Construction Management Software

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Author Message Ron Beard CCS Senior Member Username: rm_beard_ccs Post Number: 427 Registered: 10-2002 Posted on Thursday, September 03, 2015 - 03:59 pm:    With many GC's and GM's using construction management software which, as I understand it, is cloud based and requires all construction correspondence, submittals, etc. to be digital. Since not all of my clients are in the digital age, what modifications to the submittal sections (including LEED submittals) are most of the specifying industry using to accommodate this new software usage? "Fast is good, but accurate is better." .............Wyatt Earp Guest (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Thursday, September 03, 2015 - 05:26 pm:    Are you asking if you should write language requiring the contractor to furnish a computer to your client as part of the project so they can enter the digital age? Is your client the architect or the owner? Maybe that doesn't matter. I'm still not sure what the question is. It wouldn't matter what software is or is not being used if the client wants to see paper submittals. The contractor will just need to buy a printer. If the client wants paper submittals, the contractor needs to provide paper submittals. If the client wants electronic submittals, the contractor should provide electronic submittals. Depending on what they want, write the section to indicate to provide either electronic or paper submittals in whatever format the client requests. Ron Beard CCS Senior Member Username: rm_beard_ccs Post Number: 428 Registered: 10-2002 Posted on Friday, September 04, 2015 - 03:58 am:    As an independent specifier with a wide range of types of projects and clients (both architects and engineers), I have a small percentage that are still in the paper age. Some would like to see the four digit section numbering system come back. Do I tell them that if they don’t keep up with the industry I will no longer be available to them; or do I provide them with the best specifications I can? I don’t really see that as my job. Some of my clients have been with me for well over 30 years. For bidding purposes, I do not see a fair way to bid both paper and electronic/construction management software submittal process unless one method is by an alternate and let value engineering between the Owner and GC determine which way the project will go. "Fast is good, but accurate is better." .............Wyatt Earp Guest (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Thursday, September 03, 2015 - 08:28 pm:    You need to figure out many things. Something as simple as FTP site for posting files or complex software program? If you (or Owner) want to go totally digital (i.e., no paper copies), or a mix? Who provides software licenses for Owner, A/E, engr'g consultants, if an extensive, complex software program? Who "owns" the digital data? Do you need/want archive copies of data at closeout? I'm sure there are more decisions that need consideration; there are just some at first thought. John Bunzick, CCS, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: bunzick Post Number: 1643 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Saturday, September 05, 2015 - 03:13 pm:    As noted by Guest, I think if the client/owner wants to stay with paper, you need to specify a process by which the contractor has to supply paper. The Contractor will have to scan or digitize things themselves if they want to have the information in digital form. Really, in the spec, what you need to be concerned with primarily is how the architect and owner want to send and receive such data. Of course, if the owner wants a complete digital record at the end of the project, you would need to specify that, too. But I don't think it's necessary to say whether the system is cloud-based, hosted by the contractor, or otherwise. That's getting into means and methods. I suppose it is possible that an owner is invested in their own software system and may want to contractor to use it; that would have to be specified. If you are a MasterSpec subscriber, there is already language in Division 01 that allows digital processes to be specified. It's not as complex as it may seem. In Arcom's upcoming Division 01 update (I'm not sure when it will be released, but I helped them with it) there will be a bit more language, but not a radically different approach than is already there.