People often think of Revit for architects and engineers who use it to test design ideas, translate conceptual designs into BIM data, optimize building efficiency, create realistic renderings, and prepare documentation with the details needed for construction teams to build the designs. 

The benefits don’t end when the documents are passed from the architects to the contractors. In fact, the benefits of having Revit models of planned buildings or structures continue through the construction phase and even through the owner-operator phase. 

In this blog post, we focus on Revit and the construction industry. We will address how it is used by owner-operators in a future post.

Because the BIM process automates many challenges faced by companies in the construction industry, several governments have mandated the use of BIM for government projects to save time and money through better planning, designing, and management of buildings and infrastructure. In countries where BIM is not mandated, many construction companies are choosing to implement BIM anyway, because they are watching their competitors who follow BIM processes automate activities that help them gain competitive advantages in terms of win rates and successful project completions. 

Revit and the Construction Industry

Because Revit is the most popular BIM tool in the world, it is safe to say that as BIM usage spreads throughout the construction industry, the use of Revit will increase as well. Construction companies that use Revit will realize several advantages, including:

• Clearer Communications with Architects
  Realistic 3D models created in Revit dramatically reduce any delays caused by misunderstandings about the architect’s design. The documentation includes all the parameters and shapes of the structural elements, part details, and systems such as plumbing, electrical, and HVAC, which the contractors can reference throughout the construction project.
   
• Better Stakeholder Communications
  With the integration of cloud technology, project data can be accessed from anywhere, allowing project managers to keep their teams and other stakeholders current on project status.
   
• Revision Management
  Change happens, even when the architectural drawings have bene finalized. The client may have a new idea, supply chain issues may impact product availability, or manufacturers may make changes that need to be addressed in the design. Contractors that use Revit can make changes in the existing model, recalculate parameters, and confirm that the new designs don’t negatively impact other elements. 
   
• Accurate Materials Lists
  Ordering too much material, not ordering enough, or ordering the wrong material are common problems with construction teams that cause cost overruns, delays, and frustrated teams and clients. Construction companies that use Revit can minimize waste and reduce costs by using Revit to automatically calculate the required amount of resources and the budget.
   
• Stability Testing
  Revit software can be used by contractors to detect structural flaws by assessing the stability of foundations, systems, fixtures, materials, and more. This pre-construction step helps confirm that an architect’s design can be successfully and safely built, potentially saving a tremendous amount of time and money. 
   
• Clash Detection
  As designs change, the risk of clashes increases. Hard clashes, when two components occupy the same space, and soft clashes, when an object encroaches into the tolerance space of another object, can create a huge amount of rework if not found until after construction has started. Revit users can easily detect clashes in designs and generate clash reports that engineers can use to fix the problems, saving time, money, and the contractor’s reputation. 

Ideate Software Add-ins for Revit and the Construction Industry

We develop Revit plugins for architecture, engineering, construction, and owner-operator companies around the world:

• Ideate BIMLink – Control Revit data with precision and speed
• Ideate Explorer – Audit Revit models with certainty
• Ideate Sticky – Integrate and format non-BIM data into Revit projects
• IdeateApps – Simplify everyday Revit tasks with efficiency and elegance
• Ideate StyleManager – Analyze, delete or merge non-standard Revit styles
• Ideate Automation – Run time-intensive BIM tasks silently in the background

Here are some videos with demonstrations of how to use our software for specific construction workflows:

1. Leverage Revit coordinate data for VDC to bring new levels of quality control and efficiency
   See three examples of how Revit coordinate data can support both pre-construction and construction tasks to improve your project’s bottom line.
   
   
    
2. Streamline VDC Tasks
   Dive deeper into methods of streamlining VDC tasks by watching the recording of this 30-minute webinar.
   
   
    
3. Review issues with construction sequencing 
   Watch this four-minute video to see how a project scheduler, who doesn’t know how to use Revit, can use Ideate BIMLink to export Revit data into Excel to enter or edit data, and then import the updated data back to Revit, which can create 4D models that construction teams can review for issues and opportunities. The video includes final steps for Navisworks users.
   
   
    
4. Get comprehensive quantity data with a 2-step quantity takeoff 
   Watch this three-minute video to learn how to harness the power of pivot tables and Microsoft Excel when performing quantity takeoff tasks in Revit. Also learn how to expedite the creation of a formatted quantity takeoff. The example in the video show how to use the Ideate BIMLink sample file template, created in Excel, to get comprehensive quantity data in two easy steps.
   
