You’ve probably heard it before: “BIM is for designers.”
But that view is quickly becoming outdated. Today, Building Information Modeling (BIM) is showing its value well beyond design — especially for construction teams looking to stay aligned, avoid delays, and work more collaboratively across the jobsite.
Tools like Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) are helping general contractors, developers, and owners bring real-time coordination into day-to-day construction management — not just design review meetings.
Take an example from the GTA: a general contractor lost two weeks of progress due to a ceiling clash that had been caught in a model — but never made it to the right person. The model had been emailed around, stored in a shared folder, and eventually overlooked.
It’s a familiar scenario. When models are static and disconnected from the daily workflow, coordination becomes reactive.
Now imagine this instead:
The model is live and accessible in the cloud.
The mechanical team spots a clash and tags the electrical team right away.
The model is updated, and work continues without disruption.
That’s the kind of collaboration certain technology supports — one where decisions happen in real time, and coordination is part of the process, not a separate task.
With tools like Autodesk Build and Autodesk Docs, project teams can use BIM coordination to:
Spot and resolve clashes earlier
Keep all trades working from the same information
See who’s working in the model and when
Connect model updates to field activities
Tie model data back to internal dashboards or databases
It’s not about introducing more complexity. It’s about making the tools you already use — like drawings, schedules, and issues — work better together.
For construction leaders — VPs, directors, and operations managers — BIM coordination offers something more than just technical oversight.
When you connect ACC to a live database or reporting tool, you create a real-time loop between the model and the boardroom. That means you can monitor:
Changes to the model
How they impact timelines and budgets
Field issues, RFIs, and even safety reports
Instead of waiting for updates, you already have the information you need to make timely, informed decisions.
If your team already uses something like Procore, you might be wondering where ACC fits in. The key difference is that Autodesk Construction Cloud was built around models first — not just documents.
Here’s what that looks like:
Model Coordination is accessible — team members don’t need to be Revit experts to use it.
It plays well with your current systems — push model data to tools like Power BI, connect with project controls platforms, or track labor with third-party integrations.
Everything stays live — reducing the lag between issue detection and resolution.
You don’t need to overhaul your process to start seeing value. Many Canadian firms are taking gradual steps, such as:
Running clash detection between major trades using Autodesk Model Coordination
Giving field teams access to 3D models on mobile devices
Linking RFIs or issues directly within the model for context
Even these small shifts can reduce coordination delays and improve communication on site.
Across Canada, construction teams are rethinking how coordination happens. Instead of relying on email threads and folder shares, they’re building workflows around live data, connected models, and shared accountability.
If your team is still navigating coordination manually, it’s not about being behind — but there may be a better, more connected way forward.
Looking to explore BIM coordination without jumping all in?
Check out our free 2-page resource:
“The Construction Leader’s Quick Start Guide to BIM Coordination”
Inside, you’ll find:
A 3-step phased approach to adoption
A real-world jobsite example
A quick comparison between ACC, Procore, and Bluebeam