Think you’re too small to turn to BIM?
Sweep this idea right out of your head. This revolutionary technology is by no means the prerogative of big businesses only. The only size that matters for BIM is the size of the motivation.
Let’s debunk a common misconception: no, BIM isn’t solely reserved for big businesses with a national reach and taking on major projects. In fact, medium to small organisations can also enjoy the advantages of Building Information Modeling.
The latter can even make the most of a significant advantage over big businesses: flexibility. It is in fact much easier to put a new working process in place within a small organisation. The limited number of players at the heart of the business ensures fluidity in the decision-making process, on the one hand, and limits the risk of errors on the other. The smaller the business, the more time you save for decision-making or circulating information.
Whatever the size of your business, a single condition still applies: motivation. The desire to fully commit is one of the few – if not the only – guaranties of success of a BIM project. Jumping on the BIM train requires an investment of money, certainly, but especially time to take shape.
If certain modestly sized businesses admit to being scared of the technological dimension and the cost of the investment, the BIM market offers lower cost solutions.
BIM&CO, for example, facilitates taking the first steps in BIM, offering a “Take Off” introduction package, including object modeling and tailored support. This first contact with BIM allows you to get a handle on it, understand the issues and get to know all of its benefits. And here are a few tips for starting out.
This will allow you to set up your teams, beginning with identifying a motivated person. The person who takes charge of the BIM in your business can come from the research and development office; prior knowledge of CAD is perfect for familiarising yourself with the tools and being BIM ready. They can then follow a 1st BIM project with your provider, use it to train with the right tools and then you’re good to go!
Once you’re on track, don’t hesitate to approach “BIMer” communities, especially on social networks or during the various trade fairs, in order to exchange ideas on the subject and glean, here and there, certain precious pieces of information that will allow you to sharpen your know-how and fill in certain gaps.
Once they are experienced in the use of BIM software, small and medium-sized enterprises will eventually be able to start to move into the territory of the big companies, and why not rub shoulders with them. Turning to BIM means equipping yourself with new “weapons” and thus strengthening your competitiveness on the market.
Size therefore shouldn’t be an obstacle to making the leap and embracing the BIM adventure, quite the opposite, since this can prove to be a mighty springboard to make your business grow going forwards.