Technology has undeniably improved operational efficiency across the construction industry. On one hand, teams can connect and collaborate more conveniently, thanks to cloud-based platforms. However, as construction companies rely on more and more advanced technology solutions that serve various teams and workflows, keeping them coordinated and in sync can prove difficult. When these solutions don’t talk to one another, it creates data silos and ultimately hinders productivity.
That's why it's important to establish an integration strategy for your construction tech stack. Apps and solutions that tightly integrate make data exchange between different platforms seamless, allowing them to interoperate more effectively.
Autodesk is committed to driving more efficiency and collaboration in the industry with deeper connections to technologies and teams. Today, over 290 partners have built direct integrations with Autodesk construction applications via APIs and Partner Cards.
We recognize that not all companies have the engineering resources or time to build custom integrations. This is where Autodesk Construction Cloud Connect (ACC Connect) comes in. ACC Connect – a robust, no-code platform that keeps your apps and data connected – helps you tailor integrations to your business and workflow needs, keeping your teams and projects connected and moving forward.
In this post, I’ll highlight some fundamental but transformative workflows you can improve with ACC Connect. Let's dig in!
Project data often lives in different places—from cloud-based software and hard drives to spreadsheets and emails. This creates project management challenges because separate systems often require teams to transfer data manually and perform additional admin work. There is also the matter of standardization; creating consistent naming conventions and data policies is difficult when your information exists in various places.
These issues can lead to project delays and additional costs. Manual data entry opens room for errors and duplicate data, while the lack of standardization creates confusion and inefficiencies.
Fortunately, you can overcome these hurdles by using ACC Connect to sync drawings, field reports, and documents in the cloud. With ACC Connect, project stakeholders can rest assured that their data is accurate and up to date. And since the information stays in sync, teams know that they can get the documents and information they need in the application they use most. ACC Connect lets you integrate files between cloud storage solutions and Autodesk Build, Autodesk Docs, BIM 360, or PlanGrid.
Here are some integrations that can enhance data storage in your organization.
SharePoint
SharePoint allows teams using Microsoft 365 to collaborate in the cloud. SharePoint makes creating, managing, and sharing files, data, news, and resources a breeze.
Egnyte
Egnyte is a hybrid (on-premises & cloud-based) content management solution that facilitates secure management and governance of critical content. Egnyte provides a range of capabilities—including file sharing, collaboration, data controls, privacy settings, and more.
Box
Box is a Cloud Content Management company that empowers enterprises to securely connect their people, information, and applications.
DropBox
Dropbox is a cloud storage solution equipped with features to help you save time, improve your productivity, and collaborate with others.
Project managers and project engineers have their work cut out for them. If you're in these roles, you're in charge of keeping stakeholders informed, documenting field activities, and overseeing the progress of a project as it moves from one phase to the next.
This is particularly challenging in construction because jobs often involve large teams who perform work using various applications. It's difficult to stay on top of various project components—like deliverables, changes, and status updates—with files and communications scattered across different programs.
Implementing interoperable workflows allows architects, engineers, and contractors to work better together and overcome these challenges.
For instance, you can connect your construction management platform with another work management or tracking system. In doing so, you ensure that data automatically syncs between the applications, making it easy to keep all relevant stakeholders in the loop.
Consider the following integrations:
Smartsheet
Smartsheet allows teams to collaborate and manage projects with ease. Key capabilities include team collaboration, workflow automation, and process management, among many others.
With ACC Connect, teams can synchronize critical project information such as Issues (with photo attachments), Field Reports, RFIs, and more between Smartsheet and Autodesk Build, BIM 360, or PlanGrid.
That's what Canam, North America's largest fabricator of structural steel components, did when they implemented Autodesk Build. With assistance from Integration Solutions Engineers at Autodesk, Canam built custom workflows in ACC Connect to sync Autodesk Build Issues with rows in Smartsheet. Leveraging these solutions allowed Canam to involve its engineering teams in its manufacturing and construction processes. Now the firm's engineers and detailers can optimize designs to reduce waste and improve project certainty—while boosting productivity in the process.
