If enterprises want to implement BIM effectively, they must establish their own dedicated BIM team. While outsourcing can address temporary needs, building an in-house team is the long-term strategy to enhance competitiveness and stand out in the industry. Today, I will discuss the key considerations when assembling a BIM team.
1. Management’s Attitude
Creating a BIM team is more than just hiring a few individuals and assigning them a workspace. Success requires recognition and support from the company’s decision-makers. The level of importance that management places on BIM directly influences whether a BIM team can be successfully formed. Therefore, management should provide strong financial backing and policy support, such as selecting projects that foster the team’s healthy development and establishing reward and penalty systems to boost the team’s motivation.
2. Talent Development
Talent is crucial for building a strong BIM team. Currently, many companies rely on two main approaches to acquire BIM professionals: internal training and external recruitment.
Internal Training: This is the most common method, especially in larger enterprises. Self-trained staff are familiar with the company’s workflows and organizational structure. After sufficient training and hands-on project experience, they can identify challenges and develop practical solutions, eventually creating a customized BIM workflow that serves the company’s needs. However, this approach requires significant investment in time and resources, which may impact ongoing projects. Additionally, once trained, some employees may leave for better opportunities, so companies must implement effective retention and incentive programs.
External Recruitment: Outsourcing BIM talent saves the cost and effort of training. Typically, external professionals only need time to get acquainted with the company’s projects and processes before they can contribute. However, deep technical expertise demands higher salaries and benefits, increasing costs. Moreover, it takes time for these professionals to adapt and coordinate with internal departments, so immediate productivity is not guaranteed.
Both approaches have pros and cons, and enterprises should choose based on their specific circumstances.
3. Selection and Configuration of Software and Hardware
Choosing the right software and hardware is critical for BIM implementation. Unlike the CAD era, where a single software dominated, BIM involves a variety of specialized tools tailored to different aspects and disciplines of construction projects. Therefore, BIM teams should be practical and selective, focusing on software that aligns with the company’s project types and business needs—especially during the early stages of adoption.
On the hardware side, BIM software demands significantly higher computer specifications compared to CAD. Companies must balance performance requirements with budget constraints. For specialized management software, costs can be even higher. It’s advisable to select one or two key software platforms based on project characteristics and then configure hardware accordingly. Avoid spreading resources too thin or seeking quick returns by underinvesting.
In summary, these are the main points to consider when building a BIM team. There are many other factors worth attention, but due to space limitations, I will not cover them all here. I hope this article provides a clearer understanding of how to approach BIM team development.
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