New technologies always have the advantage of forcing us to ask ourselves questions about their usefulness, potential and drawbacks.
BIM (Building Information Modelling) is one of these tools that logistics and real estate managers would do well to inform themselves about.
First, it is important to differentiate between the BIM tool used during the construction of a building and the one used during the operation phase. If more and more architectural and engineering firms use BIM, this tool can also be used as a basis for the operation phase (FM part).
Having “3D” plans is only the visible or “playful” part of the tool, which, regardless of the supplier, has many other advantages: data transfer, accuracy of plans, speed of execution, reduced risk of errors, etc. We believe that all plans will be BIM over time.
At this stage, at least, there is still some doubt as to whether it will be used for the operational part. BIM can support many of the company’s building management activities and processes. However, depending on the information the customer wants to have, keeping the data up to date can be a real godsend and requires knowledge that not all SMEs can have.
We believe that BIM technology will have to develop further, allow simplified data entry, and rely on new technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) before it can be a real practical and inexpensive user assistant for SMEs at least. Another way forward would be to entrust the management of BIM to FM professionals such as the leading service providers in Switzerland, for example.
Large companies certainly have other financial resources, but the question should be evaluated all the same, because let us not forget that for many companies, logistics remains a support unit and not a “core business”.
We are obviously not against BIM and other technological supports, on the contrary! On the contrary, we cannot encourage SMEs to rush headlong into such a project, which requires a vision of at least 10 years and substantial investments.
Take care and good reading.