BIM Growth in Construction: Putting Policy into Practice

BIM Growth in Construction: Putting Policy into Practice

If you’re an SME contractor or subcontractor, you’ll likely be responsible for incorporating Building Information Modelling into your projects as BIM growth in construction continues to soar. 

At Shft, we fully understand how the integration of BIM can be overwhelming. That’s why we take care of the heavy lifting, leveraging our BIM expertise, so you can focus on what you do best.

Recently, Shft co-founder Michelle had the pleasure of guesting on Paul Heming’s Own The Build podcast, the go-to show for industry professionals. In the episode, Michelle talks about the spread of BIM, how the construction industry has developed over the years, and how BIM consultancies help contractors, especially SMEs, start to impact their bottom line with BIM.

Read on for our top takeaways from this insightful conversation.

From niche to necessity: the journey of BIM’s growth in construction

Structuring information in a way that is secure, relevant, and shareable is no new concept. However, as new technologies come into play, digitising manual processes is critical in transforming any industry to keep up with the pace of an evolving and dynamic world. The construction industry is no exception. The growth of BIM in construction is evident in its widespread adoption. Particularly as a leading tool mandated in all public projects and required for many private ones.

The introduction of BIM as a dynamic and collaborative working process to gain efficiencies and increase project success is a game-changer. But this didn’t happen overnight. Immense effort went into strategising the idea, conceptualising the process, and producing frameworks that dictate the best way to implement BIM into project workflows.

If you’re looking for a broad definition of BIM, take a look at our blog post here to understand what Building Information Modelling really is.

Shfting the perspective: manual processes to digital transformation

Currently, more and more responsibility for implementing BIM is being passed down the supply chain and landing in the laps of contractors and, more importantly, their trades. We considered exactly this when creating Shft and choosing to specialise in Building Information Modelling. We seek to deliver BIM solutions for contractors and their trades to help them bridge this digital gap, and we are excited about contributing to the growth of BIM in construction. 

Often, our customers think of BIM as simply limited to 3D modelling and fail to see the bigger picture. At Shft, we emphasise that the scope of BIM goes far beyond 3D models. Rather, Building Information Modelling is about effective information management. While some view BIM integration as a checkbox for delivering a model, its true essence lies in the benefits derived through proper implementation. Contractors and subcontractors, as experts in their field, shouldn’t see BIM as a hindrance, but as a tool to enhance project outcomes. 

The key is to understand why BIM is necessary, implement it strategically, and not relegate it to a last-minute scramble, ensuring that the full advantages of BIM are evident throughout the project lifecycle.

Keen to understand what BIM can really do for your construction project? Check out our blog post here for an insight into how BIM can benefit contractors and subcontractor trades in construction.

Navigating the BIM journey: adoption and implementation

Realistically, integrating BIM into a company’s general workflow requires wholesale changes. Many SME contractors or subcontractors are not equipped to deal with the extra specialised work. This includes a lot of planning, upskilling, and investment to get it right.

What is the result? Technology that goes unused, wasted funds, discouraged staff, and disappointed business leaders. Not all construction companies are structured to allow for easy change or adoption of new working processes. This, however, doesn’t mean they can’t produce the goods and aren’t excellent at what they do. So why should they be left out of the running? They shouldn’t!

We believe that these companies are the cornerstone of BIM growth in construction. Without their commitment to BIM processes and their willingness to operate effectively in this environment by adopting new technologies, we are setting our industry up for failure and countering our collective ambition (and need) to leap into the digital age. It is only when the reverse is true that we can create an exciting future for construction, full of promising opportunities and growth for all.

Want to overcome the challenges of integrating BIM into your workflow and unlock its full potential for your business? Explore our in-depth analysis of ‘BIM Outsourcing versus In-House’ here to make an informed decision for your company.

If you want to learn more about BIM, or are a contractor looking to ‘Shft’ your BIM concerns, schedule a call with us today. We look forward to hearing from you: maketheshft.digital/contact#contact