Global economies depend heavily on the construction industry, which has laid much of the infrastructure that is essential to our daily lives — from buildings to roadways and beyond.
But construction projects are notorious for budget overruns and missed deadlines.
Construction projects are extremely complex, with a lot of moving parts. Any mishaps can lead to projects costing more and finishing later than expected.
So how can you manage construction schedules and streamline communications?
This is where Building Information Modeling (BIM) software comes in — a tool for planning and managing construction projects.
Here we’ll take a closer look at what BIM software is, the benefits it offers, and the features you should look out for.
What is BIM software?
Building Information Modeling (BIM) software is a visualization tool that helps with planning and managing construction projects. It’s widely used in the architecture and construction industries to create 3D models of buildings and infrastructure.
BIM software is essentially AutoCAD on steroids. It visualizes all physical and functional building components, allowing stakeholders to “see” and plan the building before any construction starts.
Note that BIM software isn’t strictly limited to 3D modeling and designing. It brings together all aspects of a construction project into one place, facilitating collaboration between all teams involved.
It comes with features that let you:
- Centralize document management
- Design and visualize a 3D model
- Create automated reports on all workflows
- Manage and track resources
- Monitor and manage construction costs
- Detect and resolve clashes
BIM software is a valuable tool as it increases visibility into ongoing construction projects. It also allows for more streamlined planning and better resource management.
For these reasons, more organizations are now turning to building information modeling software.
In 2011, 43% of respondents hadn’t even heard of BIM! But as of 2020, a BIM report shows adoption rates at 73% among those surveyed.
Now let’s take a closer look at the benefits of BIM software and why more organizations are turning to these tools to manage ongoing projects.
What are the benefits of BIM software?
Deciding to implement any kind of software isn’t something that comes lightly. Especially when it means having to make sweeping changes across the entire organization.
But putting off solutions like BIM software means missing out on opportunities to streamline the construction process and make operations more efficient.
Here’s a look at the benefits of using BIM software.
Improves productivity
Construction workers spend 35% of their time on non-productive tasks, like searching for project information and fixing mistakes.
This equates to over 14 hours per week — time that your project team could spend more productively elsewhere.
BMI software like monday.com organizes everything in one place. Construction teams can see the latest data and know exactly what each person is responsible for.
Instead of running back and forth to the trailer to search for project information, workers can quickly pull up the information they need and get on with their work.
Depending on the software solution you use, you can track projects in real-time and add automations to streamline the BIM process. This ensures nothing falls through the cracks.
Facilitates collaboration
Effective communication is a must for any construction project. But coordinating schedules and resources is by no means easy, as it requires careful planning.
In one survey, 70% of construction professionals said that poor job site coordination led to projects going over budget or past deadlines.
The result of poor coordination on construction sites?
Wasted time and money.
Everyone on the construction team needs to be on the same page. Miscommunication can not only delay projects, but can also result in internal conflicts and employee dissatisfaction.
The right BMI software solution helps teams collaborate more effectively. Contractors can easily provide real-time status updates and manage their schedules, whether they’re on-site or on the go.
Reduces rework and errors
Projects frequently go over budget and past deadlines because of rework — fixing work that wasn’t done right the first time.
If something wasn’t laid properly, you would need to send someone over to fix it. This can delay projects even further, as construction may not be able to progress until the issue is fixed.
52% of rework is caused by poor project management and miscommunication. This can occur when teams operate in silos or work from outdated instructions.
You probably know what’s coming next.
Using BIM software like monday.com helps reduce rework and costly errors. Those involved in a project can pull up the information they need beforehand to ensure they’re following the right instructions.
Reducing rework improves overall efficiency, which means construction projects are more likely to finish on time.Detects and resolves clashes
Clashes are problematic on construction sites.
A common example is a hard clash — when 2 objects collide with each other or share the same place. This could be an air-conditioning duct passing through a load-bearing wall.
Not good.
Depending on what you use, some BMI software offer clash detection and send alerts if there are any problems. Fixing any design clashes now will save you a world of headache later.
BMI software like monday.com can prevent other types of clashes, like scheduling conflicts.
For example, some tasks on a construction site can’t start until others are complete (e.g., you can’t paint a wall until after the plaster is dry).
These are called task dependencies — tasks that can’t start until a related task is either finished or started.
BIM software with a Gantt view — like what you see in the image above — gives you a visual representation of your projects. It also makes it easier to coordinate schedules and prevent any clashes before the construction process starts.
Helps with budgets and cost estimates
Budgets are extremely important for any building project. Budgets help you estimate construction costs and keep spending under control.
With BIM software like monday.com, you can track and update budgets in real-time. You can also see a complete breakdown of all expenditures in one place, allowing you to make informed decisions about spending.
Needless to say, building information modeling software is a useful tool, and there’s a lot you can do with it. Now, let’s look at some of the features a BIM tool should have.
