BuildSite News

Construction Will Never Go Paperless

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Loftus) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 23:27:00 +0000

A lively discussion has been taking place in the Construction Professionals Forum on LinkedIn regarding the future of iPads in construction. The discussion thread titled "How Tablets Will Transform Construction" highlights many of the challenges our industry faces, not just in using iPads, but in going paperless.

In jest I have titled this blog post "Construction Will Never Go Paperless." But at times the challenges to an electronic system feel insurmountable: fragmented technologies, limited resources to invest in new technology, and, well, technophobia. Read on for excerpts from the discussion thread:

"[I]n regards to electronic submittals and shop drawings it seems like the first thing I see people doing is turning around and hitting print to have a hard copy to review."*

There is a tendency among construction industry professionals to be tactile. Often that means printing documents for review and annotation, even if they are received electronically. Also, drawings are printed on large pieces of paper for a reason. There is an incredible amount of information to take in at once. But just as maps are migrating online, technologies that digitalize drawings have the potential to provide more information than a 2-dimensional drawing can capture.

"[T]hese devices require deep pockets."*

Construction teams are not often granted big technology budgets. Despite the fact that technology will often provide immediate returns, teams don't feel they can justify the expense.

"I think [the iPad] has it's place and on a job site isn't one of them. There will be communications of private nature's going on... Thats the same as allowing staff to use their cell phones or pc's for personal usage..."*

To those who think tablets will lead contractors wasting time on the job doing personal tasks,

"They said they same thing about the Internet in the work place. We can receive emails in the field from suppliers or project managers we can troubleshoot electrified hardware that's failed... The money we save in one year alone pays for the four [tablets] that we purchased." - Darren Patton, FDAI,CSI,CDT

Fortunately, there are voices in the industry that recognize the value of investing in technology and enabling better communication in the field.

But at times, it feels we as an industry have a long way to go...

*Quotes have been anonymized to protect the privacy of LinkedIn members. If you would like your quote attributed, please email mloftus[at]buildsite.com and I will be happy to credit the source!

The Future of Construction Technology (According to FutureTech)

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Loftus) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:00:00 +0000

This week, Tom Sawyer of ENR published results of a technology survey among readers, Hot Tech Topics: ENR Readers Speak Up About Info Tech in Construction. So what is the future of construction technology according to FutureTech readers?

BIM
iPads and mobile
Collaborative tools
Cloud software

This will come as no surprise to many of us in the industry, but it is good to see momentum building behind these systems.

We do continue to face a very siloed industry with different firms employing different technology solutions. According to one subcontractor quoted in the article, Ray Chen of Faith Technologies, GC's are the ones who need to make the call for new technologies:

"As a subcontractor, it doesn't matter what I've implemented in my own company—I'm going to do what the GC wants me to do," he says. "If the GC isn't using a data-driven approach—and a lot of them aren't--Faith isn't going to, either."

But here's the good news. Whether it's the GC or the sub who makes the call to use collaborative tools, these systems add value far beyond the construction phase.

Ted Weidner, assistant vice chancellor for facilities at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, notes, "[BIM] is a nice tool for architects and structural engineers so far, but its real value will be... when the facility is turned over to me after construction."

Read the full article.

Contractor Purchasing Forecast for 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Loftus) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:00:00 +0000

This week, a new study on contractor purchasing behavior came out from management consulting firm L.E.K. Consulting. You can read the full Building Contractor Behavior Survey, but here are some of our key take-aways:

Contractors are planning for growth in 2012.

Professional distributor channels will win more business. Big box retailers have done well with low prices over the past few years, but contractors have loyalty to the "pro channel." This shows that value-added services and personal relationships do make a difference.

Thirty percent of contractors are using social media more today than they were a year ago.

Contractors will continue to increase use of the Internet for product research, price comparisons, and purchasing.

Energy efficiency and sustainability continue to factor (in equal parts) into product choices for commercial contractors.

All this spells good news for construction manufacturers and their distributors who have been hard hit these past few years.

I leave you with this great take-home:

"Building products manufacturers have an opportunity to capitalize on growth by continuing to promote trusted brands, introducing product features that will command a premium and reevaluating how they reach their customers across traditional and online channels."

