Is BIM a challenge or an opportunity for SMEs ?

The UK Government has mandated BIM on all Government construction projects regardless of size by 2016. The Institution of Structural Engineers (IST) has released the results of a survey of its 900 members.  Some of its key findings are

• 73% agreed or strongly agreed that BIM implementation presents serious cost and commercial challenges for small businesses

• 71% agreed or strongly agreed that BIM is here to stay and that in the future clients will expect it to be incorporated into their work.
• 58% agreed or strongly agreed that BIM implementation presents significant opportunity for new business and improved efficiency.

• 76% of respondents from businesses under 10 employees said they are just starting their BIM journey and have little understanding of the finer details.
• 9.6% of respondents from businesses under 10 employees said clients regularly ask about their use of BIM, (Compared to almost 50% of respondents from businesses with over 50 employees).
• 66% of respondents from businesses under 10 employees agreed or strongly agreed that the government BIM initiative will make it harder for small businesses to compete for government contracts.

The survey suggests that there is a divide between large and small consultancies, with larger organisations taking the lead on BIM. It also suggests the need to help smaller businesses (SMEs) to make a success of BIM.

The BIM4SME working group is designed to help SMEs in understanding the BIM process. Its objectives are to raise awareness of BIM, articulate the value proposition / business benefits, and provide a clear understanding of the requirements of Level 2 BIM within the SME marketplace. It is also intended to provide a voice for the SMEs back to the BIM Task Group.