   
   
   For a FULL list of Ideate BIMLink videos for Construction and Facilities, please see the following link:  Ideate BIMLink for Construction and Facilities
    
5. Keep all team members up to date on critical ancillary information
   See how live-linking important Excel, Word, or PDF documents, such as work orders, safety reports, and insurance certificates can ensure your team has quick access to current information, so they can respond to requests quickly and correctly.
   
   
   
    
6. Publish project PDF information on a consistent and repeatable basis
   Ideate Automation is a scripting solution that is designed for use with Ideate software solutions such as Ideate BIMLink, Ideate Explorer, Ideate Apps, and  Ideate StyleManager. It can also be used without Ideate Software solutions to report on Family information or publish information from a series of Revit models.
   
   

Learn More

Visit www.ideatesoftware.com to learn how Ideate Software Revit plugins for architecture, engineering, construction, and owner-operators help users save time, increase model accuracy, improve deliverables, and elevate design. Give them a dry by downloading trial versions or purchasing the “get to know us” bundle for access to Ideate BIMLink, Ideate Explorer, Ideate Sticky, IdeateApps, and Ideate StyleManager for six months.

Stay Connected

Check us out on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.

If you have any questions, reach out to us. We are here to help you understand and use our Revit plugin solutions. 

As a company that develops Revit software plugins, we love Revit. We think you should too.

BIM is Awesome

Many Ideate Software employees have been involved in architecture and engineering for several decades, so they remember the days of creating designs with pencil and paper. 

The move from there to BIM within a career is almost overwhelming; seeing what used to take days come to life within hours really can seem like magic to those of us who have been around for a while. And our newer staff members are just as enthusiastic about where BIM is going as the more experienced ones are about where it has been. 

Revit is the Best BIM Tool

While you may know that Revit is one of the top BIM tools in the world, you may not know why it is better than all the rest. Here are a few reasons:

1. Unified Database
   All the data needed to generate a Revit model is kept in the same database, and that database is updated anytime the model is modified. No longer do team members need to search for data through numerous project files.
    
2. Scheduling
   Revit schedules are used to report the information in the model in a tabular format. Scheduling, which can be one of the more time-consuming tasks in the architectural design process, is greatly simplified with Revit because the schedules automatically update as changes are made to the model, ensuring they are always in alignment.
    
3. Collaboration
   With Revit, several users can work on the model at the same time. Users push the work they do to the central model while pulling changes made by colleagues into their local copy. This not only speeds the process, it also exposes clashes that can be mitigated in the design phase rather than when the structure is being built.
   
   
    
4. 3D Renderings
   There are a lot of programs available that provide 3D visualization outputs, but those from Revit are truly realistic. With views from any angle or perspective, architects can “walk” customers through early designs to point out large and small details, incorporate customer feedback into the next version, and quickly iterate until the customer sees that their vision is accurately reflected in the design. Design options can also be easily explored. 
    
5. Parametric Modeling
   Parametric modeling lets you specify the key parameters of your project and make changes interactively, with the model automatically updating. Revit employs parametric modeling in the form of families. Everything in Revit is part of a family; some are integrated into the software, others are accessible through libraries, and others are created from scratch.
    
6. Cost Estimating
   Accurate cost estimating is vital to the success of a project. Revit can be used to develop a detailed construction cost estimate in various ways. 
    
7. Consistent Documentation
   Using templates that come with Revit or storing custom templates within Revit means you can deliver consistent construction paperwork across all your projects. Consistency contributes to clarity, which helps eliminate frustration caused by confusion. 

Ideate Software is the Best Revit Software Plugin

You may say we are biased, but we’re not the only ones saying that our products are great. Here are a few examples:

Customer Reviews on the Autodesk App Store

1. “Why these application functions haven't been replicated, bundled or brought out into Revit itself astounds me. They simply transform the process of using Revit from a data perspective entirely into one that is 100% more automated, feasible and enjoyable.”
    
2. “Ideate's suite of tools is indispensable at our firm. There are so many tasks that are made more efficient, and many tasks that would just be flat out impossible without these tools. Ideate does a fantastic job at listening to their customers and they implement suggestions and feature requests quite rapidly. I have been using their products for more than 6 years and highly recommend all of them.”
    
