Connecting the office, trailer and field: Autodesk acquires PlanGrid

One of the construction industry’s biggest challenges is data flow. Getting the most current and accurate information to those who need it – such as project plans, punch lists, project tasks, progress photos, field reports, submittals, and more – when they need it, is a big problem for the AEC industry.

Autodesk’s planned acquisition of PlanGrid is about to change that.

PlanGrid software will accelerate Autodesk’s cloud-based field offerings to “…to improve construction workflows for every stakeholder in the construction process,” said Autodesk CEO, Andrew Anagnost. PlanGrid is a simple, powerful mobile-first software that gives general contractors, subcontractors, owners and architects access to information in real-time, enables field collaboration and provides actionable insights.

Sounds a lot like Autodesk’s flagship field collaboration software BIM 360? Not quite.

Many users are already using PlanGrid and BIM 360 concurrently. In fact, PlanGrid complements BIM 360 which focuses on connecting design and construction. PlanGrid is all about collaboration on any device and is used by team members across more than one million projects to manage and update blueprints, specs, photos, RFIs, field reports, punch lists and other information. The acquisition reflects Anaganost’s vision of transforming the entire design and construction process through the adoption of digital workflows for every stakeholder in the construction process.

Seamless Integration of Data

Autodesk will integrate workflows between PlanGrid’s software with both BIM 360 and Revit for a seamless exchange of information between project members, eliminating silos and automating the sharing of rich design information in the field. PlanGrid will also remain an open platform for interoperability with technology solutions

“At PlanGrid, we have a relentless focus on empowering construction workers to build as productively as possible,” said Tracy Young, PlanGrid CEO. “One of the first steps to improving construction productivity is the adoption of digital workflows with centralized data. PlanGrid has excelled at building beautiful, simple field collaboration software, while Autodesk has focused on connecting design to construction. Together, we can drive greater productivity and predictability on the jobsite.”

Caron Beesley

Caron is a writer and marketing communications consultant with a particular focus on the government sector. She has explored digital design and shared insights on the topic for over 15 years. Caron also writes about the power of digital transformation and the impact of cybersecurity, cloud computing, big data, and more.