Bimx vs. Bluebeam vs. e-Builder

As an ARCHICAD user, this is almost a no-brainer. BIMx is included (although there are some paying options) and works well out-of-the-box. There is little to setup from the ARCHICAD side. You prepare a set of layouts/views and can publish the model on Ine go. The free version focuses on the 3D-model viewer. You publish an interactive model and can walk through it. With the PRO version, you also can publish the "Hyper-Model" - an integration of 2D and 3D views. If you are looking at tuning your own interactivity, e.g. in precisely defining what can happen and what information to show, you cannot customize BIMx that way. You have to look at alternatives, such as game engines or other 3D visualization software.

Incentivized

The program is great for editing construction drawings, stamping/approving official documents and overlaying revised documents to see design changes. You can use it as an estimating takeoff tool, estimating database, document control, cloud document storage, the list goes on! Bluebeam poses many applications for the user to utilize for the desired needs. There may be some other software that has one specific function that can perform the specific task better, but Bluebeam is a holistic program with many tools for use.

Incentivized

Well suited for the owner's side of managing multiple projects as it allows for all aspects of a project from development to closeout to be managed on one platform. Not as appropriate for a general contractor as there is better software out there. e-Builder's app is not as effective as others.

Incentivized

• Mix functions together
• calculate the impact of variables
• advanced log book

Incentivized

• Once you set Bluebeam Revu as your default PDF handler, it launches immediately when clicking a PDF to open. The speed with which it opens documents is impressive.
• Creating PDF's out of other documents, such as Word, Excel, JPG's, etc. is simple.
• Digitally signing documents is a simple, secure process. You can keep your signature password-protected, yet still access it quickly.
• The Bluebeam Revu mobile application ( I use the iOS version on an iPad Pro), is awesome. Not only does it handle PDF's like you would expect it to, it allows for effortless digital signing of documents on the fly. Nice to be able to quickly sign a document and email right back out from the tablet no matter where I am.

Incentivized

• Provide a document structure that is easy to navigate. All documents, even within a process, are stored in the document structure and easily accessed by those with the correct permissions.
• Scheduling, especially with the new module is easy. It is helpful with a large organization where many hands touch projects to be able to forecast workloads (we have an in house engineering team who reviews all projects during their design phase)
• Allows for easy interface with contractors and makes the submittal process more straightforward.

Incentivized

• It is an out-of-the-box solution for end-users. There is almost no customization possible (e.g. API for developers)
• Pricing is a bit confusing with two options for in-app purchase (PRO and Share a Model) and the separate Desktop Viewer
• Android version takes a long time to get updated to iOS version
• Only for ARCHICAD users. No other software is supported.

Incentivized

• If you have several tabs open and you try to drag one out for a side by side view then you do not have all the modification options and you have to combine them back together.
• There is a lag time when hitting the print option.
• There is also a lag time when opening files, sometimes I think the window is frozen.
• I wish the basic version also had basic file editing, as in editing a document as Adobe does.

Incentivized

• The restrictions in formatting, and sorting of information rendered, in a way, affects the reporting output.
• At certain times of day, e-Builder traffic causes the loading of filtered searches to take a while. This is probably common regardless of the site or software used.
• More complicated reporting has some limitation, though the program is highly efficient in assisting with simple format reports.

Incentivized

Most people using it are thrilled about it. But our use of ARCHICAD in projects is (alas) a bit limited, especially compared with the attention for Revit with our clients. And as an ARCHICAD teacher, I have to remember to keep introducing it as it is accepted well with most users.

Incentivized

Bluebeam is a powerful PDF viewer and mark-up tool. We are more familiar with it than Adobe Acrobat Pro or other viewers, and it has more features geared towards construction document managers than Acrobat Pro does.

Incentivized

Because again, one of our biggest clients entrusts E-builder to work with their systems. And its functions work for us as well.

Incentivized

I'm constantly finding that Bluebeam Revu does more than I knew it could. And when I find something that it can't do, I've found that Bluebeam truly listens to its user base and will work to incorporate any good suggestion when feasible.

Incentivized

Simple, because have a used it for the past two years, so i'm very familiar with the particular aspects of its program that I need to accomplish my tasks.

Incentivized

Its hard for me to give a rating on this one as we rarely have to use the support feature for Bluebeam. However, when we have used it, they have been ultra supportive in helping us get exactly what we needed. I know another engineer was trying to figure out a feature and the rep gave a detailed tutorial on how to complete the task

Incentivized

Again, because our technical support is great. He doesn't always answer the phone but he definitely responds to emails fairly quickly. In addition, I like that he actually resolves an issue and I have yet to encounter the same issue twice. Actually, I haven't encountered many issues at all in the two years I have used the software.

Incentivized

1. Set up the time to get training on the sytem before you go all in.

2. Listen, ask questions and actually practice using the tools and features while in class. It helps tremendously with becoming comfortable and remembering how things work.

3. Don't be afraid to mess up. They are helpful and will help resolve your issue in a timely manner

Incentivized

Direct publishing to a 3D model can be done with a few other tools, but if (and only if) you are using ARCHICAD, it is the easiest to use. For Revit users, there is more choice, including Revit Live or some online model-viewers and publishers. For full custom interactivity, you have to look at e.g. Unity3D or Unreal where you can include and extend endlessly, but you will lack the ease of BIMx. You'd also have to look for good similar navigation. Especially the link between 2D views and 3D model sections is hard to beat. But in that context, if you want to e.g. allow users to choose design alternatives, select another material or include animations and sound, this is not possible in BIMx.

Incentivized

We feel there is not another program out there that would compare to Bluebeam at this current time. Some of the other programs out there do not include studio or the overlaying process which is one of our main uses. The ease of hyperlinking makes this product stand out the most.

Incentivized

We have not compared other plans since the boss prefers this program from personal experience. But from using this program for 2 years I can see why we don't need to compare. Why fix something that isn't broken? It gets the job done, yes we might run into some issues but I feel like with all companies that can happen

Incentivized

• increased the efficiency in project management
• collaboration was improved
• risk estimation is better viewed

Incentivized

• A major positive aspect is being able to take your computer home without taking the entire set of paper drawings. They have made it so easy to navigate a set of drawings that I can work at home using only the digital drawings.
• Collaboration with owners and architects has been a great feature. Setting up a Bluebeam studio and having everyone get in and mark things up, then having the architect be able to go in and see what markups have been added, has made the constructability review process much much better.
• Even when not working on drawings, Bluebeam is a very good tool for working with standard PDF documents. The markup tools are very easy to use.
• The negative aspect is the takeoff function because some people would like estimators to use the Bluebeam takeoff because it would make their job easier down the road; however, the actual act of doing a full scale takeoff in Bluebeam would require much more time.

Incentivized

• Has added extra steps to processes that were previously easier. And I work for a university that complicates everything
• Has more than cut in half the time it takes to generate reports about project status
• Has made project management more efficient

Incentivized