How does Simplebim compared to other solutions?

Simplebim is a BIM data processing solution. The easiest way to understand its place in the BIM software market is to think about the data life cycle. There are wonderful tools for everything else in the BIM market, than automated, centralized and open data processing. This is Simplebim's purpose and position in the market.

Here are more detailed answers to question you might have about how Simplebim compares to other kind of BIM software.

You are already using a model checker, why do we need Simplebim?

Model checkers like Solibri, BIMCollab Zoom, Navisworks and many others are very good tools for design coordination, but not for data management. Trying to use model checkers to solve BIM data inconsistency issues leads to a distributed, slow and rigid BIM workflow. Check out the answers to the following questions to learn more: How does Simplebim enable the best possible BIM workflow?

Simplebim’s unique, centralized, and automated way of making data consistent, rich, and fit for purpose is the best available solution to manage BIM data consistency for downstream applications – including model checking and ITO (information takeoff). Our customers tell us that clash detection and information take-off work much better when the models are first enriched and standardized with Simplebim.

You are already using an IFC viewer, why do we need Simplebim?

You get the most benefits out of any viewer or BIM tool if the data is consistent, rich, and fit for purpose. Whether you are using Solibri, BIM Vision, Dalux viewer, or anything else. These viewers don’t make data consistent or rich, or fit for purpose. Simplebim does.

Using viewers, especially with inconsistent data, requires BIM expertise. The goal of Simplebim is to make BIM data valuable and available in a scalable way to any industry professional – especially for people who are not BIM experts.

You are already using Revit, why do we need Simplebim?

Revit, just like all the other model author tools, is very flexible. With it you can reach the same modelling end-result with very different techniques. Revit doesn’t force you to create the model in a specific way. As the result two Revit users can create two different kinds of Revit models. If you export them to IFC, they are different. If you try to use these same models in Autodesk’s ‘internal’ BIM workflow, they will still be different.

Using the same format for the data does not solve the data inconsistency issues. However, using an open format, like IFC, will give you more possibilities in downstream applications. Revit (and other model author tools) are very good for design, but for other functions there are a lot of other brilliant solutions out there.

Open BIM, IFC, allows you and your partner network to find and use the best possible tools for any given BIM usage. With Simplebim you make the models consistent and get the most out of them.

You are already using a model author tool, why do we need Simplebim?

Model author tools like Revit, ArchiCAD, Tekla, Allplan, and Vectorworks have been created to support design and design documentation. If you are a designer, then this of course, what you want. Using Simplebim together with your model author tools helps you to make your open BIM workflow consistent and efficient.

Model author tools are nowadays also marketed for other use cases than just design. Consider carefully if you want to use these expensive and complex tools for something they were not designed to do, for example, to support production.

Instead of using the native formats and building and maintaining your processes and automation rules for each format separately, open BIM is a superior way of working. Simplebim allows you to get the most out of it.

You are already using a project bank, data management or BIM cloud service, why do we need Simplebim?

Project banks like Dalux or BIM management platforms like Trimble Connect and Autodesk Construction Cloud are good in storing, versioning and sharing data, or for example managing user rights. The downside is that they are also garbage-in-garbage-out systems.

Implementing a rigid data governance policy, you need more than just data storage and managing complience and data security issues. You need also for example data checking and standardization.

These systems don’t make data consistent or rich or fit for purpose. You get most out of the models, when the data uploaded is consistent, rich and fit for purpose. With Simplebim you can make sure, that the models are. Simplebim is an open BIM solution. It is easy to integrate to these kinds of systems and platforms.

You are already using a construction management solution, why do we need Simplebim?

Most of the construction management solutions, like Procore, were created and still are concentrating managing document/drawing-based workflows. Nowadays they have BIM features, but they assume that the BIM data is already in perfect shape. They do not usually have good tools for making the data consistent, rich and fit for purpose like Simplebim does.

Simplebim fully supports the open BIM workflow. Using Simplebim alongside these systems gives you full control over BIM data and you get most out of BIM data. Not just in one project, but consistently in all your projects.

We are already using a BIM based quantity take-off solution, why do we need Simplebim?

BIM-based QTO is as good as the data you are using. Most of the BIM-based quantity take-off solutions like iTwo or CostX assume, that the data is already fit for purpose. By default, the BIM models are not. To get the most out of BIM-based QTO you need consistent, rich, and fit for purpose data. Not just in one project, but consistently in all your projects. These solutions don’t have tools for making the data consistent, rich, and fit for the purpose like Simplebim does.

Note also, that Simplebim has features like geometry-based quantity calculation, classification tools, and even the most innovative Excel connection in the market to support bill of quantities and bill of material workflows.

You already have BIM experts, why do we need Simplebim?

BIM is not and should not be just for BIM experts. The real value, the ultimate return of investment from BIM comes from large scale use.

If you want to scale the BIM benefits, then it is not enough that you have a couple of BIM experts working for you. Consider this: If you always need BIM experts to deliver BIM data in your projects, then how many projects can one person really handle? There is a multitude of use cases for BIM. How realistic is it, that one BIM expert can understand and handle all the diverse needs from all the different disciplines in your company?

BIM and BIM software does not make people supermen or women. The better workflow is to use Simplebim to make the data consistent, rich and fit for purpose in an automated and centralized way. After this, the data is so easy to use, that anyone can learn how to find the information they need. Even, and especially the non-BIM experts. Not just in one project, but consistently in all your projects.