Cost overruns are widely accepted in the construction industry, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Studies show that 33% of all construction projects go over budget—with some infamous examples of loss-making projects among them. And the larger the project, the greater the potential for overruns to balloon. According to Navigant, 5% of total construction costs are spent on rework. Failing to anticipate such changes can lead to costs spiralling.
That’s why German construction company Matthäus Schmid Bauunternehmen has been using digital tools and processes to achieve transparency for the past 10 years.
The company is active in all areas of construction throughout Baden-Württemberg, particularly turnkey projects. It offers efficient, transparent, partnership-based project management as well as a variety of in-house services, from concreting to drywall construction.
Christian Schmid, one of the directors, is proud of the reputation of the company his father set up. "We depend on references because we work exclusively in this region. We must be trustworthy and reliable for customers to want to work with us again—and recommend us to others," says Schmid. "Our father taught us that a man's word is his bond. And we still live by this philosophy."
Knowing that unexpected costs and inefficient processes are common in the construction industry, Matthäus Schmid was determined to do things differently. So it decided to offer its customers and partners transparent, reliable real-time cost control and forecasting.
Matthäus Schmid’s teams have long relied on digital tools and processes. In recent years, however, they realised that these needed upgrading. "Simply exchanging documents was no longer enough for us,” says Schmid. “We wanted to visualise 3D models, carry out clash checks, assign events and tasks, write logs and store schedules. We wanted to break free of the PDF wallpaper."
When Matthäus Schmid is not the general contractor, the situation is even more complicated. “Then, we usually have to deal with several platforms set up by the client or project manager,” he says. “This can lead to minimal data exchange, and nothing more."
So, the company began looking for a single platform where all communication could come together transparently and in real time, with easy access for every project participant. They found what they were looking for with Autodesk.
Thanks to the Autodesk Construction Cloud, Matthäus Schmid has succeeded in moving to a single, comprehensive and easy-to-access platform. The switch to Autodesk Build, TakeOff and Model Coordination have enabled the company to revolutionise its cost control processes. "Autodesk solutions let us show our customers from different industries where their projects stand, where we've come from and where we're going," explains Schmid.
Matthäus Schmid has achieved precise cost control through Autodesk Build’s Cost Management tool, which includes in-house and subcontractor services, integrating various trades and iteratively processing quotations.
The team has been using the Autodesk Construction Cloud for more than four years. It uses Build for project and cost management; Docs for document management and workflows; and Takeoff for quantity take-off. These digital planning tools let Matthäus Schmid reliably plan and monitor costs, not only as a construction company but also as a service provider and customer.
For Schmid, one of the biggest advantages besides cost efficiency is the simplified workflow.
"It’s great for us to be able to manage everything on one platform and not have so many portals, links and passwords," he says. "When we manage an entire project, all documents are uploaded to the platform, from us as the general contractor, as well as subcontractors, planners and customers. This gives us overall documentation that is almost complete and seamless. We can even use it for facility management afterwards."
The company has completed more than 40 projects using the Autodesk software. “It’s very straightforward for our customers. They feel positive about it because they can track and understand everything—this transparency gives them confidence in the system," says Schmid.
The company adopted Autodesk Construction Cloud in stages. "We recognised the opportunities for ourselves early on and slowly implemented the platform,” he says. “We started with Autodesk Docs, then added Build and later Model Coordination.”
Now that the team has embraced the platform, Schmid has found plenty of opportunities to get even more out of it: “Autodesk University was a game-changer for us. And we get tips and tricks at regular meetings, which is always very helpful.”
Matthäus Schmid's digital ecosystem continues to grow. The company has set up Microsoft Sharepoint to synchronise identical databases with Autodesk Construction Cloud even after a project ends.
Schmid appreciates that Autodesk Construction Cloud is open to external extensions. "We can link additional web applications. For example, when we document our construction projects with a 360-degree camera, we upload the images to Autodesk Construction Cloud so that every member can access and view them, even if they’re not on site," he says.
Implementing Autodesk solutions has led to significant improvements in Matthäus Schmid’s construction project cost management, resulting in greater profitability and competitiveness. "Now we can offer our customers a precise forecast of where the project costs stand at all times, and with much less effort than before," says Schmid. This has helped it to win new business too.
Matthäus Schmid has successfully partnered with a famous fashion company on a project worth more than €20 million. "One key to winning this customer was presenting the Autodesk Construction Cloud platform—they recognised that we’re fair and transparent about cost control. It's a great success for us, and a vote of confidence," says a delighted Schmid. With Autodesk, everything comes together on one platform: from the expert report to the plans, the photographs, the entire documentation and the revision documents.
Matthäus Schmid uses digital technologies through the entire life cycle of each project—from design to construction. The company has increased the number of projects in its Autodesk Construction Cloud environment by 214% over the past two years. At the same time, the number of monthly active users has grown by 447%. Project users include subcontractors and supply chain partners, as well as clients and service providers. Technology is not only modernising the way the business works but also the interaction between project participants.
With Autodesk Construction Cloud, Matthäus Schmid has strengthened its position as a leading construction company in its region, and continues to pursue its vision of transparent, efficient and collaborative construction projects.
