In today’s fast-paced real estate market, staying ahead means embracing technology that transforms how we analyze, design, and construct properties. One of the most powerful innovations reshaping the industry is the use of building insights tools . These tools harness data to provide clear, actionable intelligence that drives smarter decisions and more efficient workflows. Whether you’re managing a complex construction project or designing a new architectural marvel, building insights tools offer a way to integrate vast amounts of information into a single, accessible platform. This post explores how these tools are revolutionizing real estate, with practical examples and recommendations for companies ready to innovate. What Are Building Insights Tools? Building insights tools are software solutions designed to collect, analyze, and visualize data related to construction, architecture, and real estate development. They help teams understand project performance, identify risks, and optimize resources. These tools typically combine data from multiple sources, such as: Design files and blueprints Construction schedules and budgets Sensor data from smart buildings Market trends and property values By bringing this data together, building insights tools create a comprehensive picture of a project’s status and potential challenges. Why does this matter? Because real estate projects involve many moving parts. Without clear insights, teams can miss critical issues until it’s too late. With these tools, problems become visible early, allowing for proactive solutions. Building insights tools in action on computer screens How Building Insights Tools Improve Project Efficiency One of the biggest benefits of building insights tools is their ability to streamline workflows. Here’s how they do it: Centralized Data Access Instead of juggling spreadsheets, emails, and paper documents, teams access all project data in one place. This reduces errors and saves time. Real-Time Monitoring Construction managers can track progress and costs as they happen. If a delay or budget overrun occurs, the tool alerts the team immediately. Predictive Analytics Advanced tools use historical data to forecast potential risks. For example, if a supplier has a history of late deliveries, the system flags this risk early. Collaboration Made Easy Architects, engineers, and contractors can share updates and feedback instantly. This keeps everyone aligned and reduces miscommunication. Example: A construction company used building insights tools to reduce project delays by 30%. By monitoring schedules and resource use in real time, they identified bottlenecks early and adjusted plans accordingly. Real-time project monitoring on a tablet device Practical Steps to Start Using Building Insights Tools If you’re ready to revolutionize your real estate projects, here are some actionable steps to get started: 1. Assess Your Current Data Landscape Identify where your project data lives and how it’s currently managed. Look for gaps or inefficiencies. 2. Define Your Goals What do you want to achieve? Faster project delivery? Better cost control? Clear goals will guide your tool selection. 3. Choose the Right Tools Not all building insights tools are the same. Look for solutions that integrate well with your existing software and meet your specific needs. Sometimes you'll need to create a custom tool for your specific purpose, which is where a company like Building Data Labs comes in. 4. Train Your Team Ensure everyone understands how to use the new tools. Training is essential for adoption and success. 5. Monitor and Adjust Use the insights gained to continuously improve your processes. Building insights tools are most effective when used as part of an ongoing strategy. Tip: Start small with a pilot project to test the tools before rolling them out company-wide. Construction site enhanced with data analytics overlays The Future of Real Estate with Data-Driven Decisions The real estate industry is evolving rapidly. Companies that embrace building insights tools will gain a competitive edge by making smarter, faster decisions. These tools not only improve project outcomes but also enhance sustainability, safety, and client satisfaction. Imagine a future where every building is designed and constructed with precision data guiding every step. That future is within reach today. By integrating custom software solutions and advanced analytics, companies can unlock new levels of efficiency and innovation. The key is to start now and partner with experts who understand the unique challenges of the industry. Taking the Next Step Toward Smarter Construction If you want to lead the way in real estate innovation, consider how building insights tools can transform your operations. From better data integration to optimized workflows, these tools offer practical benefits that translate into real-world success. Explore partnerships with specialists like us to tailor solutions that fit your needs. The journey to intelligent construction starts with a single step - and that step is embracing data-driven tools today. Are you ready to revolutionize your real estate projects? The tools and expertise are available. It’s time to build smarter, faster, and better.