--Chris Kenney, Vice President and Head of L.E.K. Consulting's
North American Basic Industries Practice

A Word Cloud Reveals BuildSite is All About Submittals

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Loftus) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Word clouds are a fun way to get a bird's-eye view of your website, blog, or Twitter feed. I recently ran a word cloud for the BuildSite News Blog using Wordle, and here is what I found:

Read about these topics and more on the BuildSite News Blog.

Not surprisingly, our biggest topics are electronic submittals and construction products. Phew, at least we are staying on message!

Adding Value with Electronic Submittals

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Loftus) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:00:00 +0000

In my previous post, I presented how projects can reduce costs with electronic submittals. In the third of my three-part series on electronic submittals, I will look at how project managers can add value for owners with electronic submittals.

Leading companies in construction are moving toward Integrated Project Delivery, with the Building Information Model (BIM) at its heart. Contractors are adopting 3D BIM software for its multitude of benefits, including clash detection, scheduling, cost estimating, and material tracking and ordering. But the model has the potential to extend beyond the construction phase of the project and provide information to owners and facilities managers that can replace a room full of paper.

Building Information Models link the design database with building material properties. Information such as manufacturer details and product data, much of which is found in the project submittals, can be attached to objects in the design model. By providing submittals electronically, for example, the approved mix design for the concrete footings can be attached to the footing object in the model. The design model has the potential to hold all the information to the project in a single electronic resource.

Tekla Structures' Building Information Models link the design database
with building material properties available at BuildSite.

At the end of the project, the owner gets a fully-digital 3D model of the finished building, rather than a room full of paper. Facilities managers do not need to comb through file cabinets of documents to find the warrantee they need. Instead, they can go to the electronic record and access product information from submittals that are attached to the model. From a building owner’s perspective, an as-built electronic resource adds enormous value to a project over the alternative paper system.

In considering an electronic submittal process, business owners may have to push adoption of electronic systems by other members of the project team. Division I requirements may ask for a rubber stamp on a printed submittal. But there are now software tools available for creating submittals and tracking approvals, not to mention incorporating these into full-fledged project management and BIM. And the movement in construction, as with BIM and Integrated Project Delivery, is toward a seamless electronic documentation process.

In the future, construction data flows electronically from specification to submittals to project management and design. We may well see the demise of Banker’s boxes and rubber stamps in construction. It’s certainly worth working toward.

This is the third in a 3-part series on improving the submittals process with an electronic system. A similar article was published in the September 2011 issue of Construction Business Owner called How to Streamline Construction Submittals.

Primary Workspace is "In the Field" for One-Third of Construction Users, Survey Finds

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Loftus) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 21:29:00 +0000

This week ENR released the preliminary results for a survey on technology use among AEC professionals. The survey, conducted by a committee of young professionals in the Construction Users Roundtable, had several very interesting takeaways. Here are a few of my favorites:

The primary workspace for almost a third of respondents was "in the field."
Results suggest engagement is strongest among age groups 30-and-under and 51-and-over.
Tablets are not yet seen as the most important technology tools companies use, whereas email and database management are highly valued.
BIM is seen as the most important technology tool among 20% of respondents ages 30-and-under and among 18% of those 51-and-over.

See the full article by Tom Sawyer, senior technology editor at ENR, Embrace of Technology in Construction Swings With Ages and Attitudes, Survey Finds.

Photo by cobalt123.

Reducing Costs with Electronic Submittals

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Loftus) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 13:00:00 +0000

In my last post on electronic submittals, I wrote about a process that one construction expert called tedious, time consuming, and redundant. In the second of my 3-part series, today I look at the cost savings of an electronic submittal process.

The first and most immediate return on an investment in electronic submittals is a reduction in the cost of distributing submittals. Multiple parties need to receive submittals, including subcontractors, the general contractor, the architect, structural engineers, consultants, and the owner. With a few assumptions, it is easy to see how the cost savings adds up.

