Newforma has released some very exciting news for the AEC/O industry—the world’s first integration of email communication directly into the Open BIM format as formulated by the buildingSMART International alliance. Now, for the first time, email communications—which are still the dominant means of electronic communication in the AEC/O industry—can be integral to the Open BIM workflows established by open standards technologies from buildingSMART International.
Email and BCF
This new capability, characterized as a real breakthrough for the AEC/O industry via Newforma’s new cloud-based Konekt system, facilitates the seamless transition of project discussion and decision-making from a single siloed inbox to the collaborative BIM environment.
Specifically, this major update to Newforma Konekt allows users to convert email threads into actionable BCF issues, ensuring all project stakeholders are on the same page with real-time updates. From within Konekt—which possesses Newforma’s well-regarded leadership in AEC/O industry email management, email discussions can be selectively made integral to the BIM Collaborative Format (BCF) workflows. The BCF workflow is one of the Open BIM industry’s signature technical achievements. It allows BIM users across the AEC/O spectrum of professionals to work within their industry’s best-of-breed digital tools and participate in geometrically and data-correlated issues management workflows.
Carl Veillette, chief product officer for Boston-based Newforma stated:
We’re thrilled to announce Newforma’s groundbreaking integration of the AECO industry’s number one communication method, email, with the BuildingSMART BCF standard. This is an achievement that sets a new benchmark in our industry.
The new feature in Newforma Konekt helps email communication dovetail with the BCF workflows with direct linkages in Konekt via integrations with Revit, Archicad, Autocad, Tekla Structures, Civil3d, and others.
“Our innovative solution, Newforma Konekt, has the unique ability to turn emails into actionable tasks, issues, and action items and locate them in BIM,” adds Veillette. “This not only enhances productivity but also brings a new level of clarity and organization to project management. Furthermore, our Outlook add-in facilitates the creation of comprehensive project records, a crucial feature that significantly mitigates risks and improves project knowledge transfer between team members. We believe these advancements will revolutionize the way our industry communicates and collaborates, and we’re excited to lead the way.”
About Newforma
Founded in 2004, New England-based Newforma has been singularly focused on empowering AEC/O industry companies by connecting people to the information they need. As an industry leader in project information management (PIM), Newforma has grown to help over 1,200 AEC/O firms in over 40 countries in the world, managing data over 4.6 million projects worldwide.