Stop Waiting on Autodesk: Smarter Rebar Detailing with Custom Plugins The Problem: Autodesk Rebar Updates Don’t Cut It If you’re a drafter, BIM manager, or engineer responsible for rebar modeling in Autodesk Revit, you know the drill. Autodesk announces their “long-awaited updates” for rebar detailing — and you get your hopes up — only to be totally underwhelmed. Where are the features you were hoping for? Automated bar placement? Smarter shop drawings? Consistent bar marks? Instead, you get small cosmetic tweaks that don’t touch your real pain points. Frustration is inevitable. Autodesk’s updates for trade detailing rarely address the challenges firms face on a daily basis. The Alternative: Build the Autodesk updates for trades you actually need The truth is, you don’t have to wait for Autodesk to finally decide rebar is important. Instead, you can build custom plugins and tailored tools  that fit directly into your workflows — no drastic software changes required. A custom plugin can embed your firm’s standards into Revit, so every bar, every tag, and every schedule comes out the way you want it. The result? Faster modeling, fewer mistakes, and shop drawings that actually match what the field needs. Autodesk Native vs. Custom Plugin Workflows for Rebar Detailing Workflow Area Revit Native Tools Custom Plugin Tools Bar Placement Limited to standard path and shape tools; irregular geometries require manual workarounds. Automated placement rules for beams, slabs, columns, walls, and irregular shapes. Handles lap splices, hooks, stirrup spacing automatically. Cover Settings Manual per-element adjustments; prone to errors when multiple standards apply. Dynamic cover assignment based on exposure class, code requirements, and project rules. Built-in compliance checks. Bar Shape Codes Default shape library often mismatched with local (ACI/Eurocode/BS8666) standards. Customizable shape libraries aligned with regional and fabricator standards. Auto-bending diagrams. Scheduling & Numbering Default schedules treat each bar instance uniquely; requires manual renumbering and cleanup. Intelligent bar mark generation, grouping by pour or sequence, and shop-ready bending schedules. Export directly to Excel/fabrication software. Shop Drawing Production Manual cleanup of tags, overlaps, and annotations; time-consuming for congested areas. Automated tagging, clash-aware annotation, drawing legends, and batch sheet export to PDF/DWG in one click. Quality Control Minimal checks—no automatic validation of cover, bar length, or spacing rules. Built-in QC engine flags cover violations, invalid lap splices, max bend length errors, and rebar congestion before fabrication. Integration Isolated inside Revit; requires manual transfer to Excel or fabrication platforms. Seamless integration with fabrication software (ASA, Soule, Tekla EPM), ERP systems, or project databases. Time to Detail Slow, repetitive, and error-prone—requires lots of manual intervention. 50%+ faster detailing with reduced RFIs and consistent outputs across projects. Faster, smarter rebar detailing with custom Autodesk plugins. Real-World Results We’ve seen firms cut rebar detailing time in half  with custom tools, while also reducing RFIs and field issues caused by inconsistent drawings. Instead of wasting hours renumbering bars or cleaning up shop drawings, detailers can focus on accuracy and coordination. By codifying your firm’s own standards into Revit, every project benefits: consistent outputs, fewer mistakes, and less time spent fixing Autodesk’s shortcomings. The Bottom Line Autodesk’s rebar tools will continue to evolve slowly — but your deadlines won’t. If your productivity and constructability depend on it, stop waiting. Build the update you wish Autodesk had released. Just one thought from our extensive AutoDesk series !