3. “The Ideate suite of tools are one of very few tools I've come across for Revit that do exactly what they're supposed to, without spamming your toolbars with useless gizmos.”
    
4. “I recommend every firm within AECO that uses Revit to invest in the Ideate Software Bundle.  Not only does the software make Revit users more efficient within the program, allowing for advanced communication with Revit itself, it also has a user interface that is second to none.  All Ideate applications are essential for every Revit user to be able to utilize on a daily basis - BIMLink for interaction with Revit data through Excel, Sticky to bring in static Excel data to a Revit sheet, Explorer to analyze the model in an advanced way, etc.”

Success Stories

We are pleased that companies in all disciplines and across the world have taken the time to share their experiences with Ideate Software through success stories, blog posts, and webinars. Access information about them all via the Case Studies filter on our blog posts. 

Our most recent success story is about Evolve Consultancy, one of the UK’s premier BIM and design consultancies. Evolve uses Ideate BIMLink to populate Revit models with COBie (Construction to Operations Building information exchange) data to satisfy ISO 19650-2 requirements. Read more and see screen shots here. 

Here’s a short video about another company, HLW, and why they recommend Ideate Software tools:

 

The Ideate Software Difference

Visit our website for details of each of our products. Here are highlights:

Ideate Explorer – Dramatically decrease the amount of time spent on model management and enhance model performance with this Revit software plugin. Use it to quickly find and delete incorrect, obsolete, and hidden problem items—including imported or linked DWG drawings—as well as to find, refine, and revise elements, even those not included in the Revit project browser. Included with Ideate Explorer are three features that also help you keep your models in top working order:

• Warnings Manager – Audit and address Revit warnings ranked by importance and fix problems using tools in Revit while the Warnings Manager dialog box is open
• Navigate – Navigate through view-based elements to find unused sheets and views; find and filter legends, schedules, sheets, or views by category and/or keyword; and customize work environments without altering the project browser 
• Query – Search within set parameters for elements like unused annotations, design options, in-place usage, structure usage/area scheme, and revisions

Ideate BIMLink – Instead of working inside of Revit to verify and/or edit data one element at a time, you can use Ideate BIMLink for Revit. Import to Excel where you can easily view and manipulate large amounts. Once the data is updated, you can then use Ideate BIMLink for Revit to import Excel data back into Revit, and the model will immediately update.  

Ideate Sticky – Share accurate and nicely formatted non-BIM data with Revit teams by live-linking a Revit file to Excel, Word, and PDF documents. These “stickies” look nice, are easy to read, and can be easily updated when changes are made to the original file.     

Ideate StyleManager – Problems frequently occur when data is pasted from one Revit file to another and the styles associated with the original file get copied along with the data. This can clog up the model with incorrect information that can take a long time to remove if working in Revit. It’s important to remove that data, otherwise it can cause model performance problems. With Ideate StyleManager you can quickly and easily analyze, merge, or delete non-standard Revit styles. You can also use Ideate StyleManager to see the view filters applied to views and to clean object and line styles and patterns, text, fonts, parameters, and more. 

IdeateApps – Repetitive Revit tasks performed on large complex models can contribute to mistakes, rework, and frustrations. The 10 tools that come in the IdeateApps collection streamline hundreds of common tasks. Descriptions of their functions are in their names: Ideate SpellCheck, Ideate Align, Ideate Clone, Ideate ViewCreator, Ideate SheetManager, Ideate Annotate, Ideate XRay, Ideate ReNumber, Ideate SmartDelete, and Ideate QuickSelect. 

Ideate Automation – Run time-intensive BIM tasks silently in the background while you do more meaningful work. Started manually or scheduled to run at a more convenient time, Ideate Automation increases productivity, eliminates the need to train staff of repetitive tasks, and ensures task outcomes are highly predictable, free of user errors, and standardized. 

Stay Connected

Check us out on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.

If you have any questions, reach out to us. We are here to help you understand and use our Revit plugin solutions. 

Browse our website to learn more about how Ideate Software add-on products help Revit users save time, increase model accuracy, improve deliverables and elevate design. You can give them a try by downloading trial versions or purchasing the bundle for access to the Revit plugin solutions Ideate BIMLink, Ideate Explorer, Ideate Sticky, Ideate StyleManager, and IdeateApps for six months.