Consider that each spec subsection requiring a product data submittal has, on average, eight items. Each item in the submittal has two to three pages of product data and often installation details as well. That adds up to 17 to 25 pages per submittal, including the cover page. Project specs can require as many as eight copies of each submittal. With multiple copies, each spec section can generate as many as 200 pages. Submittals also go through a review process, so there are often iterations that need to go back and forth between an architect and the general contractor or subcontractor.

When you combine multiple spec sections with multiple copies and iterations, you are paying for thousands—or even tens of thousands—of pages to be copied and delivered throughout the course of a project. It is no wonder large commercial and infrastructure projects have full-time document managers, with entire rooms devoted to storing these materials on the job site. The amount of paper for product submittals alone is staggering, even before considering shop drawings, LEED® submittals, and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) manuals.

In some cases, your company does not have a choice in how submittals are distributed. The architect, owner, or construction manager sets forth the submittal requirements as part of the Division I Project Administration requirements. If the requirements ask for a physical submittal with a rubber stamp, the end results is, of course, a room full of Banker’s boxes containing all the submittals from the project.

The owner does need a record of what building products were used in the building’s construction. He or she needs to know what equipment was installed and be able to access all warranties and maintenance information on equipment. But there is a better way!

This is the second in a 3-part series on improving the submittals process with an electronic system. A similar article was published in the September issue of Construction Business Owner called How to Streamline Construction Submittals.

Find 'Made In America' Building Products on BuildSite

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Loftus) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Everyone in construction is talking about 'Made in America' building products after ABC News' David Muir ran a segment last week on the Bozeman, Montana home completely made in America.

At BuildSite, we are of course eager to tell folks that most of the products on BuildSite are manufactured domestically. To help you source American-manufactured products, look for the "Made in the USA" and "Regional MFG" icons when you search BuildSite.com. A product category search for air barriers brings up products that are made here in the U.S. and manufactured regionally:

A search on BuildSite pulls up products made in America.

Because many of the building products in our database that are made in America are not marked with icons, we went through contractor Anders Lewendal's list of 'Made in America' building products to show what you can find on BuildSite. Click on the links below to be taken to the manufacturer and product pages, then find a retailer near you using our distributor zip code search.

'Made in USA' Products	Manufacturer	Manufacture State
Hangers, straps, H clips	Simpson Strong-Tie	CA
TJI’s	iLevel	OR
Powder actuated pins	ITW Ramset / Red Head	IL
Foam board	Dow Building Solutions	IL
Spray insulation	JM Corbond	MT, TX
Paint	Sherwin Williams	OH
Telephone wire	3M	MN
Duct Liner	Johns Manville	CO
Allthread Anchors	ITW Buildex	IL
Soulder Flux	Rectorseal	TX

We list hundreds of other manufacturers with products made in America. If you have any questions about the products you find on our site, email us. Start your search now!

The ASCC Band, Powered by BuildSite

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Loftus) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:15:00 +0000

Many thanks to Molly Dallman and Bev Garnant for giving BuildSite the opportunity to participate in the American Society of Concrete Contractors Annual Conference this year with sponsorship of the ASCC Band. The event, held in Grand Rapids, MI in September, featured band members Molly Dallman, Tom Leyes, Tom Ralston, David Fudala, Andy Baugh, and Jim Jaillet.

Construction Submittals: Tedious, Time Consuming, and Redundant

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Loftus) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Bankers Boxes file submittals in a paper-intensive process.

Construction submittals play a seemingly small but critical role in commercial projects. When submittals are done right, they can tell you almost everything you need to know about a project. They can inform scheduling and expose inaccuracies or discrepancies in the spec.

Paul Stout, Founder and Director of Education at Power Summit, an AGC partner and national provider of construction training programs, says the importance of submittals in construction projects cannot be overstated. "Traditionally, the submittal process assures owners that their plans and specs are clearly understood by contractors building the project. It is the single best way for owners to ensure quality, functionality, and compliance per the plans and specifications." At the same time, he admits,

"The process itself has been tedious,

time consuming, and redundant."

When they are done at the last minute, submittals can create all kinds of problems, from RFI’s to change orders. Project delays can result. Because engineers need time to analyze and approve submittals, mix designs, for example, are on the critical path of a project.