In the AEC and manufacturing industries, efficiency is everything. Every minute saved can translate into significant cost reductions, thus better project outcomes, thus better profit margins. That’s why we are sure that tailored software solutions are a game-changer. They help streamline workflows, integrate complex design data, and support intelligent decision-making. If you want to stay competitive and innovate, investing in the right technology is essential. Modern workspace with design software Why Tailored Software Solutions Matter Off-the-shelf software often falls short when it comes to meeting the unique needs of specialized industries. These industries deal with complex projects, multiple stakeholders, and large volumes of data. Tailored software solutions are designed specifically to address these challenges. They adapt to your existing processes rather than forcing you to change how you work. For example, in construction, managing schedules, budgets, and materials can be overwhelming - and what's even more overwhelming is trying to adjust that workflow that you've developed over time to make it fit into an off the shelf software product. A tailored solution can integrate all these elements into one platform, providing real-time updates and alerts. This reduces errors and keeps everyone on the same page. Some key benefits include: Improved workflow automation : Automate repetitive tasks to save time. Better data integration : Combine design, project, and operational data seamlessly. Enhanced collaboration : Share information easily across teams and departments. Scalability : Solutions grow with your business needs. Competitive advantage : Stay ahead by using technology that fits your exact requirements. Tailored software solutions are not just tools; they become part of your business strategy. How Customized Software Solutions Optimize Your Operations When you implement tailored software, you’re not just buying a product. You’re investing in a team of developers that aren't just making software, they're making your software. This means fewer workarounds, less manual data entry, and more accurate reporting. Here’s how custom software solutions can optimize operations in your field: Design Data Integration Architecture and engineering projects generate massive amounts of design data. Tailored software can integrate CAD files, BIM models, and other design documents into a single platform. This makes it easier to track changes, manage versions, and ensure everyone is working with the latest information. Workflow Automation Many tasks in manufacturing and construction are repetitive but critical. Automating these tasks reduces human error and frees up your team to focus on higher-value work. For example, automated inventory tracking can alert you when materials are running low, preventing costly delays. Real-Time Project Monitoring Tailored solutions can provide dashboards that show project status, budget consumption, and resource allocation in real time. This visibility helps managers make informed decisions quickly and avoid bottlenecks. Improved Communication With multiple teams working on different parts of a project, communication can become fragmented. Tailored software often includes collaboration tools that centralize communication, document sharing, and task assignments. Data-Driven Insights By collecting and analyzing operational data, tailored software can identify trends and inefficiencies. This allows you to continuously improve processes and reduce waste. Project management dashboard showing real-time data What is an example of customized software? To better understand the impact of tailored software, let’s look at a practical example. Imagine a construction company struggling with project delays due to poor coordination between design and on-site teams. They decide to implement a custom-built platform that integrates design data from architects with scheduling and resource management tools. This platform allows: Architects to upload updated blueprints directly. Project managers to adjust schedules based on real-time site progress. Procurement teams to track material orders and deliveries. On-site supervisors to report issues instantly via mobile devices. The result? Projects finish on time more often, costs are controlled better, and communication flows smoothly. This kind of tailored solution is not theoretical; it’s happening now in many companies that want to lead their industries. Another example is a manufacturing firm that uses custom software to monitor machine performance and predict maintenance needs. This reduces downtime and extends equipment life, saving thousands annually. These examples show how tailored software solutions can be designed to solve very specific problems, delivering measurable benefits. How to Choose the Right Tailored Software Partner Choosing the right partner to develop your tailored software is crucial. You want a team that understands your industry and can translate your needs into effective technology. Here are some tips to help you select the best partner: Look for industry experience : A partner familiar with architecture, engineering, construction, or manufacturing will understand your challenges better. Check their development process : Agile methodologies and regular feedback loops ensure the software evolves with your input. Ask for case studies : Real-world examples prove their ability to deliver results. Evaluate support and training : Good software is useless if your team can’t use it effectively. Consider scalability : Your partner should build solutions that grow with your business. If you want to explore options, take a look at some examples of our custom software solutions. We might be able to help you! Team collaborating on software development project Taking the First Step Toward Smarter Operations If you want to learn more about how tailored software can revolutionize your workflows, don’t hesitate to explore the possibilities with experts like us who understand your industry. The future of efficient, intelligent construction and manufacturing is just a step away.

FreeCAD can replace Autodesk products for certain workflows, but transitions are rarely seamless. File compatibility, feature parity, and team adoption present real hurdles. This is why it's a good idea to use FreeCAD and AutoCAD together for best results. Rather than a full migration, consider a hybrid approach supported by custom translation tools created for your benefit. These can convert Autodesk-native files into FreeCAD-friendly formats while preserving metadata. Conversely, outputs from FreeCAD can be made Autodesk-ready for coordination with external partners. FreeCAD example This allows teams to experiment with open-source tools without risking ongoing projects. We’ve helped firms gradually shift 30–50% of their modeling to FreeCAD, reducing licensing costs while retaining the ability to deliver in Autodesk formats. Hybrid workflows, supported by the right software bridge, let you capture the best of both ecosystems. One thought in our extensive Autodesk series!

The pricing frustration is real—especially for smaller firms and independent professionals. Autodesk licenses can be super expensive! The Autodesk subscription model locks us into ongoing costs with little room for negotiation. While it's possible to buy from a third party vendor who can work out a multi year deal, even then the price can seriously cut into a small business's profit. One way that we at Building Data Labs figured out how to increase the ROI on our licenses is by developing custom automations that maximize the output from each license. If one seat can produce 20–30% more billable work thanks to process automation, the effective cost per deliverable drops dramatically. two people working on one autodesk model through the computer We’ve implemented plugins that allow a single user to handle tasks that previously required a team—paying for themselves in months. One example is a plugin that automated a CNC workflow that once took one modeler an entire day, that now takes a single click. This allows us to maximize project flow and thus gross income, which then minimizes the risk of purchasing these pricey licenses. What's the takeaway from this anecdote? If the cost feels too high, focus on extracting more value per dollar spent through targeted, workflow-specific enhancements. We're available to talk through your workflow frustrations and recommend how to get through more work faster. Just one thought from our extensive AutoDesk series!

