Want to begin your BIM journey but are unsure where to start? Our guide to BIM outsourcing will take you through it step-by-step: the basics, the selection process, how to work collaboratively in BIM and all the what points to look out for. For now, let’s go back to basics:
What is BIM?
At this point in time, everyone in the AEC industry has heard the word ‘BIM’. It’s been thrown around for projects from optimising small-scale buildings to aiding the construction of urban spaces, but what does it actually mean? ‘BIM’ stands for Building Information Modelling, however, it involves much more than just creating a 3D model in Autodesk Revit. It’s the process of setting-up, developing and managing information or a built asset. Using BIM allows for the creation of an all-encompassing digital representation of a project that can include risk factors, tolerances, sustainability metrics, material details or cost data. It helps teams collaborate on a large scale, co-ordinate between different disciplines and setup standards and workflows that optimise the design process. It is a well-orchestrated machine that all AEC members can contribute to and benefit from.
What's happening globally?
There is a strange dichotomy where on one hand, BIM is regarded as a critical tool for better project efficiency, while concurrently there is an industry-wide reluctance to implement it. According to a 2023 GlobalData* survey, people are investing or planning to invest in BIM but have been slow to include it in their day-to-day business. Out of all people interviewed: 54% invested already, 15% plan to invest in the near future and 45% see BIM as a focal point of building information. However, a staggering 65% reported using BIM in only 25% or fewer of their projects. The main reason seems to be a lack of training or availability of trained individuals. BIM outsourcing can help close that gap by providing the needed services for teams to implement BIM in a timely manner.
Although parts of the AEC industry have been relatively slow to adopt BIM, we might expect to see a shift towards greater BIM implementation in 2024. There are more and more digital tools available for designers as AI and virtual reality integration increases, which benefits projects. Utilising these new tools within BIM methodologies can drive innovation and advance project management and delivery.
*source As-is and as-built modeling: The benefits of mobile scanning for construction, World Construction Network article.
What is happening in the UK?
The United Kingdom has been an early adopter of BIM with the government setting out a BIM Construction Strategy in 2011 that required government-funded projects to achieve a BIM Level 2 by 2016. The strategy has since been superseded by the UK BIM Framework in 2019, which sets out an overall approach to BIM, focusing on integrating ISO 19650 into working practices. As a result, the UK has gained an advantage in BIM awareness over other countries, including the US. However, it’s interesting to see how all of this translates into the day-to-day habits of UK architecture and design companies. The statistics published by the NBS help paint the bigger picture:
23% of those ‘using’ BIM state that they do so on all projects and 46% do so for the majority of projects. For those who’ve adopted BIM, this approach is now part of their standard toolkit. Implementing BIM can require businesses to invest time and a step-change in workflows and processes. 51% of BIM adoptees say it made them more profitable and 71% say they’ve become more productive. Clients benefit too, with 74% of respondents reporting that using BIM delivers operational and maintenance savings. BIM also drives collaboration, aiding in smooth project management: 85% say BIM increases project coordination, beyond this it de-risks projects with 72% of BIM users stating there is a reduction in problems arising. It’s unsurprising, therefore, that almost 66% expect clients to insist on BIM.*
*Source: NBS 10th Annual BIM Report 2020
What are the challenges?
We train them, then they leave. Resistance to change. Expensive staff are absorbed by basic tasks.
Lack of construction experience, cost of training, rapidly changing environment
The main challenges to BIM adoption are lack of in-house expertise, training and cost persist. Despite the clear benefits for both users and clients, there are challenges to BIM adoption; lack of in-house expertise, training and cost persist. However, the number for each has dropped. Lack of expertise has fallen from 63% to 56%, training from 59% to 48%, and cost from 51% to 46%. More people are aware of BIM, what it means and which tasks are involved. The support network, standards, guidance and training programmes that have grown up around BIM would appear to be making a difference, as people’s knowledge has increased.* Lack of in-house expertise is listed here too as the main challenge when it comes to implementing BIM. By outsourcing to trained companies, practices can equip themselves with the needed resources without taking away team focus from daily projects.
*Source: NBS 10th Annual BIM Report 2020
Who can help me implement BIM?
We can clearly see from both global and UK statistics, that there is an overall desire to implement BIM across all areas of the AEC industry yet finding the optimal resources, personnel, and time to integrate BIM into practical workflows remains a challenge in day-to-day practice. That’s where support studios like the Sourcing Collective play a crucial role as an appointed party. They can not only help bring a project up-to-speed in BIM but also provide guidance to the internal team that might not have the necessary knowledge to develop BIM practices on their own. We like to repeat ourselves in saying we are an extension of your team. While we certainly help you meet deadlines, our goal is also to bolster your team’s confidence in BIM.
How do I get started? Should I use a BIM outsourcing team?
It’s always better to start early, and start small. We always recommend beginning with a trial project to first establish your goals with BIM and then identify the driving forces behind these goals. These might vary from increasing production speed to setting up a better project hierarchy, but regardless, we can pinpoint together the approach that best suits you and trajectory you wish to follow.
A BIM support studio will save you time, effort and most likely and stress. We have the answers to your questions and know where to find straightforward solutions. We are flexible and work collaboratively, efficiently, in a cloud environment that is not bound by time or location. While you determine our level of involvement, you can be confident that collaboration with the Sourcing Collective team will enhance your perspective on BIM.