Given that submittals play such a central role in a project, it is a wonder that leading design firms, general contractors, and subcontractors still use old systems for creating and distributing submittals. Plenty of projects still rely heavily on printers, photocopiers, rubber stamps, and hand delivery. These time- and paper intensive methods are inefficient at best, and wasteful, at worst.

Electronic systems for creating and distributing submittals have many advantages, including time and cost savings. An electronic process also provides an opportunity to integrate submittals with project management and design software. There is a rapid return on investment for electronic submittal processes, especially when many of the solutions available are low (or no) cost.

Next week, I will look at how an electronic submittal process reduces costs over the paper-intensive alternative.

This is the first in my 3-part series on improving the submittals process with an electronic system. A similar article was published in the September issue of Construction Business Owner called How to Streamline Construction Submittals.

How Not to Design a Manufacturer Website

noreply@blogger.com (Dan) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 18:06:00 +0000

Manufacturers, please don't ask me this.

If any of you have spent as much time as I have browsing products on manufacturers’ websites, I think you’ll agree when I say that many of them are nearly impossible to navigate. It’s baffling how much effort it takes to find what you’re looking for. Large manufacturers seem to be the worst offenders. Here are a few of the most frustrating usability issues I see on a daily basis. Hopefully this will help some manufacturer web designers to avoid the same mistakes.

1. Their website contains NO master list of products.

This seems like a no-brainer, right? Each company should have a list of every product they make (hopefully it’s alphabetical, but hey, I’ll take what I can get). There is no easier way to provide your information to the people who need it. Each product should have a link to its own page if possible.

If there is no master list, products should at least be easy to find. Very often large companies will have entirely separate websites for different categories of products. These "organizational" schemes seem to reflect the corporate departmental structure of the company more than the way people look for products. It is very confusing if you’re looking for a wide range of products.

2. Search bars rarely work the way you want them to.

Search bars have caused me numerous headaches. Ok, so the manufacturer doesn't have a full list of products, but at least I can use the search bar, right? Not likely. Most often the search either (a) brings up no results or (b) brings up every link or document that contains ANY of the terms you've searched for. At that point you just have to open up each link hoping it will lead you to product data--not exactly helpful to someone who is trying to spec your products.

3. Not all documents can’t be found in the same place.

This can happen with any type of document, but I see it most often with MSDS’s. So you've finally found a product and see that it has a product data sheet, but where is the MSDS? After scanning the entire page, you realize there’s a link to an entirely separate MSDS document library. So you have to do go through a whole new search for one document.

4. Document Request Forms.

This is probably the worst problem I've seen. Some companies don’t even provide their documents, or they make you fill out a “Document Request Form” before you can access their data sheets. Some companies require you to fill out a survey before you can see them. Again, this is not exactly encouraging people to spec your products. It's a good idea to make the information as easy to download as possible.

I could go on. Searching these websites daily has given me a greater an appreciation for what we do. We try to streamline the process as much as possible and give you the option to search for construction materials the way you want. I am not exaggerating when I say that a majority of our support calls come from people who found BuildSite in a Google search after they were not able to find the product on the manufacturer’s website. They’re happy to have crossed our path and find out there’s a better way to search for construction products.

Hopefully you are too.

BuildSite Mobile Featured as Innovation

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Loftus) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 17:52:00 +0000

BuildSite Mobile is a featured "Innovation" in July's issue of Concrete Construction. Be sure to check out the recent issue, or see the post online: Everything New in the Concrete World. As Bill Palmer writes,

Ned Trainor has been telling us about his product information and submittals website BuildSite.com for several years and it seems to keep getting better.

Thanks for the feature, Concrete Construction!

BSD SpecLink Adds BuildSite Product Search

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Loftus) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 17:00:00 +0000

Today we are excited to announce our integration with Building Systems Design, Inc. (BSD) to provide BuildSite product search through BSD SpecLink®. BSD SpecLink® is an automated construction specification writing application that is used to produce specifications for over 26,000 projects annually. Soon, BSD SpecLink® will link to detailed information on construction materials in the BuildSite database.

