How did it all begin? What exactly is Bimmatch and how does it work? Who benefits from using it? And what are their plans for the near future? All of this and more in an interview conducted by Hemy Miller, CTO & Business Development Manager Autodesk Division, for TeamCAD’s latest newsletter issue.
Hi Cheli and Eli, how are you? Before we get to why BIM and why MATCH, it sounds like your names are coordinated.
"Yes," they answer together and laugh. "We are coordinated in many things in life. Apart from Bimmatch we are married and have two children" Cheli says and Eli completes her, "this venture is another thing we have in common on that prestigious list".
This isn’t the first time I’ve heard of couples who are co-entrepreneurs. Tell me, how did it start?
"I am an architect with 15 years of experience and throughout my work the product procurement process, from the characterization of building materials, their suitability for the project to its execution, has been a serious challenge. Creating the BOM (Bill of Materials) is a headache and the interaction around it is complicated. This creates a lot of room for mistakes and budget overruns," explains Cheli. "There is simply no technological solution to this problem. So together with Eli, who is a UX / UI expert, we have initiated Bimmatch, an innovative and efficient solution for the procurement process in the construction industry."
So, what is Bimmatch?
We offer a SaaS solution to automatically match construction materials to architectural projects and a tool for creating a dynamic BOM and managing the procurement process," says Eli. "The software is based on BIM methodology and AI, and it enables communication and management of the process efficiently and economically."
Give me an example.
"Even two! First of all, architects and consultants can choose materials and products that are suitable for the project they are working on in the early stages of the design process. Assimilating the product information directly to the element in the architectural model saves valuable time later in the process”. Says Cheli, "Second, Bimmatch streams information from planners to construction and project management companies and with the click of a button allows them to reach directly to manufacturers and suppliers of building materials. In addition, the software provides all relevant information for a quotation according to the catalog number and desired quantity of products in the project. Just these two examples are worth a lot of time to an architect and a lot of money to an entrepreneur. "
How does it Work?
"We have a smart catalog of building products and materials," Eli replies, "once the design team connects the BIM plans to the Bimmatch catalog, the system automatically analyzes the building details and matches it to the right products. The relevant information flows from the design software to an external system accessible to all users." Cheli adds: "One of the important tools we are working on is a plug-in for Revit's Autodesk, which is the world's leading software for architectural design in BIM. The plug-in allows you to view our catalog in Revit and connect the products and all the relevant information directly to the architect's tools."
The word BIM comes up a lot here, explain to me why your software is BIM based?
"BIM is a super-efficient methodology for process communication and information transfer. Companies that have moved to work through BIM report tens of percent streamlining construction processes! And this is exactly what we do for the process of purchasing construction products - communicating information with maximum efficiency between manufacturers and decision makers in real estate projects”, Says Eli and Cheli emphasizes: "Streamlining the procurement process allows us to save planners a lot of time, suppliers receive data-based marketing, and developers enjoy an accurate BOM and a smarter participation in tenders."
Sounds promising, but adjustments and automation are required here. Why isn’t it simply the planner's choice?
"The final decision regarding the purchase of the products is in the hands of the contractor. Before you get to that stage, a long, complicated process takes place, which is done by outdated means and full of conflicting interests," Cheli explains. "As we see it, in order to produce an efficient material selection process one must aspire for a sophisticated process, based on teamwork and transparency between planners, consultants and project managers. Automation tools are an important part of process optimization."
Eli adds: "We implement automation based on AI and calculation of relevant parameters. For example, it is important for us to emphasize green building standards so that the designer can filter products according to these parameters to pinpoint the matching results. The planning team can choose green products for the architectural plan and win credit points from the regulator, and the operator can receive relevant offers for the purchase. "
Okay, so who benefits from using Bimmatch?
"The short answer - everyone!", Declares Eli and specifies, "Bimmatch is an online application for characterization and management of the procurement process for the project planners and management team. In addition, it is a flexible and accurate mechanism for data-based marketing and sales, a smart product catalog through which manufacturers and suppliers receive direct inquiries regarding the purchase of materials. So both ends of the market benefit: construction companies get tools for efficient management of the procurement process, and manufacturers get quality leads to sales and purchases. "
An important part of Bimmatch is the catalog, which is actually a marketplace. This is no small challenge, right?
"Absolutely. We are ready with a proven marketing strategy to increase and strengthen our product catalog, and its use by architects and procurement people. In fact, leading manufacturers and suppliers in the Israeli market are already presenting their products in our catalog, and architects, entrepreneurial and construction companies use the software," says Eli and Cheli joins, "Creating leads for manufacturers and suppliers does not just depend on the number of active projects at any given time, architects are constantly entering our catalog and downloading BIM files to integrate the products in the initial design phase."
Unlike abroad, only some manufacturers in the country have BIM files for their products. How do you handle this?
"We have developed the concept of Lean-BIM, which allows the use of the relevant minimal information required. This makes it easier to implement BIM strategy in any manufacturing company or product provider. BIM files are essential assets during COVID-19, where meetings and conferences are few and there is a real need for fast and reliable digital information flow between all members of the planning tea." Cheli explains and Eli continues, "BIM is a necessity for any large project. A significant number of the leading manufacturers in the construction industry in Israel are already enjoying the process of creating a dedicated and detailed BIM catalog with us. "
So what are your plans for the near future?
"Promoting Israel to Industry 4.0 is our top priority," says Cheli, "and we are working to the benefit of the cause by implementing the BIM methodology in the local construction and manufacturing industry. Beyond the desire for progress, this has great implications for streamlining processes and saving time and money throughout the planning and construction process, "Eli reinforces," We build our software according to market needs as they are reflected in the global construction world. Very soon we will enter new markets, and in this way, we also hope to expose the local industrial products to projects abroad.”
