Construction software as a competitive advantage: Leading the way through innovation

by Yannik Wegener | March 11th, 2024

The construction industry has undergone dramatic changes in recent years. One of the driving forces behind this transformation is the ongoing digitalization. In this age of technological innovation, construction software plays a crucial role in optimizing construction projects and increasing efficiency across the entire industry. From planning and construction management to communication and project management, software solutions have a significant impact on workflows and competitiveness worldwide. Learn in our blog post how innovative construction software is revolutionizing traditional construction methods.

Software solutions for the construction industry: For efficient construction management

PlanRadar, Planstack, Solibri, Bluebeam Revu, and planBIC are helpful software solutions for construction management, task management, model review, and digital plan management.

PlanRadar simplifies construction site management through a central platform with efficient task management, communication, and real-time access to project data. In the area of ​​digital construction management, Planstack introduces a user-friendly platform that focuses on process standardization and provides a customized customer portal. With a focus on model review and effective collaboration, Solibri relies on a central data platform for the early identification of potential problems. Bluebeam Revu offers comprehensive digital plan management, improves efficiency through annotation and highlighting tools, and enables location-independent collaboration via the cloud. As a newcomer to the industry, planBIC offers a collaborative Software-as-a-Service solution specializing in the automated completeness and quality check of construction project documentation.


PlanBIC provides a collaborative Software-as-a-Service solution specializing in the automated completeness and quality check of construction project documents. These software solutions not only simplify the organization and coordination of construction projects, but also increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve collaboration among all stakeholders. With features such as task management, real-time access, process standardization, model verification, and digital plan editing, they offer a holistic approach to the challenges of the construction industry. Companies in the construction sector benefit from the transparency, time savings, and improved communication processes made possible by the use of these software solutions. Below, we outline the opportunities presented by these digital solutions and the competitive advantage they can provide.

 

PlanRadar: Increased efficiency in construction site management through digital task management, communication & reporting

PlanRadar is an innovative SaaS platform specifically designed for construction site management, task management, and communication in construction and real estate projects. The software revolutionizes construction site management with a central platform that allows all project stakeholders easy access to and editing of shared data.

Task management in PlanRadar is a key feature, enabling the straightforward creation, assignment, and tracking of tasks. This functionality significantly increases efficiency in project organization. The integrated communication platform facilitates information exchange and collaboration among all project members.

Real-time access to project data is particularly noteworthy, allowing teams to improve quality, reduce costs, and complete work at an accelerated pace. This feature not only creates transparency but also enables rapid responses to changes and effective monitoring of construction progress.

PlanRadar’s flexibility is evident in its adaptability to different company sizes and processes, making the software a versatile solution for construction project management. Overall, PlanRadar simplifies the organization, coordination, and successful execution of construction projects.

Furthermore, the software increases efficiency in construction projects and real estate companies by simplifying daily activities and communication processes. The real-time access feature leads to significant time savings, while improved communication and collaboration contribute to substantial cost reductions. The platform offers added value to all stakeholders in the project lifecycle, helping to optimize workflows, save time and money, and improve communication and collaboration on construction sites and within real estate companies.

Planstack: Efficiently structuring the collaboration of all parties involved in a construction project

Planstack is a web application specializing in digital construction management. The software provides a central data platform for all project participants, enabling efficient collaboration.

Planstack’s goal is to make construction projects more efficient, organized, and productive by intelligently linking people and data. The construction software offers comprehensive support across all project phases and includes features such as task boards, a plan server and data room, warranty and defect management, digital sampling, special request management, electrical planning, and real-time chat.

Planstack’s user interface is intuitive and requires no lengthy training. Standardized processes enable fast and efficient handling of construction projects, resulting in significant time savings. The software provides a comprehensive overview of all tasks within the construction project and promotes efficient collaboration and communication. A personalized customer portal offers transparency throughout the entire process and improves communication, coordination, and documentation related to the construction project.

Planstack’s user interface is intuitive and requires no lengthy training. Planstack is particularly suitable for building owners, investors and public building owners who are looking for efficient and transparent collaboration in construction projects.