With this integration, BuildSite and BSD facilitate the industry goal of moving toward Integrated Project Delivery (IPD). The linked systems will bring data from construction manufacturers directly to architects, specifiers, engineers, and contractors during both the design and construction phases of the project.

At BuildSite, we believe the integration will provide construction product manufacturers with improved communication to key purchasing decision-makers: specifiers, architects, engineers, and the end user, the contractor. In many cases, contractors act as the “last designer” in a project. So by providing links to product information from the specifications, we allow them greater freedom to make educated purchasing decisions based on project goals.

We look forward to continuing to provide updates on this exciting collaboration. See our press release, BSD SpecLink® Adds BuildSite Product Search, for more information.

"Mobility is Key" in Construction

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Loftus) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 15:00:00 +0000

According to our friends at Constructech, "mobility is key" in the construction industry. In an article published on Friday, Constructech covers the trend toward mobile software, calling mobile the Platform for the Future. Of course, we are happy to see BuildSite mentioned in the article, but just as important is the recognition that accessing project data in the field is essential:

Traditionally, paper documents have served as the source to send information to and from the field... Now, technology providers are offering software in specific mobile formats, which makes it even easier for users to view data in the field.

Read the Constructech article, and learn more about why we think mobility rules.

Marketing to Contractors

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Loftus) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 20:31:00 +0000

As I have written in previous blog posts about marketing to contractors, getting "in the spec" is the holy grail of construction marketing today. Building product manufacturers devote a huge amount of marketing and advertising resources toward getting specified by architects and spec writers. This approach has a major payoff when it results in a proprietary spec on a big project.

In reality, the system is often not perfect. Proprietary specifications are the exception, not the rule. That leaves contractors and their trusted building materials distributors in the driver’s seat when it is time to choose the right product for the job. This role as the “last designer” means that contractors and distributors are the primary players in purchasing decisions that are being made on a project.

Michael Chusid covers this topic in a post today on his Building Product Marketing blog. He writes,

The contractor's power to select products is particularly strong with commodity and generic types of products, putting them and the distributors serving them in the driver’s seat when it is time to choose product brands for the job.

Construction Informer Reviews BuildSite Mobile

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Loftus) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 15:00:00 +0000

"BuildSite Mobile takes a bite out of product specs on paper."

These are the words of Construction Informer Duane Craig in his review of BuildSite Mobile, posted yesterday on his blog. My favorite part: he describes the "dog-earned, coffee-stained, paper submittals that might have already been superseded by new specs" that are going by way of the dinosaurs thanks to mobile tools.

Many thanks to Duane Craig for this review! Read more at Construction Informer.

"As more construction materials and products manufacturers make their specs
available online, paper-based submittals are going the way of dinosaurs."

See Our New Commercial - BuildSite Mobile for the Digital Job Site

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Loftus) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 18:58:00 +0000

Our commercial for BuildSite Mobile - bringing product data to the digital jobsite - is now available on the BuildSite YouTube Channel. The concept is this: a new PM arrives on the job site and his foreman wants to make sure he has everything under control, including submittals. Sure, he says, submittals will be sent once I get back to the office.

But the general contractor's PM (or whomever you think this might be - feel free to leave us a comment!) reminds everyone that submittals are due today. This throws the PM into momentary confusion until his PE pulls out his phone. The PM smiles - BuildSite Mobile lets him "BuildSite It" and send the submittals right from his phone.

Our friends Dominic Wong from IMAN Studios and Christopher Peoples from Allegory Productions wrote and directed the piece. Let us know what you think!

Mobility Rules – A New Tool for Construction Material Field Sales

noreply@blogger.com (Ned Trainor) — Tue, 31 May 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Tens of thousands of men and women sell construction materials throughout the United States. Many are “outside” reps. Representing manufacturers and distributors, they call on architects, engineers, general contractors, subcontractors, and facility managers. These reps work in the office and from home, but the bulk of the action takes place in the field. Going beyond price and persistence, the best of these reps provide first class advice and technical support to their customers – they are their trusted advisors.

