Technology revolution is making construction suppliers abide by digital transformation and provide digital content for Building Information Modeling (BIM) models. Suppliers can provide digital support towards a co-designer and co-creator approach. With integration of construction information already during the design process, BIM can be achieved.

About Building Information Model

Building Information Modeling (BIM) involves access to a common platform containing digital planning of construction projects. All stakeholders involved in a construction project will have access to the data and therefore creating a connected working ecosystem among builders, suppliers, architects, engineers, and other stakeholders. The data platform offers a digital planning with details and adds in a greater collaboration between suppliers, designers and contractors. With collaboration, the workflow in the construction industry will be clearer, detailed, leading towards more efficiency.

BIM makes construction suppliers involved

BIM integrates information flows among multi-disciplinary teams and enhances project control.  An early involvement and discussions with project suppliers increases project performance as they become co-designers and co-creators in the whole project phase.The suppliers are not considered strategic by the contractors/consultants and are involved late in the project in the current traditional method giving rise to different clash at different point of time during the project.

Construction suppliers need to take the step forward in the technology era

Building materials suppliers will now need to make products compatible with the standards of leading BIM platform providers in their markets; digitise their catalogue (it does not have to include full detail at the start); develop new pricing models to enable cross-selling of materials and so of whole systems (selling should focus more on modularity including component compatibility); digitise their marketing for integration into BIM platforms.

Construction suppliers with BIM adaptabilities can be ahead of competitors

• Match players using BIM in the market – Suppliers using BIM technology will be able to match architects and engineers using BIM thus having an upper hand over those not using BIM. With the right product data in the appropriate format, the consideration for such suppliers will surely not be missed for projects. Construction suppliers with the traditional business model will surely be at threat in today’s technology evolution age.
• Lock product at an early stage – with the right product placement on BIM platforms, producers and suppliers can lock in product use into early design decisions. They will benefit over the long term because architects and engineers will reuse their preferred BIM-designed objects, such as a design for a facade.
• Availability of information for action taking– setting several options for the information management and visualisation within the BIM environment.
• Efficient material logistics – BIM embedded be details, material information can easily identify required products.  And if the contractor has already linked the BIM model to a schedule, it is even possible to provide the correct amount of material to the job site at the correct time. Logistics could even be extended beyond single items so that there are complete preassemblies (like façade elements, installation parts) sent to the job site.