5 Ways to Make the Move from 2D to BIM Less Scary

Switching from 2D processes to 3D building information modeling (BIM) using Revit can seem like a daunting task to the companies that haven’t yet embarked on the journey. When they hear that BIM will change their business, they may not like the sound of that. The longer you have been doing business a certain way, the more attached you become to its processes.

In the industry, there are still basic misconceptions about BIM and how it should be implemented. Following are 5 ways to make the move from 2D to BIM less scary:

1.  Productivity – If you are concerned about a drop in productivity when implementing BIM, get help from your software reseller. A reputable reseller will be your partner in your transition and consult with your staff to make sure that your implementation goes well. It’s in a reseller’s best interest to have satisfied customers. Satisfied customers lead to more business. As you improve your company’s productivity, you will have satisfied customers as well, which can alleviate your fears about the value of BIM.
2.  Reduced Risk – With data collection using drones, 3D cameras and Internet of Things sensors, you can drastically reduce your risk on a project. This can translate to greater worker safety, lower insurance premiums and better schedule achievement. Higher profit for the company can result in lower fear.
3.  Workflows – There is no debate that BIM will disrupt your workflows – just as other innovations have done throughout history. That’s the point with BIM: to take inefficient, error-prone 2D workflows and revamp them into efficient, coordinated workflows with far fewer errors and much less rework.

4. Data – You’ve probably been hearing that you should be making use of the data that’s inherent in your projects . . . if only you knew how to do that. The answer is your BIM model. A 3D model is the way you can capture project data and put it to use. Not only can you run clash detection and structural studies, you can extract information about energy, lighting, natural resources, embodied carbon, resident comfort, and maintenance data for long-term facility operations.

5. Skills – With the newer generations of workers, most types of software, including Revit and other BIM applications, are assimilated fairly easily. Nonetheless, all staff members should have access to technical training to ensure they have the skills they need to be as efficient with the software as they can be. Time is a precious commodity, so the days of learning by trial and error should be long gone. Online and on-demand training courses are common in the marketplace. In addition, you can choose customized training to help your company distinguish itself with unique BIM specialties and abilities you can offer your customers. The more you know, the less you have to fear.

As technology advances, the common-sense strategy of using BIM on projects has become attractive to companies around the world. From productivity, reduced risk and better workflows to data use and improved technical skills, you’ll discover how the move from 2D to BIM can be less scary than you may have thought.

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