If you’ve ever felt like Construction Contract Administration (CCA) is a never-ending cycle of questions, conflicts, and paperwork—you’re not alone. At The Buildings Show 2024, SolidCAD’s experts, Jay Polding and Elnaz Jafarian, tackled this topic head-on in their session, “Optimizing Construction Contract Administration.” The session explored how technology, particularly the Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC), is transforming this essential part of the construction process into something much more manageable (and dare we say, efficient!). 

The “Dirty Little Secret” of CCA 

Let’s be honest— their presentation opened up with addressing the elephant in the room, no matter how great your designs are or how experienced your builders might be, challenges will pop up during construction. It’s just the nature of the beast. But here’s what most people don’t tell you: 

• CCA can consume up to 20% of design fees, which is a significant chunk of project costs. 
• The process is often confrontational, with disputes, change orders, and delays adding stress for everyone. 
• Many firms still rely on outdated tools like Word and Excel for managing this complex process, which leaves room for errors and inefficiencies. 

The result? Architects and builders often avoid talking about CCA during client discussions—even though it’s such a critical part of the project. 

How Technology Makes a Difference 

Thankfully, tools like Autodesk Construction Cloud are here to turn things around. In the session, SolidCAD showcased how technology can streamline CCA and help teams own their processes and data. Here’s a glimpse of what ACC brings to the table: 

• All-in-One Data Hub: 
  Say goodbye to scattered documents. ACC stores everything securely on AWS servers, with options for backups in secondary cloud environments or on-premises. You can manage access with granular permission settings to ensure data stays in the right hands. 
• Smart Collaboration: 
  Need external input? ACC’s RFI tool lets collaborators contribute without needing a full license. You can also share reports, files, and PDFs easily with external parties. 
• AI that Works for You: 
  ACC uses AI to auto-tag photos (think doors, windows, and other objects), making it easier to stay organized. Plus, natural language search capabilities mean you’ll spend less time hunting for data and more time acting on it. 
• Budget and Payment Transparency: 
  From tracking changes in budgets to managing certificates of payment, ACC ensures everyone stays on the same page, reducing disputes and errors. 

Everyday Scenarios: How ACC Simplifies CCA 

 
SolidCAD also shared real-world examples of how ACC simplifies construction workflows: 

1. Site Visits Without the Hassle: 
   Using a mobile app, you can view the most up-to-date project information, assign issues, take photos, and fill out site reports—all saved and synced to the cloud. 
2. Submittals, streamlined: 
   With AutoSpecs, your submittal process becomes seamless. The tool integrates PDF specs into your project, automates section creation, and even suggests edits to keep everything accurate and efficient. 
3. Smooth Payments: 
   Need to review or revise payment line items? ACC’s Certificates of Payment tool allows for back-and-forth reviews with comments for every line item. Updates are automatic, saving time and reducing frustration. 

Your Top Questions Answered: Highlights from the Session FAQs 

Here are some of the most pressing questions attendees had about implementing ACC, along with SolidCAD’s insights: 

• How secure is the data stored on ACC? 
  ACC runs on AWS, which is one of the most secure platforms available today. It also supports backup options, allowing you to store data in a secondary cloud or on-premises for added peace of mind. 
• Can I track who’s accessing files and how often? 
  Absolutely. ACC includes an activity log for each file, showing who accessed it, when, and how many times. This data is not only visible but also exportable if you need it for reports or audits
• What happens if my team uses different scheduling tools? 
  No problem! ACC supports imports from Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, and other scheduling platforms, making integration a breeze. 
• Do all contributors need an ACC license? 
  Not necessarily. ACC’s RFI tool allows external users to collaborate without requiring a license. You can share files and reports easily, so everyone stays involved without extra costs. 

The Takeaway 

The big message from the session? Technology like Autodesk Construction Cloud is a must-have. It can help you streamline your processes, reduce disputes, and keep your projects running smoothly, no matter how complex they are. 

 
Want to learn more about optimizing your Construction Contract Administration? Download SolidCAD’s full presentation from The Buildings Show 2024 and get the insights, strategies, and practical tips shared by our experts.