Revit, Autodesk's premier BIM software, offers an extensive suite of tools for architects and designers to precisely control the graphical representation of their models. This technical guide dives deep into the hierarchy of graphical overrides in Revit, elucidating how each layer of control can be strategically used for optimal visualization in your project views. Understanding the Hierarchy Effective visualization in Revit hinges on understanding the hierarchy of graphical overrides. Each level of this hierarchy offers a specific scope and level of control, allowing for detailed customization of how elements appear in different views. Best Practices for Implementing Graphical Overrides Start Broad, Then Get Specific: Begin with project-wide settings and refine your approach as you move down the hierarchy. This ensures a consistent base upon which more detailed customizations can be built. Leverage View Templates: Use view templates to maintain consistency across similar views. This not only saves time but also ensures that changes are uniformly applied. Utilize Filters for Dynamic Control: Filters are incredibly versatile. Use them to dynamically alter the appearance of elements based on specific criteria or project phases. Document Overrides: Always keep a record of any overrides, especially those applied using the Linework tool or element-specific overrides. This documentation is crucial for collaboration and future reference. Review and Update Regularly: As projects evolve, so should your graphical settings. Regular reviews ensure that your overrides remain relevant and effective. Conclusion The graphical override hierarchy in Revit is a robust framework that allows for unparalleled control over the visual presentation of BIM models. By understanding and skillfully applying these layers of control, you can significantly enhance both the functionality and aesthetics of your Revit projects. Embrace these tools to convey your design intent more clearly, streamline your workflow, and elevate your architectural presentations to new heights.

Revit templates are an integral part of any Architectural or Construction project. Especially, while working professionally; or if a company is making use of Revit to create their projects, it is very important that templates are being used to show consistency in projects and to align them in the same design to make them the trademark of a company. After using Revit for years, experimenting with different templates, styles, etc. we came up with this list, which includes the top 5 tips which can be used to create an amazing Revit template, a project which takes a smooth start usually ends well too. So, let’s see what the top 5 ways are to create custom Revit Templates: USE OOTB TEMPLATES TO YOUR ADVANTAGE OOTB (Out-Of-The-Box) templates, offered by default in Revit, are the best way to start customizing a template. It saves the time and effort needed to do everything from the very beginning. There are many free templates to choose from in Revit (Architectural, Construction, Structural etc.); premium templates are also available online. You can choose one according to your specific requirements and then do the necessary changes to make it adapt specifically to your needs. USING PREFIXES AS A TIME SAVING TOOL Prefixes are a great way to mark elements inside Revit, if you mark the default elements (including standards like the walls, windows etc.), this will be of immense help when you want to use a downloaded family off the internet. The defaults elements and the ones you are frequently using will be clearly marked with a Prefix and will be easily distinguishable. They don’t have to be very elaborate, simply adding a few letters like OP, AX etc. would be sufficient. USING NUMBERED VIEWS HELPS WITH THE CHAOS There are often multiple views inside a Revit browser, if they are not properly numbered then this could make things very confusing not only for you; the designer, but also for anyone else you share your work with. The easiest way to deal with this is to create numbered views (1-Section, 2-Elevation 3-Grid etc.), also, don’t forget to write a proper title for your views to make it easily recognizable. USE CONTAINER FILES TO MANAGE THE MESS If you keep putting every single family you have used inside of a single template then it will quickly become bloated, it will not only be confusing for you to work with but will also reduce the accuracy of your work because everything will be in single file. Use ‘container files’ to save any family or element that you think will not be used very frequently, title blocks, drafting sheets, minute details etc. are best saved in separate container files. USE A SINGLE TEMPLATE FOR METRIC AND IMPERIAL Depending on your client’s requirements and your location, you will be either using the metric system or the imperial system for your project. Whichever system you are using, you should try to work in a single template, if there are two templates for two systems then it would only create problems in the future when you want to edit something. The simplest workaround is to duplicate families of required systems and use them in your templates, the units can be changed while beginning the project and the required families can later be changed separately; instead of creating an altogether different template.

