InEight
Augmenting Project Control and Performance

Enough pauses. After years of see-sawing between tight growth margins followed by major dips in the U.S. construction market, sustained recovery is finally dawning upon the industry with growth looking consistent and fundamentals strong. Presently, the landscape is progressing toward a course of technological developments and innovations. And, vying to benefit from these invigorating signs are construction firms and stakeholders who are bidding to equip themselves with the right technological and material resources.

Cutting edge tools such as 3D visualization solutions are being used by top construction companies to bring designs to life. Be it abstract or photo realistic; today’s visualization, animation, and real-time 3D software ensure that a design vision is fully realized creatively and technically before being built. Right at the forefront of all this is Arizona-based technology solutions provider—InEight—delivering a mix of functionality, technology, and flexibility through their solutions that project-driven companies demand. The company serves clients in the infrastructure, building, mining, utilities,. and oil and gas industries with more than 20,000 active users in over 500 companies across 33 countries. From small subcontractors to some of the world’s largest contractors and owners, InEight’s clients include AECOM, Kiewit, ExxonMobil, and Tesoro Corporation.

Technology—the Missing Piece of the Puzzle

Construction companies, in general, are rigid in embracing advanced technological trends, using traditional manual systems. Firms like InEight are playing a crucial role in transitioning such antiquated processes to today’s reality. Also, adding vigor to the technological cause is the tight growth margins in the landscape that is necessitating construction firms to automate and streamline their processes. From the back office to the job-site, InEight’s connected solutions aid clients performing capital asset projects to improve profitability across the project lifecycle by increasing operational efficiency. Built on open platforms, InEight solutions can integrate with other key project-related solutions from scheduling, design, and timesheet to finance and ERP systems. Through its HD project cost management solution, InEight covers the entire range for the clients from Virtual Design and Construction (VDC), estimation, and performance to field mobility and reporting.

Five Steps to “Success”

For construction firms, it all begins with winning more jobs and contracts followed by project execution at the lowest cost to maximize growth margins. The HD project cost management solution enables clients to do just that. It packs an entire repertoire of functionalities ranging from cross-project reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and cost estimation to performance benchmarking, job-site alignment, and tracking on mobile tablets.

Each of these stakeholders tends to use different software to manage project designs, costs, schedules, and assets. This lack of interoperability between various systems accentuates the risk of overruns, change orders, and miscommunication between key project stakeholders. This is where InEight’s VDC solution—InfinyD—plays a crucial role by enabling customers to deliver capital projects successfully and on time.

InfinyD is a visual modeling solution that consolidates data from disparate sources to create a single project platform that can be utilized across the capital project lifecycle. In addition to serving as a design tool, InfinyD links business data into a project information model that federates every object that needs to be manufactured, installed, or constructed. With InfinyD, project teams can share a model that is enriched with relevant project data which delivers better communication, alignment, as well as efficiency. By collecting this data during project execution, the turnover process is streamlined, enabling owners and contractors to efficiently perform ongoing maintenance. InfinyD merges project data and processes through an open and unified visual Building Information Modeling (BIM) platform. The VDC solution enables enhanced processes such as visual procurement and visual estimation, resulting in an increase in process efficiencies. InEight has introduced a desktop, web, and mobile version of InfinyD. The mobile version—MobilyD—enables users to access construction models and associated data from remote locations to simplify and speed up site inspections. Often handled manually with paper-based processes, site inspections are delayed and adulterated with data-input errors. With MobilyD, inspections are not only automated, but also synchronized with a centralized model for better decision-making through real-time access to joist status details.

"Built on open platforms, InEight solutions can integrate with other key project-related solutions from scheduling, design, and timesheet to finance and ERP systems"

In conclusion, InEight envisions a greener future through its solutions that support green construction in compliance with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating. Talking of green, it is not the “run-of-the-mill slap a solar panel on the roof or stick a recycling bin in a break room green” that InEight strives to invest time on. The company is promoting sustainable as well as effective advances ranging from biowalls, passive solar building design, and green design software to recycled, sustainable insulation and electrochromic glass. InEight utilizes applications trusted for over 25 years, combining proven software technology with a unified vision to help construction companies visualize, estimate, manage, and connect all aspects of capital and maintenance projects. Looking ahead, the company is keeping an eye out for newer technological developments that will enable clients to conquer newer heights.