 

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a collaborative process that allows architects, engineers, contractors, and other construction professionals to plan, design, and construct structures within a single 3D model. It also supports owner-operators in building maintenance and management processes. 

The Road to BIM

Initially, designers, architects, and engineers created drawings and blueprints to express their visions and information about building plans. Then, computer aided design (CAD) brought the plans into a digital environment. Next, CAD evolved to 3D, enabling more realistic illustrations. The concept of BIM came around in the 1970s, and today it is the standard and increasingly becoming a mandated process to ensure that the planning, design, and construction of buildings are efficient.

The Power of BIM

The power of BIM is the information, or the “I” in BIM, because it is actionable; BIM components are intelligent, have geometry, and store data, and when they are changed, the BIM software updates the model to reflect that change. These automatic and instant updates dramatically reduce the chance of problems associated with outdated information and version control. 

Structural engineers, architects, MEP engineers, civil engineers, designers, project managers, contractors, and owner-operators can all access the information in a BIM model through a common data environment, and it can be used in all stages of a structure’s life, from inception through operation and even renovations.

The 4-Step BIM Process

Plan	Design	Build	Operate
Generate context models of the existing built and natural environment	Perform conceptual design, analysis, detailing, and documentation	Begin fabrication using BIM specifications; share construction logistics with trades and contractors	Strip unneeded data from models; leverage remaining data for operations, maintenance, and renovations

BIM Tools

BIM is a process, not a tool. There are several tools available that support the BIM process, and Autodesk leads the pack with:

• Revit – One of the industry’s most popular BIM authoring tools used by architects, designers, engineers, contractors, and others 
   
• Navisworks – More of a project review solution for AEC professionals than an authoring tool like Revit
   
• BIM 360/Autodesk Construction Cloud – Unifies the design, project, and construction processes into a single process
   
• Civil 3D – Designed on top of AutoCAD for civil engineers; typically broken up in to separate pieces, like grading, alignments, and pipe networks 

User Requests

As powerful as Autodesk software is, it does have limitations. And even though Revit is the leading BIM tool for architects, engineers, and construction teams in the world, users need more. Anyone who checks out the Autodesk Revit Forums can read feature requests submitted through various channels, including Revit Architecture Forum, Revit MEP Forum, Revit Structure Forum, Revit API Forum, and Revit Ideas. Autodesk created Revit Ideas as a way for users to communicate their frustrations with the software, including what they wish the software could do and how existing features can be improved. Other users can give “kudos” to ideas they also deem important. There are also independent Revit forums, such as www.RevitForum.org, where people post questions, share knowledge, and discuss Revit software. 

Ideate Software Responds

Regularly reviewing these public channels is just one of the ways the professionals at Ideate Software remain aware of the needs of the Revit community and able to develop Revit tools that address the needs expressed by Revit users. We also sponsor and participate in industry events, host webinars, lead virtual and in-person user group meetings, attend Autodesk University every year, and regularly ask our customers for feedback. Then, we take all the knowledge we gain to determine how to bring exceptional value to our customers by investing in product enhancements and new product development.   

Gathering information about the needs of Revit users is our first step. Then we create beta versions and ask our customers to give them a try. Because our professionals have been developing Revit tools since 2008 and have proven over and over again that we deliver products that help Revit users do their jobs better, we have a large and loyal group of people who regularly help us fine-tune our products and updates, ensure they meet real needs, and verify that they perform as described. 

Today, our suite boasts six products, each developed and iterated in direct response to requests from Revit users. These Revit plugins for architecture, engineering, construction, and owner-operator industries automate time-consuming manual processes, streamline repetitive processes, make it much easier for designers and engineers to build models that look good, perform well, and help construction professionals and owner-operators perform their duties with fewer errors, less waste, and greater job satisfaction.  