Customers, of course, call on their schedule, not their rep’s, with questions and requests: “How wide is the trench for 12” drain? What’s the cure time for the epoxy? What’s the flow rate on the roof drain you recommended? Is the insulation fire rated? Can you resend the submittal? Can you send me a substitution form for the ceiling tile?” Frequently, reps needed to respond by referring to data about products.

Up to now, it was hard to respond to these kinds of requests from the field. Most reps made a note and waited, or they called their branch and asked (or begged) someone to take care of the customer request for them. This took two people’s time and, on more than one occasion, has led to errors and delays.

Customers expect instant results. On the jobsite, contractors can’t wait until tomorrow to find out how to install a product per manufacturers’ intention. Reps need to turn this kind of data around right away.

Mobile tools make outside reps more efficient: more face time, less support time, and more value-added time as a trusted advisor. At BuildSite, we know the action is on the jobsite, and we believe in BIM to field. And that, in a nutshell, is why we have invested in mobile tools for our customers.

BuildSite Submittals Wins Honor

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Loftus) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Constructech magazine just announced the winners of its 2011 Top Products awards, and BuildSite made the list for New Products with BuildSite Submittals. The Constructech Top Products honor technology solutions that have demonstrated the greatest innovations geared toward the construction market.

“The current marketplace is demanding evolution, collaboration, and strong IT strategies,” says Peggy Smedley, editorial director, Constructech magazine. “[T]he companies appearing as part of the 2011 Constructech Top Products have risen to meet the needs of their customers, and they are raising the bar for those around them.”

BuildSite would like to thank all our customers for continuing to challenge us to make a better construction workflow product. We are honored to have your business, and we would not have gotten here today without you!

You can learn more about the commercial winners of the Constructech Top Products Awards in the March/April issue of Constructech magazine. To purchase a copy, contact Dawn Cassata.

RoofLogic Partnership Gives Roofers Direct Access to BuildSite Database

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Loftus) — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:36:00 +0000

Today we announced our new partnership with RoofLogic at the 2011 International Roofing Expo^® in Las Vegas. This partnership is a great opportunity for BuildSite to extend access to our product database to more top roofing and waterproofing contractors. True North Product Search is accessible directly from RoofLogic and RoofCAD applications.

True North Product Search, powered by BuildSite.

RoofLogic provides software for roof maintenance and service management, allowing customers to log inspections, generate budget forecasts, keep a complete history for every roof, and produce reports. RoofCAD provides drawing and takeoff tools for roofing professionals. Both these applications benefit from direct access to our comprehensive roofing product database.

You can see the press release True North Estimating and BuildSite Partner to Integrate Asset Management, Estimating, and Product Information.

Ned, Jim, and Dan will be at IRE until Friday, so swing by the RoofLogic booth (1858) and ask for a demo!

Trashing Those Product Samples

noreply@blogger.com (Mimi Streett) — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 16:00:00 +0000

In honor of Greenbuild, I got to thinking about waste in the construction submittals process. BuildSite is all about saving time and paper waste on submittals. So you can imagine how frustrated I was on a recent trip to a distributor of acoustical products when I found the following waste of money, time and resources on multiple levels.

According to our BuildSite Submittals user, architects are routinely requesting physical samples of common (and not so common) acoustical products with their project submittals. This includes samples they have seen multiple times, such as batts and gypsum board. Now, I can understand why a designer would want samples to confirm the colors and textures of interior elements they have not used recently, or at all. But common insulation and drywall products?

The other disturbing piece of this is the sheer number of samples that are being requested. How many do they request, you ask? Three: one for the GC, one for the subcontractor and one for the requesting architect? Sometimes, IF the distributor is "lucky." Try TWELVE--when he isn't. Twelve? Are you kidding me?! Who's getting these samples? And what are THEY doing with them... over and over again?

Get a calculator and start adding this up, considering the time involved, the cost of the sample, and the cost of shipping:

Distributor requests samples from manufacturer.
Manufacturer ships to distributor.
Distributor bundles all samples with submittal.
Distributor ships to architect or GC.
Architect or GC ships to sub and other(s).

