Digital Transformation Triumph: Hodari Africa and GREA Revolutionise Construction Workflows with Autodesk Build and Autodesk Construction Cloud Solutions

Introduction

Customer Challenge:

Hodari Africa faced distinct challenges in their construction projects:

Lack of Transparency: Communication gaps and disjointed collaboration among project teams, contractors, and service providers, grappled with geographical separation, affected the level of transparency on their projects. This made information sharing and coordination difficult.

Inefficient Data Management: Both companies encountered inefficiencies in data management and data in their project management processes.

Documentation Issues: The issuance and notification of construction documentation were problematic for both GREA and Hodari Africa, leading to document loss, damage, or discrepancies.

Project Management Software Lacked Combability & Integration: These software platforms did not effectively communicate or work together, resulting in a fragmented construction process. This disjointed nature of their project management systems hindered efficient collaboration, data sharing, and workflow coordination among the various stakeholders involved in their projects.

Project Goals:

In their pursuit of better project management, Hodari Africa pursued the following objectives:

Unified Collaboration: Both sought a unified platform accessible to all stakeholders—clients, professional teams, and contractors—for seamless communication, collaboration, and project management.

Standardised Documentation: They aimed to standardise document issuance and organisation to ensure easy access for all team members, with consistent naming conventions and folder structures.

Enhanced Communication: Improved communication was a common goal to streamline workflows and ensure timely project completion.

Automation of Tasks: GREA and Hodari Africa aspired to automate and streamline tasks such as approvals, document issuance, and task tracking to identify and address overdue tasks efficiently.

Hodari representatives encountered Autodesk Construction Cloud in a webinar hosted by Autodesk Gold Partner Baker Baynes, they decided to implement Autodesk Build for their construction project in Tatu City, Nairobi. This project encompassed the construction of 27,500m² of office space, featuring two office towers, two basements, commercial units, and over 600 parking spaces.

Deric Van Staden, Lead Design Manager at Hodari, emphasised the advantages of consolidating project information within a single platform. This forward-thinking approach marked a strategic shift towards excellence. Hodari had previously used various project management software solutions, but these often failed to align with their processes.

Solution:

Supported by one of their key clients, Gateway Real Estate Africa (GREA), Hodari has been on a journey to digitalise its construction processes. Deric Van Staden, Lead Design Manager for Hodari, acknowledges the investment GREA made upfront in its commitment to excellence.

“As a developer, identifying the benefits of housing all project information in one platform is a bold move but a strategically wise decision,” reflects Deric.

Connecting Remote Teams for Seamless Collaboration

Hodari faced a significant hurdle in their project due to geographical separation. With MEP services consultants in Nairobi and architects and structural engineers in South Africa, coordinating efforts and sharing information proved challenging. To bridge this gap, Hodari adopted Autodesk Build, establishing a Common Data Environment within the platform. This move connected remote teams and facilitated communication throughout the preconstruction processes.

Achieving Clarity and Transparency

In the construction industry, miscommunication and lost information lead to errors and delays. Hodari realized that centralizing project information digitally was vital to overcoming these issues. By adopting Autodesk Build, they eliminated fragmented communication, reducing reliance on emails and messages. This centralization improved transparency and saved time previously spent searching for information.

Introducing New Ways of Working

This centralized approach streamlined workflows and enabled Hodari to use Autodesk Build’s issues feature for efficient communication with consultants and contractors. It offered increased visibility into issue statuses, enhancing project oversight.

Ensuring Quality and Accountability

Quality assurance is paramount in construction, and Hodari recognized the need for a solution to ensure rigorous quality checks. They used Autodesk Build’s photos feature to document every aspect of their work. This streamlined the inspection process, saving time and improving accuracy.

Greenlight to Go-Live

Hodari found Autodesk Build invaluable for reviewing construction drawings before initiating projects on-site. This extra layer of review improved project readiness and minimised errors.

Business Benefits:

The centralisation of project information within Autodesk Build offered Hodari numerous advantages. It eliminated the need for disparate systems and fragmented communication. The platform’s forms feature simplified data collection and analysis, enabling Hodari to transition into a data-driven company. The potential of the dashboards feature excites Hodari, as it promises to enhance their data management for better project outcomes.

The implementation of Autodesk Construction Cloud solutions has yielded further significant business benefits for both companies:

Time Savings: Teams at GREA and Hodari Africa saved substantial time on previously time-consuming tasks, allowing for more productive work on-site.

Streamlined Meetings: Improved communication on Autodesk platforms led to more streamlined meetings, reducing meeting times and increasing focus on project tasks.

Conclusion:

The centralisation of project information within Autodesk Build offered Hodari numerous advantages. It eliminated the need for disparate systems and fragmented communication. The platform’s forms feature simplified data collection and analysis, enabling Hodari to transition into a data-driven company. The potential of the dashboards feature excites Hodari, as it promises to enhance their data management for better project outcomes.

GREA and Hodari Africa continue to see substantial improvements in collaboration, communication, and project delivery through their adoption of Autodesk Construction Cloud solutions. Expert training and support from Autodesk Gold Solution Provider, Baker Baynes, were instrumental in their success.

Deric from Hodari Africa emphasises, “Working alongside our trusted digital transformation solutions partner, Baker Baynes, has been instrumental in our journey towards construction excellence. Their expertise and support have been invaluable in maximising the benefits of Autodesk solutions for our projects.”

These companies embrace digital tools to meet the evolving needs of the built environment, ensuring that they are well-prepared for the challenges of the future.