Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology is now a staple of the construction industry, offering benefits to general contractors every day. As the technology evolves, these benefits continue to increase, helping contractors and subcontractors improve productivity and efficiency significantly.
The Benefits of BIM for Contractors
BIM technology, with its myriad functions and capabilities, has allowed general contractors to work with their subcontractors in a greater capacity, maximizing profits and efficiency as well as communication. The most significant benefits of BIM for contractors include the following:
- Improved Bid Accuracy: Most estimates for projects tend to be sorely inaccurate, often falling short of manual labor costs or materials when producing the final bid. With BIM technology, however, contractors can model the building and get a better sense of materials needed to get the project done. When combined with the skill of an estimator, the final bids produced by a BIM can end up saving a contractor substantially in subcontractor labor costs. The tool also makes the estimator’s job easier by counting project materials for the estimator, minimizing the chance for human error.
- Greater Managerial Efficiency: Construction management can be a monumental task, with endless opportunities for projects to get off track. Traditional management methods may fall short, resulting in the project taking longer than expected. Instead, general contractors need a tool to gain greater control and insight in the possibilities of the project. This is where BIM for general contractors comes into play. BIM technology allows contractors to compare multiple iterations of a model, enabling them to verify quantity change orders from subcontractors, as well as identify and prepare for potential changes that may need to happen over the course of the project.
- Improved Subcontractor Coordination: Coordination and communication with subcontractors is easier than ever with a quality BIM. BIM data integration with a construction project allows the contractor and subcontractors to visualize the progress of a project and communicate the schedule in a transparent manner. This helps the general contractor communicate with and coordinate subcontractors so the job can get done more quickly. With cloud-based mobile technology, subcontractors can see this information immediately and get to work.
Find Solutions with BuildingPoint Southeast
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