Here's how our tools can help you:

	Quickly find and delete incorrect, obsolete, and hidden problem items—including imported or linked DWG drawings—as well as find, refine, and revise elements, even those not included in the Revit project browser. This functionality dramatically decreases the amount of time spent on model management and enhances model performance. Included with Ideate Explorer are three additional features that will also help you keep your models in top working order: Warnings Manager – Audit and address Revit warnings that are ranked by importance and fix problems using tools in Revit while the Warnings Manager dialog box is open Navigate – Navigate through view-based elements and find unused sheets and views; find and filter legends, schedules, sheets, or views by category and/or keyword; and customize working environments without altering the project browser  Query – Search within set parameters for elements like unused annotations, design options, in-place usage, structure usage/area scheme, and revisions
	Instead of working inside of Revit to verify and/or edit data one element at a time, you can use Ideate BIMLink to export the data you need to review to Microsoft Excel where you can view and manipulate massive amounts of data at the same time. You can then use Ideate BIMLink to import the verified or updated data back into Revit, and the model will immediately update.
	Share accurate and nicely formatted non-BIM data with Revit teams by live-linking Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and PDF documents to the Revit file with Ideate Sticky. These “stickies” look nice, are easy to read, and can be easily updated within Revit when changes are made to the original file. Whether it’s building codes, consultant data, abbreviation lists, general notes, or any of the many other non-BIM data critical to a project’s success, you can be sure your team always has access to current information.
	Eliminate the problems frequently caused by pasting data from one Revit file to another. Often, styles associated with the original file get copied along with the data, clogging up the model with incorrect information that can take a long time to remove if working in Revit. Not removing it isn’t an option, because extraneous data can cause model performance problems. With Ideate StyleManager, a top Revit plugin, you can quickly and easily analyze, merge, or delete non-standard Revit styles. You can also use Ideate StyleManager to see the view filters applied to views and to clean object and line styles and patterns, text, fonts, parameters, and more.
	Eliminate tedious Revit tasks that when performed on large complex models can contribute to mistakes, rework, and frustrations. By using the 10 tools that come in the IdeateApps collection, you can automate hundreds of common tasks. The names of the tools describe their functions: Ideate SpellCheck, Ideate Align, Ideate Clone, Ideate ViewCreator, Ideate SheetManager, Ideate Annotate, Ideate XRay, Ideate ReNumber, Ideate SmartDelete, and Ideate QuickSelect.
	Run time-intensive BIM tasks silently in the background while you do more meaningful work with Ideate Automation. Either started manually or scheduled to run at a convenient time, Ideate Automation can increase your productivity, eliminate the need to train staff of repetitive tasks, and ensure task outcomes are highly predictable, free of user errors, and standardized.  Examples of tasks to automate include:  Exporting key Revit model health data Creating document issue records Preparing COBie data drops Generating quantity take-off data  Generating regular, automated PDF exports Delivering CSV reports on key Revit family and project metrics

 Here’s a short video that shows how to use Ideate Automation to perform Revit model health checks:

     

Stay Connected

Check us out on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.

If you have any questions, reach out to us. We are here to help you understand and use our Revit plugin solutions. 

Browse our website to learn more about how Ideate Software add-on products help Revit users save time, increase model accuracy, improve deliverables and elevate design. You can give them a try by downloading trial versions or purchasing the bundle for access to the Revit plugin solutions Ideate BIMLink, Ideate Explorer, Ideate Sticky, Ideate StyleManager, and IdeateApps for six months.

 

Ideate Software has been addressing persistent challenges in Revit workflows for a long time.  

In 2008, we launched our first Autodesk Revit addin, Ideate Explorer, and since then, we have made frequent, meaningful enhancements to Ideate Explorer and launched and made significant enhancements to Ideate BIMLink, Ideate Sticky, IdeateApps, and Ideate StyleManager. Most recently, we launched Ideate Automation.

• Ideate Explorer – Find, refine, and revise many elements excluded from the Revit project browser
• Ideate BIMLink – Export Revit data to Microsoft Excel for faster verifying and editing
• Ideate Sticky – Integrate and format non-BIM data into Revit projects
• IdeateApps – Simplify everyday Revit tasks with the 10 tools in this collection
• Ideate StyleManager – Analyze, delete, or merge non-standard Revit styles
• Ideate Automation – Run time-intensive Revit tasks silently in the background for consistent results

Here are links to a few blog posts celebrating milestone anniversaries of our products:

• Ideate Explorer Turns 10! 
• 10-year Anniversary of Ideate BIMLink for Revit Brings Major Enhancements 
• Ideate Software Celebrates Sixth Anniversary of Ideate Sticky for Revit
• Ideate Software Celebrates Fifth Anniversary of IdeateApps for Revit

Soon, we will write a similar blog post about Ideate StyleManager and Ideate Automation. Like the four tools above, our professionals developed these pro Revit tools to address challenges faced by Revit users. Here are the launch blog posts:

