‘When in Rome, . . .’ Close to being the norm, most American AEC firms are now using BIM software extensively. According to a survey by the American Institute of Architects, all large architectural firms and more than a third of small firms use BIM for billable work. As a BIM-enabled software, Revit is thus gaining traction rapidly. However, change is not always easy. Sometimes, CAD-experienced professionals need to be dragged kicking and screaming onto the Revit bandwagon for homebuilding design development. Investment in training and hardware may be inevitable, and there may be a need for changes in actual business processes. Not exactly pleasant.

How can US firms move from CAD design services to Revit-based designing more easily?

First, what does such a move entail?

Some may favour just diving right in by training the entire staff. Others may have to pick and choose who to train and who not to. Switching to Revit successfully can affect workflows, staffing and efficiency.

There is always the danger of difficulties if the transition to Revit from CAD is executed poorly, so:

Understand Its Benefits

Firms must fully comprehend and communicate the benefits of BIM to their teams, benefits such as:

Estimate Startup Costs

For a firm that does not have the required infrastructure to support BIM, the up-front cost may be potentially expensive.

Invest in Training

Develop Standards

Implementing Revit-based designing requires a steep learning curve, and in-house teams will need to adjust to new standards and workflows. So, there’s clearly an upheaval of sorts involved.

To make the transition easier, US firms can opt for a strategic partnership with offshore resources.

Offshoring Revit-based Designing

Established offshore partners can provide specific and well-qualified technical expertise in Revit-based services. By outsourcing specific Revit services, such as residential design drawings, residential construction drawings, residential design development sets and other construction development sets, US firms can redirect their time, focus and resources to generate income, while saving operational and labour costs.

An effective outsourcing partner will have:

Experience

Experienced outsourced companies will have portfolios and testimonials to indicate the company’s product knowledge and professionalism.

Expertise

An expert offshore CAD team will also be adept at using Revit and able to deliver design requirements, including high-quality DD and CD sets.

Flexibility

Operating through different time zones, the outsourced partner will have sound communication options and business models while adapting to the required business structure, schedules and processes. An effective partner will offer a range of services and be flexible in their delivery.

Clear Communication

Ideal outsourced partners will be conversant with the business requirements and have good language skills for ease in communication and to produce accurate services.

Technological Collaboration

Trusted outsourcing partners will use collaborative online working tools to provide access to its progress and activity on projects. In addition, these outsourcing firms will be keen on using new technology, such as artificial intelligence (AI) tools, to both speed up work and improve quality. This way, US firms can benefit from technology without investing time and effort into the technological advancements in the industry.

High Quality

Well-known and established international quality credentials and a clear, detailed Service Level Agreement (SLA) stating the scope of work and process flows with quality assurance will ensure that the outsourced partner delivers high-quality output.

Revit Expertise

Foolproof features of an effective Revit partner include:

When a US firm locates the right outsourcing Revit partner, business and profits are bound to improve. Outsourcing Revit services will take care of most of the challenges of moving from 3D CAD modelling services and other CAD services to Revit-based designing and ensure high levels of technical expertise for a range of services that are delivered on schedule, despite changing requirements.