Autodesk has a history of entering into partner relationships when it can in order to build out technologies. The joint partnership among Autodesk, eVolve MEP and GTP/Stratus came about because of a common focus – solving information sharing issues and enabling contractors to be more nimble. Together the three products represent a seamless workflow for contractors:
From the Revit model to eVolve MEP to GTP/Stratus. For instance, a Revit model of a hanger design goes through eVolve MEP to the shop and out to GTP/Stratus. That process, through the partner products, brings the last piece in the puzzle, moving the design to detailing and downstream to fabrication.
The technology partnership enables more effective visual communication and collaboration and allows contractors to accelerate their processes. It also was designed to challenge and improve existing workflows and help move the industry worldwide towards building information modeling (BIM). The cohesive and comprehensive solution makes it easier for CAD operators to migrate to BIM.
Over the past two decades, the adoption of BIM has been hindered by breaks in the old processes, which resulted in rework and bad information.
Conversely, this partner trio of products allows accurate, actionable information flow throughout the organization. The result is full material management logistics and fabrication processes. Customers get better estimating capabilities, streamlined digital fabrication, plus the ability to work and collaborate in the cloud. In short, accurate data is provided at the right time. Side product benefits include the BIM 360/Forge platform, so document management is better.
The MEP industry is ripe for innovation. In the current business climate, contractors must improve safety while still constrained by schedules, budgets and a skilled labor shortage. Research shows that the new 2020 safety requirements cut into productivity by 40%. As demand drives the industry forward, contractors are forced to do more with less. There’s a window of opportunity here. As Clay Smith has said about offsite prefabrication, “I don’t know how you’d keep up without it.” Standardization – processes that can be repeated – will be necessary in order to build the number of buildings we’ll need by the year 2050. The industry is moving, indeed it must move, in this direction.
To keep pace, some companies have been “app happy” and added multiple plug-ins to tweak their processes. They’ve either built them or bought them. However, the reality is, most managers would prefer to use as few products as possible to accomplish a project. With this Autodesk-eVolve MEP-GTP/Stratus partnership, those miscellaneous apps and plug-ins can now be replaced by integrating the three partners’ products. The result is processes that are less complicated and more streamlined.
Sometimes technology is developed for technology’s sake. However, this partnership provides technology for the industry’s sake – enabling a better quality of work life. The tools add value and move the industry forward every day.
This is a good time for the Autodesk-eVolve MEP-GTP/Stratus partnership. Construction is still operating. Contractors are busy. Because of the skilled labor shortage, they need to work better, faster and safer than ever before. There’s a desire in the industry for what can happen, and barriers to industry-wide change are coming down. These can be exciting times if you champion the innovation.
In episode 39 of the Bridging the Gap Podcast, I got to sit down for an exclusive interview with Clay Smith – CEO of eVolve MEP, Amanda Comunale – COO of GTP Services and Steve Butler – Sr. Industry Strategy Manager – MEP Design & Fabrication. Listen to our full conversation here.
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