Integrating BIM with Construction ERP for Smart and Sustainable Infrastructure

Building information modeling (BIM) involves creating a digital model of a building or infrastructure unit.

22:45 20 June 2023

Building information modeling (BIM) involves creating a digital model of a building or infrastructure unit. The fundamental idea behind this process is creating and sharing the correct information at the right time involving the building's design, construction, and operation to improve efficiency and decision-making. BIM emphasizes collaborative working between multiple parties included in the entire lifecycle of an asset. 

On the other hand, Construction ERP Software is used by companies to devise comprehensive plans for successful projects from the onset of project work till the outcome, involving all processes, materials, and aspects of the entire construction lifecycle. 

Integrating these two systems (BIM and ERP) can help construction companies achieve efficient project planning and data management. This article discusses the benefits of ERP in the construction industry and how BIM can be integrated with ERP for smart and sustainable infrastructure. 

Perks of ERP in the Construction Industry

• Assimilation of Data 

A standardized work platform can combine all construction processes into a single storage system, ensuring easy data management and thereby boosting the system's overall efficiency. 

With ERP, managers can seamlessly analyze financial and operational data, providing executives with more precisely calculated real-time information. This information further helps construction companies track simultaneous operations and report and manage department inefficiencies. 

• Planning and Analysis

Accurately analyzing required raw materials, effectively utilizing the workforce, architectural design, and contract management are all essential to channel resources properly. Construction ERP aids in properly allocating collateral expenditure and financial budgeting of the project. It will help companies avoid unnecessary downtime and contractual complications during the project.

• Estimating Construction Cost

Often construction companies work on a contractual basis with almost every client. Before acquiring the project's tender, companies are required to bid for the same project with their cost estimations. 

Since every client has unique priorities, the most suitable bid is selected based on the company's reputation, the design submitted, and cost feasibility. An ERP application can help determine an accurate estimation to prevent actual costs from deviating from the projected cost.

• Diversity of Business Processes

All-encompassing ERP software can divide all business processes into several modules. With the industries figuring out ways to improve stability, cost-effectiveness, risk management, and operational facets, construction companies encounter restrictions at each project step. 

It has led to the bifurcation of construction industry-specific ERP systems into diversified modules, like contract management, architectural designing, project phasing, accounting and financial management, inventory management, marketing, and human resource management. Such platforms help better handle essential processes and organize the company's regulatory compliance.

• Effective Communication

Effective communication between employees and departments is critical to better management of operations. An ERP software equipped with in-built chat forums and video communication capabilities acts as a perfect platform for executives to communicate internally, whether work is being carried out in the office or at the job site. 

How to Integrate BIM into ERP System?

• Architects and engineers can quickly complete the design process by using Standard elements in BIM modeling that are often defined as materials in the construction erp and saved in a single storage system.
• Analysis of updated standard BIM elements helps managers easily validate and check the cost of project execution at any stage in the design process. It is handy for prefab construction enterprises that produce standard elements and modules.
• Accurate, updated Quantity schedules (BOQ) reports that a BIM will assist the ERP software in generating the report for purchasing materials and effectively managing them on time.
• COBie data from BIM can help a construction industry-specific ERP bridge the gap between construction and operations in Vendor management and project maintenance.
• BIM can help estimate the quantification of work in the project's conceptual stage, and WBS packages from BIM can assist in planning the human resources and project management in ERP. 
• ERP's functional modules can use BIM end data as input and manage the construction processes effectively. 

Conclusion

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) and building information modeling (BIM) are two systems that deal with project information. Enterprises need a robust plan to integrate and implement ERP and BIM effectively and reap the ultimate benefits of smart and sustainable construction. Using the above-discussed tips in the project startup phase can help construction companies effectively transfer the result of BIM to ERP system implementation.