Asana
Another handy project management tool, Asana, empowers teams to share project details, send updates, and track deliverables. The software makes progress tracking effortless, so you can ensure that teams stay on track. Like the Smartsheet integration, ACC Connect allows you to synchronize project Issues, Field Reports, RFIs, and more between Asana and Autodesk Build, BIM 360, or PlanGrid.
Getting your legal ducks in a row is paramount in construction, which is why it is important to have robust contract management workflows.
Being disorganized with your paperwork can lead to missing documents and mistakes. Moreover, poor contract workflows make it difficult for legal teams to audit projects, which can introduce all sorts of risks and liabilities.
To improve your workflows, use ACC Connect to integrate your construction platform with your contract management system. That way, you can send documents that require signatures right from Autodesk Construction Cloud. In addition, ACC Connect can automatically attach signed copies to cost contracts, making them easier to track.
All of the above leads to improved data visibility and less risk, so project teams can carry on knowing they are legally covered.
Through ACC Connect, teams can automatically send contracts or change orders from Autodesk Build, BIM 360 for signing via e-signature tools such as DocuSign, Adobe Sign, or Dropbox Sign to drive consistency and save time. The integration then uploads the signed document back into the cost contract as an attachment to the contract automatically.
Let’s take a closer look at these integrations.
DocuSign
DocuSign’s contract management and e-signature solution allow teams to send and sign contracts digitally so that projects can move forward faster.
Adobe Sign
Adobe Sign allows project teams to send documents for e-signature on mobile or desktop.
Dropbox Sign
Dropbox Sign lets you prepare, send, sign, and track agreements in the cloud, reducing the need for tedious paperwork.
The first step to improving team performance is to track it. Project teams need visibility into current performance to identify areas of improvement and correct course sooner rather than later. Conversely, teams who can't understand their performance miss the opportunity to take corrective action to bring their productivity back in line with estimated performance.
You can avoid these issues with the proper performance tracking workflows. ACC Connect syncs information from various applications, making it easy to surface real-time cost, labor, and productivity data.
Giving teams access to this information helps them visualize their progress against the estimate, so they can understand challenges to provide the appropriate means and methods to get their scope back on track.
Here are ACC Connect integrations that enable better performance tracking.
Rhumbix
Rhumbix allows you to track key jobsite metrics and assets—including time usage, labor, equipment, and materials. Capture data from anywhere and gain real-time insights into your project performance.
Rhumbix and Autodesk Construction Cloud leverage ACC Connect to capture installed units and quantities in the field and push the associated data to Autodesk Build’s Performance Tracking. With ACC Connect, effortlessly associate detailed time against critical labor, cost codes, and equipment, centralize reporting across crews and projects to get real-time insights, and push time and quantities into Performance Tracking.
QuickBooks Time
QuickBooks Time's cloud-based software makes time tracking simple, no matter where you are. Clock in and out with a tap of a button and use the mobile app to track, submit, and approve employee time from anywhere.
Connecting QuickBooks Time to Autodesk lets you integrate timekeeping to Autodesk Build Performance Tracking to determine if teams are making the best use of their time and if projects are on track.
ClickUp
ClickUp comes with a wide range of capabilities to streamline project management. Teams can oversee, track, and manage projects using ClickUp's platform, which includes features like tasks, dashboards, and goal tracking.
To get a better handle on team performance, integrate ClickUp with Autodesk Build Performance tracking to view tasks and project progress and gain insights into how your team is doing.
Cloud-based apps are remarkable, but you can get even more value from them by ensuring that the solutions you're using are tightly connected. ACC Connect makes app integrations easier, so you can run more efficient workflows that save time and reduce friction. Check out ACC Connect today!
