From AI and machine learning to sensors and AR/VR, the construction industry has massively benefited from a large number of technological advancements over the years. But if there is one technology that has been the talk of the AEC industry lately, it is building information modeling (BIM). A 3D model-based process, BIM provides architecture, engineering, and construction professionals with the information and tools to efficiently plan, design, construct and manage buildings and other structures. Yet, there are a lot of misconceptions about BIM, and the most common one is that it is merely software, and is just about 3D models. While 3D designing and modeling are at the core of BIM, it would offer much more than that. BIM is a communication, management, and information tool that allows for sharing, collaborating, and versioning where paper drawing sets would not. BIM allows teams to seamlessly share project models and coordinate planning, thereby ensuring that all design stakeholders get an insight into the project.

However, not every firm has expertise in how to best leverage BIM and use it as a catalyst to improve productivity, increase offsite fabrication, and reduce rework. “This is where we come in,” says Connor Butler, managing principal, and co-founder of Relevate Lean Construction Consulting. An Arizona-based consulting company, Relevate offers innovative consulting services to owners, project teams, and contractors to help them transform the way they buy, manage, and coordinate construction.

With proven processes, tools, and experience in the most complex types of projects, the firm helps construction businesses re-engineer the way things get done and train teams for complete projects successfully. “We work in collaboration with each of our clients to precisely understand the unique challenges at hand and come up with effective strategies to help them address the problems using BIM,” adds Butler. Relevate’s foundation is built on the belief that there is a better way to build.

A common challenge in the construction industry is the delay in construction projects. The reason behind this issue is a lack of proper communication among the different teams on the worksite. The construction site is a dynamic environment, and sometimes changes—be it about the materials used or a specific part of the project—need to be made on the spot. More often than not, these changes aren’t conveyed to everyone impacted, and as a result this leads to delays, wasted efforts, and rework. Relevate’s team supports builders and contractors by defining a commercial strategy that aligns all parties involved with a common objective and is acceptable to the owner and contractor.

The process starts with Relevate’s team engaging with the client to effectively gather information on their goals for modeling. Following this, Relevate performs a complete assessment of the clients’ supply base and develops an implementation plan to meet their project targets within the capability of their partners. Then, through a proprietary chartering process, it helps contractors “integrate” the people involved in the project. When it comes to execution, Relevate leads the team through the project execution plan and gets them into the habit of plan-do-check-act continuous improvement. They provide the client with a document summarizing the goals, objectives, and communication methods that the project teams can use, the lean goals for the project, an active risk management process, and more. In such a holistic manner—by using a unique combination of lean construction tools, team building, cultural transformation, and stakeholder empowerment— Relevate ensures that a client’s project achieves the highest productivity standards and is delivered on time and budget.

Relevate’s client success rate is growing with every passing year, and they have their eyes on even bigger milestones. The company is on a mission to establish lasting relationships with its clients. “We view our customers as partners and hence, work with them hand-in-hand to deliver measurable results,” affirms Butler. With its client-centric approach, Relevate will continue to accelerate, focusingon innovation and support cutting-edge technologies to spearhead the next big trend.