Item: Autodesk Build
Rating: 10
Author: Alvaro Flores

Support Rating

I've only contacted support once by chat, all my questions were answered and the issue I had was resolved in a prompt way. Many of the commands or tool that - by use of the app - we identified as needed or "nice to have" have been implemented through time. The support employee I spoke with was eager to help.

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use Plangrid mostly on-site for review construction process and prepare reports, across all the company departments. It allows to coordinate between disciplines and different plan versions easily and with access to the current project info

Pros and Cons

Prepare punch-list reports
Administrate and compare different plan versions
Document the project photographically in relation to plans

Annotate and draw on plans, include undo option and add a note layer
Allow users to generate reports from iPad app
The annotate photo option should be made easier, part of the photo taking process and not as an additional step.

Return on Investment

It has simplified the availability of last version plans on site as well as completely eliminated the need to print plans.
Simplified site-visit reports, not only faster to make but easier and engineer's time between visit and report delivery has greatly improved.
Different disciplines have easier access to others' plans, review of coordination issues has improved.

Alternatives Considered

Have tried different options for plan review on-site (mostly on iPads):

- Pdf viewers (various): Big files, complex process that takes a long time to reduce files for easy and fast access, limited annotation possibilities
- Autocad: Really difficult to view many sheets, big files and limited and cumbersome annotation options
- Bluebeam Revu: Complex interface and uploading process, very complex sharing process and team work

PlanGrid has mostly resolved the above issues, also providing the option to easily add photos and made reporting really easy.

Likelihood to Recommend

Easy accessibility of plans on-site. There's a clear identification of the different versions of the plans and the tool to compare the differences between versions is greatly implemented and easy to interpret. The generation of the reports is easy and the report format is very clear, but improvements should be made in the web app to avoid jumping between punch-list review and punch-list list. You should be able to generate punch-list reports from iPad app. The annotate on plan options should be improved, it's difficult to draw directly on plan to clarify a detail or to make a modification.

Usability

Very well thought app, easy to use and provides fast access to the project's plans (your own and your team's), improvements in the annotation posibilities and on-site report generator will be appreciatted. The punch-list report generator and the current/previous plan version compare tools works flawlessly. Haven't used the RFI's nor field report options yet.

Usability Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Like to use Relatively simple Easy to use Technical support not required Well integrated Consistent Quick to learn Convenient Feel confident using Familiar	None

Easy Tasks

Comparing previous/current plan
Punch-list reports
Name & sheet number automatic detection on upload

Difficult Tasks

Annotate/draw/clarify detail on ipad app
Jump between list view/detail view in punch-list reports webpage
Take photo/Annotate photo

Mobile Interface Availability and Impressions

Yes - It works well, doensn't try to be a copy of the web app, but to be complimentary. Not all the functions are available in each and that's ok (the team seems to have very well identified which options and tools are better suited for each platform considering the scenarios in which they're expected to be used). The possibility to generate reports will be very well received

Must-have app for construction professionals

Overall Satisfaction with PlanGrid