BIM saves you money

Rapperswil, September 22, 2022 / by Christoph Degendorfer Thanks to the acquisition of BIMSPOT, smino will soon have even more comprehensive BIM functions than are already available today.
This will help smino customers to manage their construction projects even more efficiently and cost-effectively.
This is a forward-looking step, because according to a study by the Center For Integrated Facilities Engineering at Stanford University, the reputation of BIM is actually very good.
Among other things, this study found that BIM can reduce construction costs by an estimated 10 percent of the contract value.
In addition, up to 40 percent of unbudgeted changes are eliminated.
This can reduce unforeseen costs.
But how do you really save with BIM?
Below we have listed seven ways in which BIM directly or indirectly saves money on projects, so you can get a clearer picture of specific cost-cutting features.

What is BIM?

BIM stands for Building Information Modeling.
It is a process in which various tools and technologies are used to manage and create a virtual 3D design of a building.
This digital process has a significant impact on the construction industry.
BIM can be very detailed, showing not only the outline of the building, but also all of its surfaces.
You can see everything – from the foundations of a building to the screws in the drywall.
BIM is used as a planning and collaboration tool to facilitate effective cooperation between everyone involved in a project.
However, the cost of BIM is a barrier to its adoption in the AEC industry.
In short, BIM allows you to build a building virtually and see it come to life even before construction begins.
However, it is not only used for the planning and design of a project.
It also helps with the construction, maintenance and even deconstruction of a project.
And here are 7 reasons how to save money on construction projects with BIM:

1. save time

There are usually many parties involved in a construction project, even in small to medium-sized projects.
Keeping all these parties informed and on the same page can be incredibly time consuming: Countless hours are spent answering queries and reporting all changes and developments.
Communication can also lead to misunderstandings and incorrect assumptions.
With BIM, everyone involved has access to the same information.
Stakeholders can update the information whenever they make changes or progress, and they can access the information they need anytime, anywhere by reviewing the detailed model.
Thanks to the freely accessible information, stakeholders no longer have to inform each other about progress and problems.
We all know that time is money, and BIM can save both.

2. improved project details

The advantages of BIM do not only relate to the simple exchange of information.
They also result from the level of detail of this information.
Thanks to BIM, construction workers can work with and exchange data on a previously unknown scale.
It can show the exact composition and model of the material used, as well as quantities and other information.
By considering these details in the early stages of the project, you can plan your project with the highest level of detail.
This eliminates the constant need to make decisions about minute details as the project progresses.
In this way, BIM ensures smooth project execution.
You can identify and avoid problems that could arise from these minor details in advance.
In addition, this precision is extremely reliable, allowing you to create better and more accurate cost estimates.
This means you can avoid over-ordering materials and save on costs.

3. collision control

BIM enables all parties involved to summarize their information in a detailed plan.
This makes it easier to identify and avoid potential internal or external conflicts – even before construction begins.
In addition, a good BIM platform such as bimspot, which is currently being integrated into smino, has clash detection functions.
These detect collisions that you may have overlooked.
If you then make changes to prevent these collisions, the changes are also checked for possible errors.
Automatic collision detection reduces or even eliminates costly and time-consuming last-minute change requests during the construction phase.
For example, it can be predicted that costly work that has already been carried out will have to be removed.
This can prevent construction work from having to be interrupted due to design changes.

4. improved cooperation

BIM promotes and facilitates collaboration between all parties involved from the start of the planning phase to the completion of the project.
The models allow everyone involved to share what they are planning to do and what they have already completed.
In addition, BIM allows everyone to be on the same page when it comes to developments and changes to the plan and its execution.
In this way, BIM enables efficient collaboration between all parties involved and reduces the risk of costly revisions, rework and delays.

5 Safer construction sites

One of the biggest advantages of BIM is that it increases safety on the construction site.
BIM carries out automatic risk analyses and safety checks.
In this way, potential hazards are identified before they arise.
BIM therefore enables you to make all the necessary changes for a safe construction site at an early stage.
This not only saves time and money, but also ensures that the construction site is safer for everyone.

6. improved scheduling

BIM works wonders when it comes to forecasting and keeping to the schedule.
It provides you with an accurate time estimate for the project.
This in turn helps you in forecasting and creating a realistic schedule for the project.
You can compare your working times with the estimated times and get an idea of how fast or slow your team is working.
BIM not only helps you to create a schedule, but also helps you to stick to it.
By simplifying communication and reducing setbacks, you can complete your project on time without any problems.
Staying on schedule will save you the additional labor costs that come with a delayed project.

7. improved pre-production

BIM increases the use of prefabrication by enabling very detailed planning of the project.
With these detailed plans, it becomes much easier to identify parts of the building that can be prefabricated and provide manufacturers with detailed plans of each part.
Prefabrication allows fabricators to build the parts off-site, reducing labor and material costs as well as construction time.

Conclusion

It is obvious that BIM has many advantages.
BIM saves money by improving scheduling, clash detection and collaboration.
Other cost-cutting features of BIM include increased use of pre-production, safer construction sites, improved project details and increased efficiency.