AEC TECH NEWS: Kahua and BSD join forces to improve architect-contractor communication

Atlanta and Alpharetta, Ga. — BSD and Kahua announced the integration of BSD’s automated construction specification-writing software, BSD SpecLink-E, with Kahua’s project management and collaboration platform. This integration streamlines and enhances the specifications to submittals process and improves coordination between the architect and the contractor on construction projects, the companies said. It is the first collaborative effort in a strategic partnership targeted at helping the real estate and construction industry optimize complex intercompany business processes.

Specifications prepared by an architect for a construction project typically include dozens, or even hundreds of sections, each dealing with a particular building element, such as concrete, masonry, and roofing. Many of these sections, in addition to establishing the quality requirements for materials and installation, call for the contractor to provide submittals to the architect for quality control. On a project employing typical printed specifications, extracting the specific submittal requirements and assembling them into a useful tracking log is a tedious, manual process.

Because BSD SpecLink-E employs a sophisticated relational database rather than word processing files, the architect’s submittal requirements are assembled automatically into a Kahua import file that includes the full text of each, organized into work categories.

“We want to help our customers do more than just write the best specifications possible,” said Robert Paul Dean, FAIA, FCSI, chairman and former president of BSD. “This latest collaboration with Kahua is another example of how BSD SpecLink-E can help architects and engineers manage and use their project data more efficiently and effectively than ever before.”

Within the Kahua project management software, the submittals data from SpecLink-E can be expanded to track dates and material selections. Submittals can also be routed via workflow for review and approval.

“Automating the process of creating the submittals log will result in significant ROI for contractors and owners in the form of efficiency and accuracy,” said Brian Moore, president of Kahua. “We are excited to work with BSD to address the complex challenges inherent in our industry and look forward to providing additional functionality in the future.”

Learn more about this partnership at a 20-minute web demonstration, Sept, 27 at 1:00 p.m. EDT. Register at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1578177794394234115.