Build smarter with digitalisation

The construction industry is tool-based – there are different tools for different jobs. This creates silos of information and work that are unstructured and uncollated. Andrew Skudder, CEO of RIB CCS, talks about a solution-based collaborative platform and one central database.

This digital platform approach empowers the sector to use the increasingly important asset of data to make better decisions and ensure projects are delivered more efficiently, on time and within budget.

What value does RIB CCS bring to the construction sector?

AS Our mission as a business is to digitally transform the construction and engineering industry into a more sustainable, advanced industry. Digital transformation increases collaboration, (and the associated infrastructure) is key for people’s quality of life and prosperity.

productivity and efficiency, which results in greater profitability and sustainability for companies. By assisting construction companies to build more with fewer resources, we then benefit society. Those saved resources can be directed to other projects. An effective built environment

What is MTWO Complete Construction Cloud?

This is a cloud platform that provides end-to-end management across the

1982

WHO IS RIB CCS? A STORY OF TWO SOUTH AFRICAN PETERS AND A project manager called Peter Reynolds, A GERMAN SOFTWARE COMPANY frustrated with repeatedly generating estimates on a piece of 2000 – 2008 2020

paper, decided to digitalise his estimating activity. He developed the Candy estimating CCS and BuildSmart Schneider Electric buys software solution and established CCS. merge and expand their shares into RIB Software.

From there, Peter further developed footprint into India and

Candy into a project planning and Australia. control solution and CCS

offices opened in 2000 Portugal and the UK. Peter Cheney 2019 started BuildSmart, where he developed a financial management solution (including procurement, payroll and accounting) specifically for the construction industry. It is introduced into other Southern African neighbouring countries. Candy expands into CCS joins RIB Software – a German multinational construction software company that has been operating since 1951, leading to the rebranding of CCS as RIB CCS in 2020. Dubai and New Zealand.

design, build and operate phases of the construction life cycle. It is a partnership between RIB and Microsoft. RIB hosts iTWO 4.0 software with 5D BIM (fivedimensional building information modelling) capabilities on the Microsoft Azure platform. Furthermore, Microsoft Azure offers exceptional cybersecurity and other capabilities like AI (artificial intelligence) and HoloLens that are layered on top of the software – creating additional value.

A critical part of MTWO 5D BIM is the integration of 3D models with cost and schedule information to create a 5D model or digital twin of a project. 3D models can demonstrate how changes to materials, layouts, square meterage and other design elements affect the appearance of a facility, as well as the cost and schedule of construction. With a 3D model, costing and schedule, a client can simulate a project before construction has started and then value engineer and optimise that project. A 3D model is a visual representation of the project and if you add a functionality like HoloLens, you can even do a virtual walkthrough. The AI functionalities on MTWO are chatbots, voice assistance and machine learning.

The beauty of MTWO is that it has an open architecture with open APIs, and this allows it to interface with other tools within the construction value chain. For example, many of our clients are users of Microsoft Project or Primavera, as well as SAP or Oracle, which can integrate into our platform. This allows for everyone to work on one single platform and database, which means that everyone collaborates seamlessly.

As an internet-based solution, MTWO needs decent bandwidth to operate, but there are offline functionalities, particularly relating to work done on a site.

RIB CCS is bringing this product to the Southern Africa, UK and Middle East regions. We are also working on further enhancing the platform with new functionality and modifications that may improve or better reflect the way that owners, developers and contractors operate within these markets.

MTWO Complete Construction Cloud

BIM Model Management Quantity Takeoff Estimating

Is MTWO a major departure from ERP-type (enterprise resource planning) systems industry has known in the past?

I would like to describe MTWO as the technical ERP in the construction industry. F a c i l i ty Building Li fecycle M an g e m en t O P ERATE a PLAN S i m u l a t io n Schedulin g Site Management We depart from traditional ERPs because we are industry specific – the engineering and construction industry is projectbased and operates differently to other sectors. Traditional ERPs focus on multiple Quality &Safety Procurement BUILD Project Management & Bid Tender verticals while we focus on one – therefore, the depth of functionality, expertise and support is unique, which is why roughly 80% of RIB CCS staff have previously worked People think that digital transformation is at construction companies. Also, unlike expensive and time consuming. other ERPs, MTWO deals with the entire MTWO can be implemented in months, not value chain – from bidding for the project to years. But this often depends on a client’s its operation. implementation approach – some clients choose to start with estimating, and then a

Can MTWO be used in the few months later move on to planning and, public sector?

a few months later, procurement. Buying a Absolutely – government entities must best-of-breed solution that is purposely built make sure that infrastructure is built in a for your specific industry can be expensive, responsible way (on budget, on time, quality but there is limited customisation and no and according to environmental, social and development. We will be developing an outgovernance rules).

MTWO gives government of-the-box solution, where MTWO can be entities transparency to see if a project is on preconfigured and precustomised, which budget and time, and provides transparency lowers the barriers to entry. to stakeholders (like National Treasury) with But if there is poor planning with regard to procurement. no digital roadmaps and unclear

This transparency will give greater objectives, digital transformation can be confidence to the funders of these projects, expensive and time consuming. Change as they would know that the project has management, led from the top, is key to a been optimised and value engineered before successful transformation. construction and is well managed and “The construction industry has taken the controlled during construction. longest to embrace digital technology. But

The Deutsche Bahn (German rail operator) we are now at an interesting stage within and Autobahn (German equivalent of Sanral) the built environment where we have uses MTWO because they see the value solutions like MTWO that are available to in the transparency, collaboration and the us.

This is a unique opportunity for owners, ability to coordinate multiple projects. developers and contractors to embrace this technology and create a more collaborative, What are common misconceptions transparent, efficient, and productive about digitalisation? industry,” concludes Skudder.