A&E Firm Specification Challenges and Possibilities for Improvement

{"version":"0.3.0","atoms":[],"cards":[["images-card",{"images":[{"url":"http:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/dpcbzfiye\/image\/upload\/v1693496441\/nngydnscpttkmdwm4peo.jpg","id":"6663049"}]}],["images-card",{"images":[{"url":"http:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/dpcbzfiye\/image\/upload\/v1693496499\/jd6u1uxunnrdw08shtjy.jpg","id":"6663050"}]}]],"markups":[["strong"],["a",["href","https:\/\/info.deltek.com\/clarity-ae"]],["a",["href","https:\/\/www.jorgeng.com\/"]],["a",["href","https:\/\/www.deltek.com\/en\/products\/specification-solutions"]],["a",["href","https:\/\/www.aia.org\/pages\/5341-masterspec-for-members"]],["i"],["a",["href","https:\/\/www.deltek.com\/en\/blog\/customer-story-merge-architectural-group"]],["a",["href","https:\/\/www.deltek.com\/en\/products\/specification-solutions\/architecture-and-engineering"]],["a",["href","https:\/\/info.deltek.com\/demo-specpoint"]],["b"]],"sections":[[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"In the Architecture and Engineering (A\u0026E) industry, specification\nchallenges involve balancing comprehensive detail and clarity, sourcing skilled\nspecifiers, and the need to optimize workflows, and foster better\ncollaboration."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"This article outlines these challenges and provides\nstrategies for A\u0026E firms to leverage technology and practical approaches to\nprioritize and empower current staff for improved specification development."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[0],1,"Key Specification Challenges in the Industry"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"For A\u0026E firms, putting together specifications can be\nmanual and time-consuming. These workflows include reviewing each specification\nsection, line by line, to ensure accuracy and consistency. This inefficient\nprocess can delay finalizing specifications and impact the project\u0027s quality."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"According to the "],[0,[1],1,"Deltek 44th Annual Deltek Clarity\nArchitecture and Engineering (A\u0026E) Industry Study"],[0,[],0,", when asked about the\nconstruction specification process, more than half (52%) of firms indicated the\ntime needed to produce a complete product specification package as one of their\ntop challenges. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Displayed below is a chart illustrating the primary specification\nchallenges faced by A\u0026E firms: "]]],[1,"p",[]],[10,0],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Crucial to ensuring that construction projects are executed\nseamlessly means overcoming the challenge of creating a comprehensive\nspecification package and addressing the lack of a dedicated specification\nwriter. Tools such as software can significantly aid a specification writer by\nautomating the process of gathering product information, integrating it\nseamlessly into the specification, reducing manual errors, improving\nconsistency, and streamlining the overall specification development process."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"According to Eugene Ninnie, Senior Structural Project\nEngineer at "],[0,[2],1,"Jorgensen"],[0,[],0,", \u0022When I look\nat new projects, I immediately think about how we can assemble the drawings,\nbut we also need to focus on developing the specifications.\u0022 He adds,\n\u0022Writing specifications can take a lot of time, which is why it\u0027s\nimportant to take advantage of software that makes things easier.\u201d With tools\nlike "],[0,[3],1,"Deltek\nSpecpoint"],[0,[],0,", the Jorgensen team has access to "],[0,[4],1,"AIA MasterSpec\u00ae\u2019s"],[0,[],0,"\nextensive product library and software that streamlines developing\nspecifications, saves time, and enhances the quality of project documentation."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[0],1,"Advancing the Specification of Digital Transformation "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"There are positive signs of digital maturity across the\nindustry. According to the "],[0,[1],1,"Deltek\nClarity A\u0026E Industry Study"],[0,[],0,", last year, only 15% of firms indicated they\nwere advanced or mature in their digital transformation maturity, and this\nyear, that number has more than doubled. What\u0027s even more encouraging is that\n82% of firms expect to be in a stage of advanced or mature in the next five\nyears, up from 69% only a year ago. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Nonetheless, the report indicates that close to 49% of\nparticipants revealed they do not utilize any tools for developing\nspecifications: "]]],[1,"p",[]],[10,1],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Digitally transforming specifications offers A\u0026E firms\nthe ability to streamline workflows, reduce time-intensive tasks, and enhance\nproject outcomes. This modernization empowers teams to adapt quickly, optimize\ncommunication, and make informed decisions, contributing to smoother project\nexecution and improved client satisfaction."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Carlos"],[0,[5],1," "],[0,[],0,"Murrieta, Principal and Co-Founder at "],[0,[6],1,"Merge Architectural\nGroup"],[0,[],0,", shares that \u201cSoftware is powerful\nbecause it not only provides hints about what we need to be considering or\nreviewing but also provides options for materials with more detail, making it\neasier to incorporate them into the specs and in our drawings.\u201d Using\nsoftware like "],[0,[3],1,"Deltek\nSpecpoint"],[0,[],0," allows Carlos and his team to handle more complex projects and\ncomplete them more efficiently."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[0],1,"Equipping Teams to Enhance Specification Quality "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The industry faces a significant challenge in sourcing\nskilled specification writers, as their expertise in translating complex\ntechnical details into clear and comprehensive documents is in high demand. According\nto the "],[0,[1],1,"Deltek Clarity A\u0026E\nIndustry Study"],[0,[],0," findings, one of the top challenges cited by 26% of all\nrespondents is the need for more specification writers within their staff."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Providing teams with the necessary tools is crucial for enhancing\nspecification quality, ensuring consistent and accurate documentation, reducing\nerrors, and facilitating improved stakeholder communication. The software can\nsignificantly aid specification writers by automating and streamlining various\naspects of specifications. Using these tools enables specification writers to\nfocus more on their work\u0027s creative and strategic aspects, ensuring quality and\nefficiency in the final specifications."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[0],1,"In Conclusion"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"In a rapidly evolving construction landscape where top-notch\ndocuments are of utmost importance, providing teams with specification software\ncan significantly streamline developing specifications, ultimately resulting in\nimproved projects. By embracing this strategy, A\u0026E firms can enhance\nspecification quality and achieve improved outcomes."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Explore the Possibilities"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The A\u0026E industry is reshaping how it builds and manages\nprojects, which means implementing modern technology. Deltek and AIA have\nteamed up to deliver "],[0,[7],1,"Deltek\nSpecpoint, home of AIA MasterSpec\u00ae"],[0,[],0,", which consists of comprehensive online\nbuilding product research and selection content combined with a streamlined\nspecification design and publishing tool that pulls from decades of experience\nserving the industry\u2019s specialized needs. "],[0,[8],1,"See the Software in Action"],[0,[],0,"."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[0],1,"About the Deltek Clarity A\u0026E Industry Study"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Deltek conducts an annual survey of firms in the A\u0026E\nindustry to identify benchmarks on key performance indicators, gain perspective\non current market conditions, and better understand industry trends. This\nyear\u2019s results for the Deltek 44th Annual Deltek Clarity Architecture and\nEngineering (A\u0026E) Industry Study include responses from 583 firms\nrepresenting a broad section of small, medium, and large firms"],[0,[9],1,". "],[0,[1],1,"Gain insights here"],[0,[],0,"."],[0,[9],1," "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[0],1,"About Deltek"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Better software means better projects. Deltek is the leading\nglobal enterprise software and information solutions provider for project-based\nbusinesses. More than 30,000 organizations and millions of users in over eighty\ncountries worldwide rely on Deltek for superior project intelligence,\nmanagement, and collaboration. This includes over 11,000 architecture and\nengineering firms, representing 80% of the Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top\n500."]]]]}