Now, those of you who are concerned about the environment, waste, or wanting to be cost-efficient or maybe even profitable: what happens to these duplicate samples at the end of a project? I hope some LEED AP's are reading this because the USGBC needs to put some pressure on architects who request multiple product samples of items they have requested before. If you are an architect who commonly requests these samples, please, help me understand why!

Visit BuildSite at Greenbuild Chicago!

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Loftus) — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 15:00:00 +0000


BuildSite staff at Greenbuild in 2009

We are gearing up for the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo here at BuildSite, getting all our promotional items together for the show. [If you are planning on attending, please stop in at our booth #578 to watch a demo and get a Builder’s Bar!] In honor of the big event, I decided to take a look back at the past year.

We have had a lot happen here since Greenbuild 2009, where we launched BuildSite Green Data, a database of green and LEED® data for construction products. With the help of our launch manufacturers, including Bostik, Grace Construction Products, Knauf Insulation, L.M. Scofield, and others, we seeded the BuildSite database with environmental attributes applicable to the LEED green building rating system.

In January, we announced the release of our software, BuildSite Submittals, which allows for the creation of fully electronic project submittals tied directly to construction specifications. With templates for both standard and LEED submittals, BuildSite Submittals provides a workspace in which users can create customize packages of product information tied line-by-line to the specs.

In July, we took a huge step and decided to open BuildSite Submittals to the construction industry with our Freemium Edition. As our President, Ned Trainor said, we wanted to prove how easy it is to build submittals online, so we removed any barriers to giving BuildSite a try.

At Greenbuild, we invite you to do just that. Try BuildSite Submittals for free. If you want more features, you can always upgrade to a Professional or Enterprise account for additional security and file sharing capabilities. Otherwise, continue to use the Free Edition to cut back on the time and expense of generating paper submittals the “old way.”

It has been a great year at BuildSite, and we are looking forward to our second annual exhibition at Greenbuild. We can’t wait to connect with new customers and soak up all the new and exciting ideas in green building. Remember to stop by Booth #578, watch a demo, and pick up a Clif Builder’s Bar from BuildSite!

Advice for Contractors: A Report from the ASCC Annual Conference

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Loftus) — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 15:00:00 +0000

The American Society of Concrete Contractors Annual Conference, held in September, brought together a group of accomplished concrete contractors from all over the country. I attended the conference on behalf of BuildSite, with the hope of gaining insights about how the events of the past year have affected our customers. Not only did I hear about the issues top-of-mind to concrete contractors, but also I heard some great advice. So, I thought I’d pass along some of that advice in the hopes that some of our customers will take heart, knowing they are not alone during this tough time.

There were a few major themes stressed throughout the conference. The most prevalent and perhaps overarching theme was--you guessed it--coping with the current economy. At the early morning contractor round tables (starting at 6 am!), Rocky Geans mediated as contractors talked about staying busy and finding work in the down economy.

As a result of decreased project starts, contractors are facing more competition than ever. And more competition means that profit margins are getting cut down to practically—if not literally—zero. With so much pressure to keep bids extremely low, contractors wondered, when is it okay to walk away from a job? Low bids leave no room for error, and if anything unplanned happens, even a slight deviation in schedule, a company has a lot to lose. So, if you are struggling, is it ever wise to turn down work when you know it is being underbid?

The topic of walking away from a job was picked up by Clay Fischer of Woodland Construction Co. in his presentation "Putting Your Company in the Best Light." His advice to contractors was to avoid bidding every project that comes across their desks. No matter the economic climate, contractors are smart to pick and choose projects to bid where they can really make a difference. As Clay Fischer pointed out, sometimes saying "no" is good for future business. Owners will want you more once you show your willingness to walk away from a job.

Another obvious result of the economic downturn has been a drop in contractor morale. Joe Primavera of Sundek touched on the issue of morale in his portion of "Putting Your Company in the Best Light." He said he spends a lot of his time motivating struggling companies when times are very difficult. And these days, he is getting a lot of practice!

