‘Cloud Sourcing’ – Facts and Misconceptions about Digital Transformation and BIM
This week at #AU2023, I had the pleasure of joining a panel that examined digital transformation and BIM2.0. Organized by Snaptrude’s CEO, Altaf Ganihar, the Cloud First Design and BIM Solution panel explored innovative approaches for architects and engineers to enhance their use of BIM. I enjoyed the lively conversation and rich discussion with Snaptrude’s Briton Langdon, Alain Waha of Buro Happold and Nick Cameron of Perkins+Will.
Here are seven key themes from the panel discussion:
1. What is the cost of transformation? How do you know?
Digital transformation is considered too costly, mainly because most firms have not seen enough demonstrated value from the BIM2.0 early adopters and first movers. This is classic ‘Crossing the Chasm’ market behavior, where the majority of the market is waiting to see the material benefits that firms that took more risk were able to accrue. Of course, those who transform early gain first-mover advantage and the opportunity to emerge as the next set of industry leaders.
2. The inflexibility of Legacy Systems
Most firms have invested heavily in BIM systems and infrastructure over the last 15 years. While not totally outdated, these systems are annoyingly inflexible, and not easily compatible with many of the new cloud first digital technologies emerging in the market. Migrating to new digital solutions is a complex, expensive, and time-consuming process. Everyone on the panel is attempting change, but clearly this is not easy.
3. NIMBY-ism meets transformation
How often do we hear people in a firm say they are Pro-Change and Pro-Transformation, only to dig their heels in about their own processes and instead advocate for change in areas outside their own? Alain shared that employees resist change due to fear of the unknown. If they don’t understand the benefits of digital transformation to their own personal situation, they almost always will act to maintain the status quo. Overcoming this resistance is not as easy as just giving lip service to becoming a BIM2.0 firm. It requires leadership, skills training, and strategic clarity to bring the whole firm along in the effort to achieve that goal.
4. Today’s solutions need bridges, not moats
Integrating new digital systems with existing ones is challenging. Historically, software providers have not focused on solving this conundrum, preferring instead to build moats around their own ecosystem of software tools. Recently, often through frustration, it’s has been the AEC firms that have led the charge. Finally we see Autodesk and others accepting the plain fact that, without a federated technology stack where an AEC firm can leverage best in class capabilities from different software providers, transformation towards BIM2.0 is probably not going to happen and everybody loses.
5. Is AI the spark, or the wildfire?
The adoption of AI is exciting and frightening firms in equal measure. Most firms think AI is going to spark transformational change, but they hesitate to share their data with the rest of the industry. New AI solutions depend on the collection and processing of large amounts of data across the industry. Firms are concerned that their best-practices and important IP may be at risk. These concerns create friction on the process of transformation. The software industry as a whole needs to be considerably better in both educating and ensuring that creating new AI capabilities will not threaten a firm’s differentiated business capabilities.
6. Measuring the future not the past
A recurring subject of conversation on this panel and during Autodesk University was the subject of ‘Key Metrics’. The panel agreed that how we keep score during change is probably as important as anything else. Most of our current technology stack has focused on digitally improving the decades (maybe centuries) old processes AEC firms have used to measure and track progress during a contract. With the advent of machine learning solutions that continually source data live from new systems and IOT sensor fabrics, our ability to move beyond measuring what happened towards what is happening and what will happen will change what we measure and why.
7. The stakes are high on making the right tech choice
With the advent of tools such as ChatGPT, the pace of technological change is becoming intimidating, and keeping up with the latest advancements in design and collaboration tools can be challenging. Organizations may find it difficult to choose the right technologies that will provide long-term value and stay relevant over time. Making a wrong choice while at the same time that the means, methods and technology capabilities are changing so quickly could be disastrous! In addition, adapting digital processes while ensuring compliance with industry regulation can be a delicate balancing act.
Successful digital transformation in any industry requires strong leadership and a clear vision. When it comes to fully adopting BIM2.0 strategies, Alain, Nick, Briton, Altaf and I all agreed that well-executed change is essential. Without clearly agreeing on what a firm is trying to achieve, defining success in clear terms, and reliably measuring that progress, initiatives will continue to falter.
What are you bringing back from AU to implement at your firm? Let us know at info@skema.ai