Solibri: Precise IFC model checks for optimized construction quality

Solibri, the construction software from Nemetschek, specializes in model verification and collaboration in the construction industry. The application provides a central data platform for all project participants, thereby promoting efficient collaboration. Based on the OPEN BIM concept, Solibri can import building and discipline-specific models from various BIM software products. The software identifies potential problems early on and supports their resolution to prevent later complications.

Solibri offers a wide range of functions, including quantity take-off, version comparisons, cost calculation, communication, regulatory compliance checks, clash detection, and quality control. The construction software checks not only quantitative but also qualitative aspects of building models, including details such as accessibility and optimally sized parking spaces.

The application is aimed at architects, civil engineers, planners, construction companies, public authorities, and agencies seeking efficient and transparent collaboration in construction projects. Solibri’s advantages lie in cost reduction, time savings, sustainability, minimization of control risks, and interoperability with various software products. Solibri thus contributes to making construction projects not only more efficient but also of higher quality and more sustainable.

Bluebeam Revu: Digital plan management for the construction industry

Bluebeam Revu is a comprehensive software solution, also part of the Nemetschek product portfolio, specializing in digital plan management and collaboration in the construction industry. The application enables the easy creation, editing, markup, and sharing of PDF documents, particularly construction plans and technical drawings.

Bluebeam Revu’s core functions include tools for annotating documents, highlighting details, taking measurements, and tracking changes. The seamless integration of markup changes into the planning process significantly improves the efficiency and accuracy of construction projects.

Another advantage of this construction software lies in the automated generation of reports and summaries from various documents, simplifying the documentation, review, and archiving of project data. Furthermore, the software supports location-independent collaboration through cloud computing, facilitating access to up-to-date project information for teams.

By using Bluebeam Revu, construction projects can transition from a paper-based environment to a digital workflow. This is not only about reducing environmental impact, but above all about increasing efficiency and collaboration. Construction software helps make the entire construction process more transparent, efficient, and cost-effective, and therefore becomes a valuable solution for companies in the construction industry.

PlanBIC: Automated completeness and quality check

Another software solution that takes a completely different approach is planBIC from thinkBIC. Our Software-as-a-Service solution, which focuses on the automated completeness and quality check of construction project documents, emphasizes collaborative work in the cloud. The planning software is based on a comprehensive platform where every project stakeholder has access to all relevant project data at any time. All documents can be uploaded quickly and easily to make them accessible to others, thus creating a unified data foundation for all participants.

Various checks can be performed on this database of construction project documents. Within the completeness check, the content of the uploaded documents is examined, analogous to the service phases of the German Fee Structure for Architects and Engineers (HOAI). This allows for a determination of whether the selected services of the respective service phase have been fully completed.

The quality check with planBIC can verify both DIN standards, such as building material classes, firewalls, or concrete properties, and guidelines, such as the ASR (Technical Rules for Workplaces). The system also supports checks specifically designed for BIM. These checks utilize the project’s IFC files, which can be verified for both validity and completeness. Users can utilize predefined rule sets based on standards such as Letters of Intent (LOIs), as well as custom checks that can be configured to meet their specific needs.

All checks culminate in a report detailing the results. Additionally, a high-performance IFC viewer is included, allowing direct display of uploaded models and eliminating the need to download and open files locally. A building permit application tool is also provided, offering assistance with completing the various building permit applications required by different German states.

All of this is complemented by collaborative features. For example, errors or other outstanding tasks can be addressed to the responsible parties using the task management tool. The task board clearly displays the current status of all project tasks, ensuring all project stakeholders remain informed.

Conclusion

The software solutions presented here represent digital innovation in the construction industry and offer comprehensive solutions to the challenges faced by construction companies and real estate developers. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, they revolutionize how construction projects are planned, coordinated, and executed. From improving project organization and increasing efficiency to fostering collaboration, these software solutions offer a holistic approach to the demanding requirements of the construction industry.

In summary, these software solutions contribute to transforming the construction industry by optimizing processes, reducing costs, and improving collaboration. By utilizing state-of-the-art technology, companies will be able to manage their projects more efficiently and successfully, ultimately contributing to the sustainable development of the construction industry.

Discover planBIC, a pioneering Software-as-a-Service solution that enables automated completeness and quality checks of construction project documents as well as collaborative working in the cloud. Revolutionieren Sie Ihre Bauprojekte durch effiziente Prüfungen.