Jumpstarting Your Project Collaboration: The Power of Newforma’s Data Connectors 

In the fast-paced world of Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC), effective collaboration and efficient document management are essential for project success.  

But, honing the entirety of your project information and sharing it with relevant stakeholders is easier said than done. 

Tell me if you’ve heard this one before: 

You’re working on a project and want to share some designs or a folder full of sensitive documents with the rest of the team on the project.  

Seeing as you likely aren’t all working from the same platform and these files are most likely too large or too sensitive to email, you have to spend valuable time trying to configure access and potentially providing paid licenses to your own data set to grant access to external stakeholders. 

But it doesn’t stop there. 

With the average firm’s data having grown from 6.65 TB in 2018 to 29.85 TB in 2023, you and your external stakeholders likely have to repeat this process a few times, as you try to share, sheets, designs or anything else you need to with your external collaborators. 

Then there’s bugs, misunderstandings and access issues that could further bog down the process. And we haven’t even gotten into the potential security risks that could come from external stakeholders accidentally misplacing that sensitive file you just shared. Plagued by a reduction in productivity, rising risk of human error, potential security issues and countless hours chasing scattered data, AEC professionals have sought out solutions to rise above these challenges in the form of information management platforms. 

Research shows that information management platforms have quickly risen as the MVPs of the AEC industry, as they empower firms to centralize access to project data, making the sharing of project information that much easier. AEC firms that have made the switch have experienced a notable reduction in capital costs and, most importantly, an increase in accessibility to project information. 

Needless to say, without an information management platform to reign in your project information by connecting to various stakeholder databases, delays and errors are bound to happen. 

AEC professionals are increasingly using digital solutions to centralize and manage their data, with a recent study from McKinsey highlighting the integration of greater technology and innovation could boost productivity by 50-60%. 

By centralizing access to your project data and enabling seamless collaboration among internal and external stakeholders, information management platforms enable firms to reduce rework costs and lead to more predictable outcomes, resulting in better-built projects. 

Information management platforms tailor-made for the AEC industry, like Newforma’s on-prem Newforma Project Center or cloud-based Newforma Konekt platform, have risen of late to answer these modern issues by providing modern solutions across the board. 

In their bid to bridge the gaps in data clusters, Newforma now offers integrations and add-ins that allow users to leverage their existing tools, software and databases, promoting a more connected and collaborative ecosystem. 

But how does this all work? Let’s break it down below: 

In an industry where efficiency reigns supreme, the importance of solutions facilitating seamless integration across various platforms and systems cannot be overstated. Integrated solutions are reshaping the operational landscape of the AEC sector, cementing their status as vital tools rather than mere luxuries. 

The AEC industry often faces the challenge of fragmented data, with different stakeholders using various software and platforms that don’t easily integrate. Data connectors break down these data silos by enabling seamless integration and information sharing across different systems and applications. 

And that’s where Newforma Konekt comes in clutch. 

Thanks to its data connectors, Newforma Konekt allows you to add data sources to access your files on Microsoft SharePoint and Autodesk Docs (Autodesk Construction Cloud and Autodesk BIM 360) making them available in your project.  

Users can utilize and share information stored in SharePoint or Autodesk Construction Cloud repositories to access, share, link to, or in the process of creating new items and work off of documents stored outside of the Newforma Konekt system.  

These files can also be added to submittals and RFIs as attachments, making the sharing of information between design and construction teams that much smoother. 

By providing users with the ability to access up-to-date information across multiple databases, your teams can make strategic decisions based on accurate and current data within a few moments; reducing the potential for human error and keeping project delivery on time. 

Just look at a recent example with Toyo Engineering, who was able to save over 38,000 hours on a project just by setting up a data connection with their modeling system. 

Streamlining access to crucial data has quickly become one of the biggest trends in the AEC industry, with good reason.  

Newforma Konekt not only jumpstarts that process for its users, but it ensures they’ll always be able to seamlessly access their information whenever they need it without having to jump from platform to platform. 

But what about external stakeholders? 

Accessing your internal database through a project information platform like Newforma Konekt improves project productivity by having all your information accessible in one spot. 

But, when it comes to cross-team collaboration, having access to that information is only half the battle. Being able to seamlessly share that internal information with external stakeholders is where the real magic lies.  

Newforma Konekt’s data connectors not only allow you to link your respective file repositories to your projects, but, with its innovative EDMS Share feature, you can share that information with the rest of the team within seconds.  

This functionality allows users to seamlessly share files from their EDMS connection, whether it’s SharePoint or Autodesk Docs. That means you can quickly share project documents, drawings, and anything else you need to with team members and stakeholders, enhancing collaboration and ensuring everyone is always working from the most up-to-date information. Not only does it improve collaboration, but it also saves you time and money as well.  

Let’s take the example of Autodesk Docs: To share information from Autodesk Docs to an external stakeholder, that stakeholder would have to have a license to access that shared information. But, who is paying for that? 

With Newforma, the answer is: Nobody! 

That’s right. External stakeholders can access Autodesk documents shared through Newforma Konekt and Newforma Project Center without requiring a license; saving you the hassle of having to spend extra money just to get on the same page. 

Convenient, am I right? 

And that’s not where the fun stops. Users can also effortlessly send updated plans or reports to relevant stakeholders in real time, keeping every relevant member of the project informed and aligned throughout the project lifecycle. 

That means that all those cumbersome and lengthy file-sharing processes that bog down your day-to-day have instantly become a thing of the past.  

Users can streamline their document review processes by distributing documents for feedback from multiple parties, reducing time spent on manual tasks and expediting cross-team collaboration. 

That said, with great power comes great responsibility. 

Protecting sensitive documents is paramount in the AEC industry. EDMS Share ensures secure sharing with robust audit capabilities. By sharing a record copy of the file that reflects the content of file(s) at the time of share, users can trust that their data remains protected. 

Comparable to sharing files from a standard file manager, Newforma Konekt’s data-sharing capabilities also come with the utmost attention to security. Users remain in control, having the ability to grant access to external team members, making collaboration easier than ever before.  

Having been around for 20 years, Newforma prides itself in having a spotless track record of prioritizing client information security. Holding full ISO 27001. ISO 19650 and SOC 2 certification, Newforma employs stringent security measures such as data encryption and access controls to safeguard sensitive project data and uphold user privacy – a level of security and accessibility that sets it apart from the competition! 

That means users can extend collaboration beyond organizational boundaries by securely sharing documents with external partners, clients, or consultants; fostering seamless communication and collaboration without the fear of a data breach. 

The AEC industry is at a crossroads when it comes to leveraging their project information; as the industry continues to innovate new ways to centralize, control and share information like never before. 

Information management platforms like Newforma Konekt and Newforma Project Center have championed that movement and become essential components in enabling firms to maximize workflows, reduce costs, and maintain sustainability. 

By connecting your internal SharePoint or Autodesk repositories within Newforma Konekt or Newforma Project Center, team members can access and collaborate on documents in real-time, regardless of their location. 

Thanks to Newforma’s innovation, users no longer have to work with incomplete information or lost files or spend hours having to complete manual tasks just to get everyone on the same page. They can instantly get a 360-degree view of their project information, enabling more informed, data-driven decisions. 

That’s not just a game-changer; it’s a lifesaver.  

Ready to master your project information and expedite cross-team collaboration? 

Then schedule a demo today to see for yourself how Newforma can empower your firms to maximize efficiency, minimize expenses, and achieve greater success in your projects.