 360 images and pushes CupixWorks’ SiteView annotations to RFIs or Issues in BIM 360 and RFIs or Tasks in PlanGrid. 

DAQS: Embed Revit model quality and performance data from DAQS in an Autodesk Build or BIM 360 Project Home dashboard, showing project managers which project model requires their attention to meet requirements and deadlines. 

eFiler: Leverage eFiler, a Microsoft Outlook plugin, to file emails directly into Autodesk Docs or BIM 360. 

embneusys: Customers can add the embneusys Partner Card to easily monitor every piece of equipment – from simple generators to their fleets of excavators – on the job site, saving working hours in the field, minimizing downtime from idle equipment, and preventing miscommunications between site managers. 

Esri: Import 3D models from BIM 360 into ArcGIS GEOBim to easily collaborate on geospatial and BIM data together in one application. 

Google Workspace: With the Google Workspace Partner Card project members can display individual Sheets, Slides, Docs and Calendars from Google workspace. Customers can use multiple cards across different Google apps to create their perfect project dashboard in ACC. 

hh2 Cloud Services: hh2 delivers a seamless integration between Autodesk Build – Cost Management and Sage 300 CRE. 

Join: Improve preconstruction collaboration around financials and easily view cost trends and budget items via the Join Partner Card.

 

Novade: Novade’s construction management platform integrates multiple ways with Autodesk Construction Cloud: Easily import quality and safety inspections from Novade to BIM 360, and export BIM 360 drawings to Novade using ACC Connect. Embed Novade’s platform in your Project Home dashboard.

NTI: Seamlessly import Revit models from Autodesk Build, Autodesk Docs or BIM 360 Docs to NTI Connect to easily prepare specification documents for construction.

Oculo: Seamlessly create BIM 360 Issues directly from Oculo’s virtual job site walkthrough to provide full context and locality, and access Oculo 360-degree visuals from navigable floorplans embedded in your Project Home dashboard.

OpticVyu: Embed OpticVyu camera feeds & time-lapse videos alongside construction documentation in Autodesk Construction Cloud via the OpticVyu Partner Card.

ProNovos: Add the ProNovos Partner Card to view ProNovos construction intelligence KPIs such as efficiency, liquidity, and profitability ratios directly within Autodesk Construction Cloud. Data collected in the field or from project and financial apps such as FOUNDATION, Viewpoint or Sage is connected in ProNovos to provide project managers valuable insights to make well-informed decisions.

RealWear: RealWear has integrated its HMT-1 headset to Autodesk BIM 360 to enable voice-enabled, handsfree checklist completion.

Safe Site Check In: The Safe Site Check In Partner Card improves job site safety by providing a comprehensive overview of field personnel directly within an Autodesk Build or BIM 360 Project Home dashboard.

Shepherd: Seamlessly import project data from PlanGrid to streamline insurance applications in Shepherd.

SiteKick: With the new SiteKick Partner Card, project members can easily view job site imagery & environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity from SiteKick in an Autodesk Build or BIM 360 Project Home dashboard.

Stevenson Systems: View 360-Degree Virtual Walkthroughs in Autodesk Construction Cloud using the Stevenson Systems Partner Card.

StructShare: Improve productivity and cost management with field ordering, automated procurement and seamlessly viewing real-time material costs via the StructShare Partner Card.

Tomorrow.io: With the Tomorrow.io Partner Card project teams can view real-time weather data right in an Autodesk Build or BIM 360 Project Home dashboard.

UpKeep: Export as-builts from Autodesk Docs, Autodesk Build, BIM 360, or PlanGrid into UpKeep via ACC Connect for efficient maintenance management.

vGIS: vGIS absorbs Autodesk Docs and BIM 360 models and automatically produces AR and mixed reality visuals that are overlaid on the user’s view of a physical job site helping customers gain instant and comprehensive awareness of their surroundings, saving time and preventing costly mistakes and delays.

viAct: viAct powers any existing job-site camera with scenario-based AI technology to capture various non-compliances that can be viewed in Autodesk Construction Cloud via the viAct Partner Card.

WakeCap: With WakeCap’s IoT site solution, customers can easily add and manage their on-site workers, track progress, report on key performance indicators, and monitor safety in real-time to make informed personnel decisions from one place.

The post 200+ Powerful Integrations Built for Every Phase of Construction  appeared first on Digital Builder.

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