Imagine, you have saved money for years, or have taken a home loan after going through extensive procedures and filling out detailed applications, you start building your house, but halfway through your construction, you find out that the lot on which you were building was not even approved or you have gone one storey too high against the local ordinance restrictions! This could be devastating, not to mention the financial setback that you’ll have to suffer. That’s why it is extremely important to hire an Architectural Designer from a reputable firm and also familiarize yourself with the most crucial construction laws before you start building, so you can save both your time and money. Here are the 5 necessary laws to consider before starting the actual construction: Lot Information The first thing you should find out is if the lot that you will be building your house on is approved as a building site or not. Finding out this information might seem difficult, but it is all available in public records in most places. All you need is your APN (Assessor’s Parcel Number), you can find this on the Assessor’s website (depending on your county); you will use this APN to pinpoint your lot on a Parcel or Tract Map, to confirm whether it is approved or not; these can be accessed from either a County Courthouse, Tax Assessor’s Office or from the Planning Department of your area. Building Codes Building Codes will get into the nitty gritty details of actual construction. In most places, including New York, the International Building Codes (IBC) are in use. These codes can help you plan your house in a much better and safer way, if these codes are properly implemented by your contractor, they can make your home structurally strong, help you conserve energy, have proper means of egress, have adequate ventilation and sanitation etc. Zoning Zoning laws determine the actual type of building that you can build on a specific lot, these laws guide you about specific things such as setback lengths, types of buildings (residential, commercial etc.), size and usable area etc. Before construction begins, find out the zoning district in which your lot is located, then visit the local zoning office or the planning department to obtain up-to-date documents about zoning laws. Local Ordinances While the IBC or Zoning Laws are very important to consider before building your home, another necessary step is to find out any local ordinance that might be used by your concerned planning or housing department. These could help you find out about any specific restrictions; if any, about the area, size, or height etc. of a building at a specific location. Permits Although everyone understands, they need a permit for constructing a house. Only a small number of people take the trouble to find out about the specific types of permits that might be needed by a local authority. Apart from the general housing permit that you need to obtain, you might be required to submit construction drawings about plumbing and electrical systems etc. A qualified contractor usually knows this and acquires a permit when needed, still, you should double check to see if every required permit is available or not.

First, what’s Revit, and why do we need plugins for it? Revit is a highly advanced 3D modeling software that we use in many ways in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. Firms are increasingly switching from traditional paper-based methods to Building Information Technology tools like Revit because of how much easier it is to communicate with site and operations teams. However, Revit has its limitations, especially with the incredibly wide variety of projects that people create. This is where we turn to plugins to automate workflows. The problem: Our client, “John,” was repeatedly facing a problem, model after model, that caused each member of his team to spend several hours fixing a problem before beginning work on the model. What happened was that a corrupt family had shared multiple wrong shared parameters with the same name. This meant that most of the models were impossible to use, making it a nightmare for people doing schedules and modeling. ‘ Every time they synced (once a week) there were 300 or so orphaned shared parameters that reappeared in the model, which needed to be deleted manually. This would eat about 4 hours per week per model. Depending on how long the project was, it would add up to weeks that could have been spent on more useful and enjoyable work. Our client was stuck. Short of reinstalling a blank copy of Revit and reinstalling everything from scratch, which would have taken weeks and slowed the team down, even more, he didn’t know what to do. The solution: Luckily for them, we were able to fix this problem in under a week. We created a simple Dynamo script to target the wrong parameters and delete them from all models. Now, every time the model is synced, the designer just has to run the Dynamo script, and that 4 hours of work is reduced to 0. The cost-benefit analysis: Writing any plugin for Revit can be variable in the time required due to each client’s unique Revit parameters. This plugin took just 20 hours at our Dynamo rate of $35/hour for a total of $700. It took just 2 weeks for the client to break even on the cost, and the designers’ increased productivity resulted in higher project volume and increased profits for the firm!

What was the issue? Our client was a manufacturer of wall panels. Their work often involved the usage of Computerized Numerical Control (CNC); a technique, which uses computer software and pre-coded patterns to draw different geometric shapes on various types of materials. These patterns are drawn using specially designed ‘CNC Machines’. The client had to make use of CAD operators to feed the numerical values and types of cuts. They also had to work with Revit, as the initial designs were made using Revit. They then had to compare the outputs generated via Revit with the ones they were making using the CNC Machines. This whole process of feeding cut types and other values into CAD software by technicians, and then manually comparing the results with Revit output was creating problems for the client as their workflow was getting continually delayed. It was a very time-consuming process, and as there was no existing technology, or a script for Revit, they were thinking about hiring more CAD technicians, costing them extra money, while only minimally improving workflow and productivity. What we did do? The client wanted us to create something that would help automate some of the processes, while still retaining the accuracy and quality required for CNC Cutting. We started by creating a simple and easy-to-use UI that helped him insert values more easily. By using different Geometric Operations, we were able to make the operations more accurate; geometric shapes came out with increased accuracy, within a reduced time frame. Lastly, to solve the problem of Revit model output comparison, we programmed a separate application; this application automated the process of CNC Cut comparison with the output of different Revit Models. Cost-Benefit Analysis: The whole process of application generation and creating a custom UI took us around 3 months, with a client cost of approximately $18,900. To compare the cost with the benefits, it is necessary to mention that the client was working with a single CAD technician, but his workflow requirements were not being met. He was going to have hire 3 more technicians to meet his requirements; costing him around $210k per year (considering the usual CAD technician pay is around $70k per year). The client not only saved $210k per year but by using our technological solutions, he was able to automate most of the processes, thereby, increasing his production outputs by 500%