• Ideate Software Launches Application to Streamline Revit Style Management
• Ideate Software Launches Ideate Automation 2.0 to Run Time-Intensive BIM Tasks in the Background

Keys to Our Longevity

When looking into what makes a company successful over the long term, you will find lists with a varying number of items. Three components make it to almost all the lists: 

1. A strong mission
2. A focus on customers
3. A solid team

Our Mission

Our guiding mission is to provide our customers with the most extensive, highest-quality information solutions possible. We strive to accomplish our mission every day by developing and supporting Autodesk Revit plugin solutions that give people in the architecture, engineering, construction, and owner-operator spaces unprecedented access to and control over the data in their Revit models so they can 1) create better Revit models in less time, and 2) leverage the data in the models to streamline operations.

We consider ourselves successful when we improve our customers’ productivity and their return on investment in both Revit software and Ideate Software tools. 

A Focus on Customers

Because our success depends on making our customers successful, we must know what they need to be successful. If we presume or speculate, we most certainly will miss the mark. Missing the mark creates a negative customer experience, which will lead to fewer sales, unrenewed contracts, and low referral rates. We ensure we know that customers need to be successful by talking with them.

• We attend, sponsor, and participate in events:
  • BILT ANZ
  • BIM World – Munich
  • Women in BIM – Scotland
  • BIM Coordinators Summit – Ireland
  • BILT North America
  • BIM World Paris
  • London Build Expo and Digital Construction Week   
     
• We host live and virtual events:
  • The 3 Key Ingredients of a Productive BIM Strategy
  • Revit Data Management Insights Group
  • Online User Group Meeting
  • Online Q&A Session
  • Panel Discussion – What’s the Current State of BIM
     
• We pay close attention to Revit forums including Revit Ideas, Autodesk Community, and the Revit Roadmap, and we take those ideas into consideration when enhancing our existing tools and developing new ones. Here’s a recording of a webinar in which we highlighted the top user requests addressed by Ideate Software tools. 
  
  
   
• We even have a Wishlist Blog Series dedicated to these customer requests.
   
• We track calls to our Support Desk and post frequently asked questions and responses in Support Blog Series.
   
• We consider our customers are a critical part of our product development cycle. We frequently solicit feedback from our customers on our existing tools, ask for new feature requests, and discuss our ideas before beginning the software development process. We also work with customers during rigorous beta testing processes to ensure the tools work as promised and deliver significant value.

Our People 

Ideate Software has an extensive team of technical experts who are obsessed with providing Autodesk Revit plugin solutions to meet the needs of Revit users. Employing architects, engineers, BIM and technology experts, and other professionals, our diversity and real-world industry experience position us to provide premium services that ensure improved productivity and return on investment.