9 essential features to look for when choosing BIM software
BIM software comes in different shapes and sizes. More choice is a good thing, but it can also make choosing the right one more daunting.
When deciding on BIM software to choose, be sure it has all the following features:
- Intuitive interface
- Customizable templates
- Multiple board views
- Project scheduling
- Real-time collaboration
- Resource management
- Automations
- Mobile support
- Real-time reporting
Let’s look at each of these in more detail, so you can make an informed decision.
1. Intuitive interface
Construction teams will be less compelled to use a software solution if it’s too complex. For this reason, BIM software with an intuitive interface is a must.
monday.com’s Work OS platform is so easy to use that you, and anyone really, can get started in a matter of minutes. The software features a clean and engaging interface.
Construction project managers can see everything they need at a glance, including the status of ongoing projects and more.
2. Customizable templates
As a construction project manager, you have a lot of responsibilities, from coordinating schedules to estimating costs and managing resources.
To save time, look for a BIM solution that includes ready-made templates. This will allow you to kick off a new project right away, instead of creating one from scratch.
On monday.com, you’ll find a wide selection of templates that are ready to go.
Plus, our templates are fully customizable, so you can add or remove whatever you want to fit your specific needs.
3. Multiple board views
BIM software that offers multiple views is another must. Some team members may prefer to visualize their work in different ways.
monday.com offers different views for every board, including Gantt charts, Kanban boards, calendar views, and more.
Here’s an example of a Gantt chart that displays a visual timeline of all tasks:
This view lets you view task dependencies and track project progress. If you need to move a task, you can simply drag it around, and the rest will update.
4. Project scheduling
Project scheduling is one of the most important functions of a BMI solution.
Scheduling plays a vital role in any construction project. It includes assigning tasks to individual team members and setting clear start and end dates.
Construction projects are extremely complex, with a lot of interdependent tasks. So, you’ll want to look for software that makes it easy to create schedules.
monday.com’s construction schedule template makes it easy to assign tasks and track statuses in real-time across a visual timeline.
You can view construction schedules and other key details at a glance.
5. Real-time collaboration
Collaboration features are a must. Any miscommunication is likely to delay the construction process and result in rework.
Look for BMI software that facilitates real-time collaboration. This allows those in the field and office to communicate and clarify details when needed.
With monday.com, teams can communicate directly on the board — no need to switch between different applications.
Using this feature greatly cuts down on lengthy — and often unnecessary — meetings.
6. Resource management
Effective resource management is key to keeping projects on schedule and within budget — not an easy feat when you’re managing multiple projects.
Choose BMI software that lets you plan and manage available resources. This will allow you to use resources in the most efficient way possible.
As a construction project manager, you likely manage a team of subcontractors. monday.com lets you quickly see who is over or under capacity.
With this information, you can assign subcontractors to the right tasks and ensure they have the capacity to finish them on time.
7. Automations
38% of workers say they could save up to 5 hours each week by automating repetitive tasks.
Be on the lookout for BMI software that includes built-in automations. These should also be easy to set up without requiring any coding or technical know-how.
monday.com has just the thing with our low-code and no-code automations. Whether it’s changing the status of a task and sending reminders or setting up dependencies, setting up automations is easy to do.
We have a range of pre-made automations available. But you can also build your own custom automations.
8. Mobile support
These days, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone without a smartphone. It goes without saying that the BIM solution you choose should offer mobile apps.
monday.com offers native apps for iOS and Android devices, enabling teams to access the information they need no matter where they are.
Whether you’re a project manager, an architect, or another professional in the construction sector, our mobile apps help you work more productively.
But don’t take our word for it, though.
Falkbuilt is a company based in Calgary, Alberta, that went from 0 to $1.3 million in interior construction projects using monday.com.
Here’s what Allie Swindlehurst, Operations Manager at Falkbuilt, says about our mobile app:
“The monday.com mobile app gives our technicians on raw construction sites instant access to the project information they need and makes connecting with the team at HQ easy.”
You’ll find our mobile app just as easy to use as our browser version.
9. Real-time reporting
Another must-have feature is the ability to generate real-time reports. This way, you’ll be able to make key decisions about schedules and resources.
Dashboards in monday.com make it easy to display the information that’s important for you at a glance. What’s more, you can choose 15 different widgets that you can add to your dashboard.
The dashboards are also updated in real-time, so you can view the status of a building project and see the latest updates.
Take your construction business further with the right BIM solution
Construction delays and cost overruns are almost the norm in the construction sector. It’s rare for projects to finish on time and within budget.
Building information modeling helps you plan and manage construction projects at every stage. But you need the right BIM software solution to improve productivity and drive better outcomes.
If you’re looking for a BIM tool that has all the essential features as detailed above, then look no further than monday.com.
Get started today with our construction management template.
You can coordinate schedules, assign tasks, manage resources, and much more. The template is also fully customizable, so you can modify it exactly how you see fit.
Get started