Introduction

Are you the only one in your company who truly understands the power of BIM? Do your colleagues roll their eyes when you bring up model coordination? Does management see BIM as just another software tool, instead of the game-changer you know it is?

We get it - and you’re not alone.

BIM is not a tool - it’s a way of working. As BIM professionals, many of us face the same challenge: getting the rest of the company just as excited about BIM as we are. The good news? Successful adoption has never been about the software alone. It’s about aligning people, process, and technology into one smooth, efficient workflow.

Do that, and you’re not just “doing BIM” - you’re leading a full-on digital transformation.

Let’s break it down.

The People: getting everyone on board with BIM

No matter how powerful your tech stack is, BIM won’t go anywhere without your people on board. Resistance is normal - it’s human nature. But here are a few of the common blockers we hear from the field (yes, even in 2025):

• “We’re not big enough for BIM.”

• “Our clients don’t ask for it.”

• “Training and software are too expensive.”

• “We’re doing just fine with CAD.”

• "Things are working... so why shake things up?"

Sound familiar?

To overcome these blockers, focus on awareness and alignment. You don’t need everyone to understand IFC structures or model coordination - but they do need to understand the cost of not working in a digital environment.

When ducts clash with cable trays and it’s only caught on site, that’s not just frustrating, it’s also expensive. Every avoidable rework, delay, or workaround is time and money lost to the sunk cost of sticking with “what’s always worked.”

BIM isn’t about more complexity - it’s about fewer surprises, clearer decisions, and real-time visibility across the project. Whether it’s fewer RFIs for PMs, fewer clashes for site teams, or faster ROI in the boardroom - the value is everywhere.

What else you can do to get people on board: Share practical success stories from similar companies! Or better yet - show them what you’ve already improved while using your DIBS42 Hive tools.

The Process: don’t just adopt BIM - evolve

BIM isn't a plug-and-play upgrade to your current setup. It's a shift in how you work with project data. That means your processes need to evolve too.

There are two ways to approach this:

• Revolutionary change: Start fresh, design everything from scratch.

• Evolutionary change: Build on what works and improve what doesn’t.

For most companies looking to adopt BIM, the real breakthrough doesn’t come from testing it on an old project - it comes from starting fresh:

• Build a new process

• Assemble a team that's ready to work differently

• Launch a new project with BIM at its core.

This approach creates the space your team needs to explore, experiment, and evolve - without the weight of outdated workflows dragging them back. Let them test, struggle a bit, and succeed together. That’s where the buy-in happens.

Start small, move fast, adapt what works, and improve with every cycle. Plan, do, check, act - and repeat.

You can always get advice by contacting us on how to do it best!

The Technology: Make it simple, make it stick

Let’s be real - BIM can feel complex. And Revit? Even more so. It’s powerful, yes, but packed with options that can just as easily help you as hurt the model your teammate’s working on.

That’s why having a clear process is everything. Revit needs structure - templates that reflect how your team works, tools that reduce friction, and workflows that keep output consistent.

At DIBS42, we build that extra layer: plugins and standards that help teams move faster, avoid mistakes, and deliver clean models every time.

Where to start?

1. Align your template with how your company actually works.

2. Start small. Test on a pilot project.

3. Map the full process from design to delivery. Define clear BIM inputs and outputs.

4. Write down what works and what doesn’t. Improve from there.

5. Create short manuals and instructions. Just enough to keep people aligned.

6. Show the pain and the way to fix it. That’s how you get buy-in for the next project.

BIM isn’t just about tools but about systems. And when that system’s solid, a tool like Revit can work for you, not against you.

Bonus: Use AI tools like ChatGPT to speed up documentation and clash summaries. Just keep your data secure - and get more done, faster.

BIM journey starts with you

BIM isn’t something that just happens overnight. It takes strategy, patience, and the right mix of people, process, and tech. But once you nail that combo, you won’t just be the lone BIM guy anymore - you’ll have transformed your company from 3D drafting in Revit to a fully data-driven digital construction company.

With tools like the DIBS42 Hive, structured ways of working, and a support system built for BIM nerds like us - you’ve got everything you need to succeed.

Let’s work together to make BIM fun, practical, and part of your everyday workflow.

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