Implementing a new tech platform on live projects is no small task, especially in construction, where time is tight and conditions are unpredictable.
Over the past year, I’ve been using Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) across active civil and infrastructure projects. It hasn’t always been smooth sailing, but it has been transformational. From real-time visibility to simplified issue tracking, ACC has changed the way I work on site.
As someone closely involved in rolling out the platform, I’ve learned a lot, sometimes the hard way. This post is a personal reflection, not a company statement or sponsored piece. Just one practitioner’s experience using ACC in the field, with boots on the ground and plenty of lessons along the way.
Here are 12 key insights I hope will help you and your team make the most of your own Autodesk journey.
When you’re handed a powerful platform like Autodesk Construction Cloud, it’s tempting to dive into every feature at once and try to make big changes right away. But that approach can quickly lead to confusion, frustration, and slow progress, especially on a live project.
I’ll admit, I was overwhelmed at first by the number of modules and capabilities. So instead of trying to do it all, I focused on the essentials. For me, that meant starting with Document Management and building from there. Mastering one core function helped me gain confidence and laid the foundation to expand into other areas over time.
You don’t need to boil the ocean on day one. Start small, get the basics right, and grow from there.
It’s easy to go all-in on something new, a fresh workflow, a new platform, a bold initiative, only to lose momentum after a few weeks. Enthusiasm is great, but it’s consistency that drives real progress.
In my experience, the biggest wins with ACC didn’t come from exploring every advanced feature at once. They came from building simple, repeatable habits, logging RFIs, tracking issues, opening plans on-site and doing them consistently, every day.
Flashy features might catch attention, but it's the small, routine actions that deliver long-term value. Steady use beats short bursts of intensity, every time.
It’s easy to assume that digital tools will do all the heavy lifting and reduce the need for real-time conversations. I used to think the same. But I’ve learned that the right technology doesn’t replace collaboration, it enhances it.
When I first adopted ACC, I was concerned it might cut down on face-to-face time with the team. Instead, the opposite happened. Having live data and shared documents available during meetings made our conversations clearer, faster, and more focused. Less confusion. More alignment. Better decisions.
Autodesk didn’t replace collaboration, it created the conditions for better, more meaningful interactions that helped move the project forward.
Yes, ACC can be your single source of truth, but only if the whole team commits to using it consistently.
That means more than just uploading files. It’s about keeping documents current, updating statuses, and giving each other a nudge when things fall behind. It’s not automatic, it’s a culture you build together.
Having everything in one place is powerful, but that power only comes to life when the platform becomes the default for accessing and sharing project information. I’ve learned that setting clear protocols, encouraging consistent habits, and offering the occasional gentle reminder are key to keeping the system reliable and trusted.
The tech is ready, but it’s team discipline that makes it work.
Being able to access checklists, plans, and updates directly from the field changed everything.
I’ll admit, I underestimated how much of a difference mobile functionality would make. But once we started using ACC on phones and tablets, it quickly became clear: this wasn’t just about convenience, it was about, speed, autonomy, and accuracy.
With real-time access to project data, our teams weren’t stuck waiting on updates from the office. They could solve issues on the spot, track progress instantly, and reduce delays and rework.
It didn’t just make us faster. It made us more empowered.
Formal training provides a solid foundation, but the true learning unfolds through daily use and collaboration with your team.
While Autodesk offers excellent training programs and resources to help you get started, some of my most valuable insights came from simply asking colleagues, “How did you do that?”
I completed initial training sessions, but I quickly realised that the ongoing, practical experience gained by using ACC every day, and sharing tips with the team, was where the real education happened. Encouraging open knowledge-sharing and regularly exploring new features helped maintain momentum and deepen our collective understanding.
ACC makes project activities traceable and transparent. Having a clear audit trail, who approved what, and when, saved us significant time and eliminated ambiguity.
This level of transparency brought new confidence to site discussions and client meetings.
Initially, I focused only on tracking major items in the dashboards, which was helpful. However, I soon realised that monitoring smaller details, like the average time taken to close an issue, uncovered hidden bottlenecks we might otherwise have missed.
The key takeaway? Don’t overlook the small metrics. They often reveal patterns and inefficiencies that can have a major impact on overall project performance.
You know what they say: done is better than perfect. This lesson really hit home while setting up project templates and workflows in ACC.
At first, I spent a lot of time trying to perfect our templates before rolling them out. But I soon learned it’s more effective to start with “good enough” and refine based on real-world feedback.
Waiting for perfection only delayed the real benefits. Having a simple workflow in place from the start is important, but it’s equally crucial to leave room to adapt as teams grow and project demands change.
We made tweaks along the way, but our foundation stayed strong. That flexibility was key to maintaining momentum
Simply uploading paper-based forms into the cloud isn’t transformation, it’s just replication. The real gains came when we completely rethought our processes. ACC’s issue tracking didn’t just replace spreadsheets; it fundamentally improved how we coordinated.
At first, we weren’t using features like standardised checklists effectively. While implementing them seemed basic, I quickly realised how much consistency in quality control and safety checks boosted our outcomes.
So, when you implement a tool like ACC, focus on standardising those small, repeatable processes, because that’s where efficiency and reliability truly add up.
Whenever something felt clunky, I checked in with the team to find out what was slowing them down, and made adjustments accordingly. Even small wins, like clearer file naming or tweaking checklists, helped build buy-in. When people see their input matters, adoption naturally follows.
Not everyone embraced the new digital workflows right away, that’s completely normal. Resistance to change is common, and many people are set in their ways.
So, getting teams on board wasn’t about enforcing the tool; it was about showing its real, day-to-day value. With ACC, I learned that demonstrating “what’s in it for them” and offering ongoing support was far more effective than simply mandating usage.
I wasn’t a digital engineering expert when I started this journey, I simply saw an opportunity to improve how we worked.
You don’t need to know everything upfront; being curious, testing things out, and sharing what works is what counts.
At first, linking processes like RFIs from external systems directly to ACC felt complex. But instead of avoiding the challenge, I committed the time to get it right. That effort paid off, saving significant time and reducing errors down the line.
I didn’t get everything right from the start. Some things took longer than expected, and others I’m still figuring out.
But that’s okay. Progress beats perfection every time.
Over time, ACC has started shifting from being “the new tool” to simply “how we work” on y projects. After 12 months, I feel comfortable using it, yet I know there’s always more to learn. Watching the platform evolve reminds me that continuous learning is key to leveraging technology effectively.
This lesson extends beyond just ACC, it applies to construction as a whole. Staying competitive means adapting, improving, and embracing new ways of working.
My journey with Autodesk Construction Cloud is just beginning. The past year has brought valuable lessons, with much more to discover as the platform, and our workflows evolve.
I’m sharing this not as a flawless rollout, but as a reflection on real growth through trial, error, and learning. ACC helped me make better decisions, streamline processes, and improve collaboration, but the real change came from daily habits and teamwork on the ground.
If you’re starting your own ACC journey (or any digital tool), I hope these lessons help you move faster and smoother.
Thanks for reading. If this resonates, feel free to connect, I’m always happy to share insights and stories.
Here’s to another year of progress with ACC!