What was the issue: Our client was a drywall contractor; he frequently worked with construction drawings prepared by Architects and used their Revit Models for his work. The main issue that he was facing was that of generating Bill of Quantities (BOQ) from those Revit Models. These bills are generally created to estimate the costs involved in any project. This is traditionally done by a process referred to as “taking off”, which works by creating a list of all materials to be used during construction and their specific quantities (studs, frames, drywall sheets, etc.), and then estimating their cost. The client only had 2 estimators working on his team, and as this process of generating BOQ was manual, it was taking a lot of his and his estimators’ time. They had to manually list out every material involved in the construction process, work out specific quantities and then work on pricing. This process was both hectic and time-consuming. Since the models that they were working on were created in Revit, they had no way of automating their work, as Revit does not include any built-in technology or plugin to automate the process of BOQ generation; so, the client was really stuck and required to manually generate BOQ, before he could begin with the actual construction work. What we did: Understanding the client’s problem, we began working on a custom plugin using different formulas which utilized standards of BOQ generation and then accurately estimated specific quantities of materials that were required. Now, the client could easily use this plugin in Revit to quickly and automatically find out how much material was required and then easily work out their cost. Effectively reducing the time and work consumed on estimation by half. Cost-Benefit Analysis: It took around 1.5 months to create this plugin and the total cost was $8000. By paying this amount one time, the client took the benefit for his every future project. The labor hours were greatly improved; previously, the client had a very heavy workload, he only had 2 estimators working, but the work they did was that of 4, sometimes more. Now, after using our custom plugin, he effectively slashed the workload and time consumption in half. The 2 estimators could now do their work with increased productivity and additional time on their hands to do the estimation more accurately, this also reduced material costs; since, manually generated BOQ could overestimate the materials used, thereby, increasing the actual cost. So, the client enjoyed multiple benefits like reduced material costs, improvement in labor hours, increased productivity, and reduced workload.

AutoDesk Revit Revit is a 3D modeling software used to create replicas of buildings, used by architecture, engineering, and construction industry professionals. Revit is considered one of the most advanced data authoring tools which can be used for communication, information management, sheet generation, and more. More and more companies, including small boutique firms, are shifting away from more traditional, 2D print paper based workflows to communicate with the site and operations teams, which is what makes it such a useful tool. Revit's limitations Revit has limitations. Even though it’s one of the most heavily used building authoring tools, it still has limitations in what it can do with real world functionality. AutoDesk releases a new version improving its functionality every year, but still falls short of users expectations, especially in edge cases. With the advent of even then Dynamo has its own limitations. There are two ways of improving the functionality of Revit and connecting the functionality of Revit to some other application: Dynamo scripts The first way is through Dynamo scripts. Dynamo, Revit’s own “build your own Revit workflows” tool, which automates a lot of manual workflows - whether it be drafting, modeling, extracting information from excel and back, or sometimes even just changing text from UPPERCASE to lowercase in the entire document. All of these types of workflows can be created in Dynamo. But, Dynamo works only inside the Revit environment. It has very limited access to system tools. That means, even though every operating system can do a lot of operations with data, you are limited to what the Dynamo and Revit UI provides, unless you go to Revit API, which offers access to system resources. Custom plugins Building a custom plugin with Revit APIs is the second way of improving Revit functionality. Revit API is one of the most powerful ways of interacting with how to author and extract data out of Revit, so you can convert data from Revit data formats to any system-readable formats. Can you translate that to English please? It’s a little difficult to explain the usefulness of these plugins without giving real life examples. In each of our case studies, we talk about how we build several custom plugins that benefit each of our clients in unique ways. What’s the obstacle in your team’s workflow?