	Robert Palioca – President Bob was an original founder of Ketiv Technologies, Inc., one of the first Autodesk value added resellers and a leading developer of third-party applications for AutoCAD software. He became president of Ideate, Inc. in 2005 to retool the architecture, engineering, construction, and owner-operator (AECO) industries through design technology, education, and solutions.
	Glynnis Patterson, NCARB – Director of Software Development Glynnis is a registered architect and has worked within the BIM industry since 1998. A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, she has worked as an architect, educator, and construction site manager.
	David Haynes – Director David is a registered architect and a project management certified professional. Before joining Ideate, he had his own architectural practice and was president of a commercial design-build construction company for 15 years.
	Richard W. Taylor, Associate AIA – Technical Evangelist Richard has more than 33 years of experience working for companies that develop architectural and engineering software solutions. He was part of the original development of Revit while at Revit Technology Corporation and spent 12 years at Autodesk, where he presented, taught, and worked to improve features in Revit.
	Jesika DiGregorio – Development Manager Jesika received her Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Oregon in Eugene, where she also spent time studying advanced math. Before joining Ideate Software, she worked as a junior designer at an award-winning firm specializing in architecture and land planning. After working in architecture design for several years, Jesika decided to pursue her interest in programming.
	Ben Bishoff – Senior Software Engineer Ben has been a software engineer for more than 30 years and has been developing Ideate Software applications for more than 16 years to help customers save time, increase accuracy, improve project deliverables, and elevate design. With a bachelor’s degree in Physics, he has worked at several software companies that develop applications for the AECO industry.
	Hank DiVincenzo – Senior Software Engineer Hank has been a software engineer for more than 24 years. With a bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, he has developed applications for a variety of companies. Before joining Ideate, Hank worked on immersive 360° video applications used for situational awareness within the National Security Agency and Department of Defense.
	Stephanie Fitzgerald – Software Developer Stephanie earned her Ed.M. in Technology, Innovation, and Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and her B.S. in Physics and Mathematics from University of Oregon. In past roles, Stephanie wrote C# and web design curriculum for Zaniac, where she was also the project manager for development, managed a research study of student motivation to learn math for Harvard University, and redesigned the website for a Tufts University library.
	Michael Coffey – Software Developer Michael has a Bachelor of Architecture from New Jersey Institute of Technology and is a registered architect in New York, LEED accredited and a Revit Architecture Certified Associate. Before joining Ideate Software, he worked at an architecture firm, and in his latest position there, he coded and implemented tools using the Revit API, documented and trained in BIM and Revit tools, and managed content and standards.
	Jan Sako – Support and Q/C Manager Jan holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications. He brings in extensive experience in customer issue resolution and general IT troubleshooting. His other passions are green technologies, specifically reuse and recycling, and various other environmental initiatives. Jan previously worked within the sustainability movement in the San Francisco Bay Area.
	Steve Deadman – Customer Success Manager — UK/EMEA Steve’s CAD/BIM experience stretches back to his first job as a CAD Coordinator 2001. Since then, he has built a proven track record of BIM implementations at award-winning architectural practices, including several on The Architect’s Journal’s Top 20 list. At his most recent employer prior to Ideate Software, Steve was the Head of BIM for nearly five years.
	Nivin Nabeel – Customer Success Manager — Americas Nivin has a background in architecture, visual arts, and computer science. Before joining Ideate Software in 2022, she worked at several architecture and design firms where she learned about Ideate Software products, used them, advocated for them, implemented them, and trained others on how to use them. She earned her Bachelor of Architectural Science degree from Toronto Metropolitan University.

Team with Us

If working with a company with a proven history is important to you, look into Ideate Software. Explore our range of Autodesk Revit addins and see how they can make your Revit projects faster, simpler, and more productive and efficient.

Stay Connected

Check us out on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.

If you have any questions, reach out to us. We are here to help you understand and use our Revit plugin solutions. 

Browse our website to learn more about how Ideate Software add-on products help Revit users save time, increase model accuracy, improve deliverables and elevate design. You can give them a try by downloading trial versions or purchasing the bundle for access to the Revit plugin solutions Ideate BIMLink, Ideate Explorer, Ideate Sticky, Ideate StyleManager, and IdeateApps for six months.

 

Ideate Software is all about increasing the productivity, or the quality of work, plus the efficiency, or how well the resources available are used to produce that work, of architecture, engineering, construction, and owner-operator (AECO) professionals that work with Revit. As BIM tool adoption among AEC firms rises, and since Revit is the top BIM tool in the AEC community, the Ideate Software team has the opportunity to work with companies of all sizes and in all disciplines in multiple countries around the world. We learn about the workflows that create challenges, both in terms of model accuracy and time spent on model management, and we develop plugins for Revit that address those challenges. Visit our website for details about our solutions for Revit users, including product details, how-to videos, blog posts with step-by-step instructions, and information on free trials and subscription options. 

Confirming the Value of our Revit Solutions

There are many plugins for Revit on the market, and some of them are inexpensive or even free. At Ideate Software, we deliver value, and we charge appropriately (see blog post). So how do we get the message out about Ideate Software products and demonstrate that they deliver a strong return on investment? One way is by sharing the results of a survey in which we asked Ideate BIMLink and Ideate Explorer customers from around the world about the amount of time they save by using the products.  

Survey Results - Ideate BIMLink 

Our Ideate BIMLink plugin for Revit saves users time and increases the accuracy of the data in their models by enabling them to export data from Revit to Excel, where they can quickly verify, correct, and update massive amounts of data, and then import that data back from Excel to Revit in order to make changes in the Revit model.

