Reed Construction Data has been creating Revit objects (aka Smart BIM Objects) for over 3 years. Our goal is to establish Reed as the premier creator of Revit objects. We follow a 2 part concept for object creation:

Part #1: Our theory is that is it not logical for individual architectural and engineering firms to spend time creating objects and it would be more helpful for us to create the generic objects and distribute them for free. That way, firms can concentrate on architecture and engineering, not object building. You can get our generic objects on the Reed Internet site (www.smartbim.com), in the Reed Smart BIM Library, and on the Autodesk Seek site.

Part #2: Create Smart BIM Objects for Building Product Manufacturers (BPMs). This part of our concept is how we make money, both in the creation and the distribution of the Smart BIM Objects. Three years ago we started talking with BPM's about BIM and Revit and the response was to leave them alone. They had not heard of Revit, had no demand for Revit objects and had no budget for something that did not seem necessary. Two years ago they started to be interested in our story. Last year several BPMs signed contracts for Smart BIM Objects. This year the river is starting to flow, in the last quarter we have signed several new contracts as BPMs are starting to get regular requests from you for their objects. The success of this part of our concept is how you will have access to thousands of BPM objects anytime you need them.

While we have done a good job of marketing and selling our services, it is you — the architects and engineers - that has energized the movement. You are asking BPMs for Revit objects and BPMs know that if they do not provide the windows, elevators, and office systems that their competition will. They are realizing that BIM is going to be more important and take over faster than CAD replaced hand drawing. The first manufacturers to provide objects will see those objects in projects, even projects where the architect or engineer may have not used their brand before. I doubt if most AEC firms will spend hours creating a skylight model when they can pick one from a library, especially if the object is excellent and parametric so they can modify the object easily to fit their design needs.

I get calls and emails from architects and engineers asking us to push on BPMs to hurry up with the creation of objects. I assure you we are pushing, but I assure you your pushing will be much more effective. We just completed a project for a major BPM because a major architectural firm told them that if they did not have Revit objects available to place in their project model they would look elsewhere. Our sales cycle with this customer was completed in one phone call. This is the length of a sales cycle we really like.

Everyone involved in the design, construction and facilities management process wins when BPMs have their products available as BIM objects:

• Architects and engineers will have thousands of products that can be inserted into their projects
• BPMs increase their chance of being specified when they provide Smart BIM Objects that are well modeled and have data attached and associated that automate schedules and populate automated specification systems
• Contractors build off of documents and models that provide better and clearer information
• Facility managers will have access to the data and drawings that they need to really manage and maintain buildings and grounds
• Owners get better buildings for less money

BIM enables tools such as automated quantity take off to reduce counting down to minutes, and links to cost databases to provide pricing a few minutes later, in addition to green/sustainability analysis to provide more efficiently operated buildings. Overall construction errors and conflicts are dramatically reduced. If BIM is implemented correctly, architects and engineers could double their fees and owners would not balk as the return is 10 to 20 times this amount in reduced construction costs.

But, the longer it takes before we all have access to manufacturer-specific Smart BIM Objects the longer it will take for these great results. Take ten minutes to email the BPMs from which you need Revit objects. If every architect and engineer did this tomorrow, within a year you will have tens of thousands of Smart BIM Objects.

Thank you for your help.
Dennis