Joe’s advice? Go back to the basics. He advices contractors to focus on what got their company where it is today (well, before the crisis). Is your company known for quality workmanship? Put even more effort into your craft. Has your company thrived on referrals? Talk to your customers and find out how you can give them the very best customer service possible. Identify what it is you have done in the past to succeed, and focus on those core competencies. The companies who weather this economy with a solid reputation will be the ones in demand once the construction industry rebounds.

Are you a contractor who is struggling with these side effects of the economic downturn? You might find that ASCC has the support you need, especially during tough times like today. Give them a call, and better yet, tell them BuildSite sent you! Thanks to Bev Garnant, Molly Dallman, and all ASCC staff who gathered such a great group together for this year’s annual conference.

Best Practices for Marketing to Contractors: A White Paper from Point to Point

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Loftus) — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Best Practices for Selling Building Products Through Contractors

Are you marketing to contractors? It is not an easy task these days, even among seasoned manufacturing companies. Contractors are a diverse bunch. Plus they are an often-overlooked purchasing segment of the construction industry, as manufacturers vie for the attention of architects and specifiers. Getting "in the spec" is the holy grail of construction marketing today. But as we at BuildSite know, contractors are critical influencers and decision-makers in the construction buying process.

That's why, when Brady Cohen from Point to Point passed along his colleagues' new white paper on marketing to contractors, I was eager to promote it. We talk to contractors every day. And what we know to be true anecdotally is backed up here in this great piece of market research.

Click on the link below to download the report. I compiled a list of my favorite takeaways on marketing to contractors:

The economy hit these guys hard: The unemployment rate in construction has climbed from up to 20.1% most recently. The economy was a major theme at the recent American Society of Concrete Contractors (ASCC) Annual Conference I attended. Contractors are struggling.
Manufacturers are wise to meet the information needs of the Hispanic contractor. By 2025, Hispanics within the construction workforce are estimated to reach 63.2%.
When it comes to web design for contractors, it is all about function. The number one thing construction buyers want from manufacturer websites, after product pricing, is ease of navigation.
Contractors are an integral part of the purchasing process: 99% of general contractors say they are involved in some way in their organization’s building product purchases.

Download the white paper Best Practices for Selling Building Products Through Contractors, and let us know what you think!

Tackling Technophobia in the Workplace

noreply@blogger.com (Mimi Streett) — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Are you a technophobe? Or do you know someone in your office who is? Now, I know that we all hate computers when they're down, when the internet is slow, when your computer picks up a virus, etc. My husband has been known to complain: "How was I supposed to know that?!" when filling out a basic online registration form. However, these days, we all have to get with it or get going (as in--out the door). Here at BuildSite we are in the business of training people to become more comfortable with software. Here are my suggestions for you non-techies:

Read a tutorial. Software and website tutorials are there for people just like you. You may not like computers but do like reading. Often the tutorials will walk you through each step along the way.They are designed to keep things simple for the beginner user.
Watch a (short) video. Almost all software comes with quick, 3-5 minute flash demos or associated videos. These demos help you find out what you really need to know and not all the details. Also, they're so short, you can do this in your spare time or from home.
Make a call. Okay, these days web-based companies are not always especially fond of providing phone support. But that shouldn't stop you. Reach out to the Customer Service or Tech Support people--they're there to help!
Ask a friend. Friends and coworkers are often willing to schedule a time to show you a few tricks on the computer. It's a great excuse to then buy him/her lunch or a beer after work.
Ask your child. Have your son or daughter get off Facebook and teach you how to use the computer/internet/software! It can be a bonding experience. Besides, they love to show you how much smarter they are than you.
Find a geek. We all know computer geeks who seem to find all this to be simple and effortless. Ask him or her to show you how to do your work more effectively. If she's at your headquarters, she'll be glad you asked!
Google it. It's pretty easy these days to find new technology, services, programs, websites, and YouTubes that can help you be more productive at whatever you do. You can even enter a long-winded question into the search bar and see what comes up.
Contact you industry's trade association. Often trade groups will have resources no one knows about to help you do your work better. They, too, are just waiting to be asked.
Call or email BuildSite Support...there's always a cheerful voice and help when you need it.

Yes, learning something new takes time. But, believe it or not, software is designed to solve common problems and save you time in the long run. So why not take a chance and see if it does?