Here are some of the most significant time savings reported by Ideate BIMLink users:

In the “Common Workflows for Any Discipline” category, our customers reported that they saved an average of:

• 40 hours per project preparing for COBie deliverables by editing and completing COBie-required data fields for the handover deliverables
   
• 25 hours per project developing project health checks by scheduling multiple Revit properties and categories, both visible and not readily visible within the model, to make informed decisions on what to include as part of a health check
   
• 25 hours per project managing overall schedule data by editing in Excel instead of Revit, insuring speed and accuracy of model data editing and management

Here’s a link to the information on our website, and here are links to the detailed reports by discipline:

• Any Discipline
• Architects and Interior Designers
• Structural Engineers
• MEP Engineers
• Construction and Design/Build Professionals

Want to determine how much time and money you could save by using Ideate BIMLink plugin for Revit? 

Check out our Ideate BIMLink ROI Calculator. Simply select the tasks that your office performs from a list of common tasks and input:

• How often each task is performed on a project
• How long the task takes
• Your average number of projects a year
• The average billing rate of Revit users 
  
  

Survey Results - Ideate Explorer

Building information modeling (BIM) with this plugin for Revit is much faster because the tool reduces the time that Revit users spend searching for and editing elements in a Revit model. 

When surveying Ideate Explorer users, we asked them how they use Ideate Explorer and how often they use it. Here’s a link to the whole report. Below are three examples:

• Frequency: Daily
  Task: Select and Filter Instances
  Ideate Explorer is a great substitution for the Revit selection filter, because it allows users to select from a list of Revit elements down to the individual instances. Then they can use its built-in functionality and Revit commands to further review or make changes to the selection.
   
• Frequency: Weekly
  Task: Review Element Counts
  Ideate Explorer allows users to track the progress of Revit models over time by gathering total model element counts and total counts per category, such as under/over usage of certain categories and families, placed vs. unplaced views, etc. Users can drill down to element counts for each category and type used.
   
• Frequency: Varies
  Task: Refine Element Selection
  The Query function within Ideate Explorer allows users to refine a selection of elements by selecting from a large list of parameters, including some not accessible by Revit. The many additional parameters listed include Created By, Last Edited By, Is Pinned, Is In Place, Is Flipped, and Is Nested.

To help Ideate Explorer customers calculate the time savings and convert that time savings in cost savings, we developed the Ideate Explorer ROI calculator. Stakeholders simply enter information about the average time savings per week, average number of Revit users, and average number of work weeks per year to determine the approximate hours saved per week and per year. Then simply plug in the average hourly billing rate of Revit users to get the approximate cost savings.  

By taking the time to calculate the return on investment and truly understand how money is spent and how our Revit plugins can save money, stakeholders will be well-prepared to have a discussion with leadership about recommendations.

A Customer Example - Steinberg Hart

We were pleased to present a blog post by our customer Steinberg Hart in which they shared how they got their team and leadership to support subscribing to IdeateApps, a collection of tools that automates common Revit tasks. Gautam Shenoy said, “For team buy in, I show how the technology will streamline processes, save time, and improve quality. For leadership buy in, I justify the expense by demonstrating a positive ROI based on its inference on the fee, time invested, and time spent.”

To determine the value of the tools in the IdeateApps collection, Gautam noted the relevant tasks performed by each tool, how much time he and his team spent performing them manually, and how much time they would take using the tools. He used this information to understand the value of the tools and to justify the move to IdeateApps to both his team and company leadership.

In addition to presenting the details in a blog post, we welcomed Gautam to present his process on a webinar, Developing Efficient Processes with Ideate Software and Gautam Shenoy from Steinberg Hart.  

Read Customer Success Stories

We are proud to be associated with leading architecture, engineering, constructions, and owner-operator companies around the world. To read about how some of them use our Revit plugins to save time, improve data accuracy, and increase the health of their Revit models, see the success stories we have posted on our website. 

Learn More about how to Increase Productivity and Efficiency with Plugins for Revit by Ideate Software 

If you’re interested in BIM, you likely use Revit. Our plugins for Revit are worth a look. Browse our website to explore Ideate Software’s range of Revit tools and see how they can make your Revit projects faster, simpler, and more productive and efficient.

Stay Connected

Check us out on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.

If you have any questions, reach out to us. We are here to help you understand and use our Revit plugin solutions. 

Browse our website to learn more about how Ideate Software add-on products help Revit users save time, increase model accuracy, improve deliverables and elevate design. You can give them a try by downloading trial versions or purchasing the bundle for access to the Revit plugin solutions Ideate BIMLink, Ideate Explorer, Ideate Sticky, Ideate StyleManager, and IdeateApps for six months.