Newforma Project Center vs. Trimble SysQue

Newforma is a great tool to collaborate with large teams and between firms. It allows for great documentation of transfers, activities, and other procedural aspects of projects that require collaboration between disciplines, for example, MEP, electrical, architectural and technology. For internal use, Newforma has been great for communications tracking and archival, as well as for record-keeping of all the users in a team or number of teams. Many great options are features are unused due to a lack of training or exposure to them, for example, the graphical viewers that can preview CAD, Revit, and other formats, or the markup tool available with the desktop client.

Incentivized

For drawing plumbing where you are usually not needing any kind of taps it does really well. Once you become familiar with it, you can draw underground really quickly. Their water closet carrier families are great! Being able to draw a restroom skid with such a high level of detail is a definite plus. Also, being able to create point files easily since their hangers, floor drains, and cleanouts have the points embedded in them. For a small BIM department I think Trimble SysQue is a good option. They manage the database and you can send a request in for more content if it is needed. For larger BIM departments or people that are doing cloud spooling with Stratus or MSuite it becomes more problematic especially on the mechanical side with needing to use taps and the functionality of them being less than stellar. Larger BIM departments are usually able to have a person manage their database internally and that helps keep the content parameters consistent. Most MEP Fabrication content that I have used does very well with taps and the piping is able to be run quickly and does not need to be processed.

Incentivized

• Newforma sits on top of our previous filing system (Windows Explorer). This was very important to us because we didn't have to change the project numbering system in order to fit Newforma's design. Also, if we were to decide we didn't like it, we could easily revert back to our previous methods.
• Newforma does a great job of indexing information, making searches much easier by being able to use keywords instead of knowing the exact file location. No more traversing through countless folders before finding what you need.
• Newforma keeps a read receipt for everything that you submit through it for issue tracking, and keeps an easy to read record of your workflow.

Incentivized

• It allows Contractors to use Revit with Spooling functions.
• The database of millions of native Revit Families.
• Excellent support from Trimble.

Incentivized

• I have found it difficult to locate audits.
• Some users have issues while uploading project data.

• The ability to erase points that have been written to a TFL file would be a great addition.
• Fitting to fitting placement can act up from time to time.
• I think that the spooling can continue to improve.

Incentivized

While I have never asked for support myself, a Newforma representative has been in the office annually to give training seminars and info sessions on how to fully use the product. I find this essential to keep the product relevant and make sure everyone knows its full capabilities and an important part of customer support.

Incentivized

A good competitor against other similar solutions and support is excellent.

Incentivized

Benchmark Fabrication MEP

Incentivized

• Newforma makes it easy to transfer, share, archive, and search extensive data sets in a single GUI
• For it to be effective, all users in a team must receive a basic training and use it consistently
• Adoption in the industry is good (A/E); many teams use it consistently. Learning to use it once produces time-saving in subsequent projects

Incentivized

• It has allowed us to produce high level detailed models
• It gives us the ability to produce point files that aid in a speedier layout process for the field.

Incentivized