This year has certainly been a trying time for Australian businesses. From drought to bushfires to floods, and the global COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve all been dealing with forces beyond our control that have had a massive financial impact on businesses.

Brightbox has released a new update to MudShark, with version 8.0.13.

The world has changed and continues to change rapidly around us. Faced with this changing landscape, as a society we have had to redefine the way we work; and for many of us that means working remotely, or working from home. 

As our industry continues to change and transform over the course of the most recent global events; the way we approach work, our colleagues and our customers are also changing.

Get ready for the latest advancements in estimating. In Cubit 10 we’ve introduced a way for you to see plans more clearly in your viewport, with Optimised Layer Rendering.

Get ready for the latest advancements in estimating. In Cubit 10 we’ve introduced the ability to work with revised BIM models and manage change in your BIM-based jobs.

Get ready for the latest advancements in estimating. In Cubit 10 we’ve introduced a new Job Revisions workflow that will give you greater control over your revisions process, and help you to more easily and confidently keep track of changes.

Working remotely has a number of advantages and challenges. In order to make the most out of it, and ensure you and your team are working effectively, you need to put thought and effort into preparing and undertaking your work, and how you interact with your team.

Get ready for the latest advancements in estimating. In Cubit 10 we're Giving you clearer and more purposeful ways to interact with and navigate with your estimate as part of an Enhanced Estimating Experience. 

Australia, like the rest of the world, is being heavily affected by the rapidly escalating outbreak of the Coronavirus and we feel that it is important to communicate the steps that Latham Australia are taking during this uncertain time.

Get ready for the latest advancements in estimating. Cubit 10 is arriving soon.

Flexible work is becoming common practice for many companies, but have you ever stopped to think: what are the possible health and safety risks of working from home?

We’re excited to welcome Danny, our new Product Manager to the team. 

With 2020 well underway, we wanted to take a moment to look back on the successes we achieved last year through the hard work of our dedicated teams, and our partnership with you, our customers. 

Bartender was recently updated to offer you some helpful improvements to make your work easier when choosing the right suppliers for your jobs.

Well, we made it. Welcome to the ‘20s. It’s a new decade full of new opportunities, so what does that look like for the construction industry over the next 10 years?

Every year, new trends and technologies emerge that have the potential to change the way we do business. And the faster companies can adopt these trends, the more likely they are to reap associated benefits. The commercial construction sector is undergoing significant changes due to technology. From cloud collaboration in project design to prefabricated buildings, emergent trends are providing opportunities for contractors to cut costs, attract more customers, and tackle complex projects.

Construction activity is on the rise throughout Australia. Clients are not only demanding more structures, but they also desire complex buildings that leverage the latest technologies. And as construction projects become more complex, contractors are faced with the challenge of increasing efficiency while minimising costs.

As bushfires devastate the east and west coasts of Australia, thousands have been left without homes. This doesn’t just include the people of Australia, but also our native wildlife. 

Our goal with MudShark has always been to make earthworks takeoff easy, simple and accurate. In the years since the software was first developed, we’ve developed many new tools and features to deliver on this goal. With MudShark 8, we’re continuing to deliver the best earthworks takeoff software, with a new and improved user interface.

In the past, bamboo was an inexpensive option for designing fences, shacks, and scaffolding. But when Bali Green School founders (John and Cynthia Hardy) were able to treat bamboo for better functionality, builders began to realise that bamboo is an excellent solution for sustainable construction.

The final year of the decade has seen changes across a number of industries, including construction. In 2019, construction work fell by more than 11% across all states and territories in Australia. While it may not be a statistic that will make you feel overly positive about the future, all is not lost - and 2020 could be our catalyst for change.

According to MBA forecasts, the building and construction industry is looking set to stabilise moving into 2020 and 2021. With some optimism in mind, let’s dive into what else we can expect, and what we should keep an eye on, in 2020.

Commercial builders face the most complex cost structures in any industry. Such companies often need to balance labour, material expenses, project planning, equipment, and subcontractors. Because each separate element has a different effect on cost, builders may find themselves with tight margins if they don’t plan accordingly.

Every project that you carry out will involve a certain level of risk. From safety issues to cost and estimation challenges, being prepared for such risks can help smoothen even the most complicated projects.

Artificial intelligence is taking our economy by storm. From the financial sector to manufacturing, AI tools are being used to analyse transactions in real time, boost productivity, and cut costs. The construction sector is also ripe for takeover by artificial intelligence. From automating the design process to streamlining project management, construction companies can leverage AI tools to make their work easier.

Sustainability has become a primary focus for many different companies, regardless of industry. Manufacturers, retailers, miners, and builders are all faced with the challenge of implementing sustainable practices during daily operations. However, many companies don’t quite understand what constitutes sustainability. Sustainable construction refers to any technique, process, or project that minimises environmental impact.

Regardless of industry, developing strong relationships is the secret to keeping customers happy while winning more work. Relationships are particularly beneficial in construction. Because many projects are capital intensive, customers tend to look for a company they can trust to get the job done on time and on budget. In fact, referrals are one of the most common ways through which contractors get more business and grow their bottom line.

For many years, construction companies relied on paper and spreadsheets to complete projects. Manual techniques were often used to develop blueprints, communicate with team members, and prepare material estimates. But this old school approach has now been replaced by technology. Indeed, estimating software, digital records, and advanced communication tools have become the gold standard of a successful construction project.

New technologies, a rising population, and increased interest in construction activities have led to significant growth in Australia’s construction sector. There has been a steady demand for both residential and commercial projects throughout the country, which indicates that construction work will continue to contribute significantly to Australia’s GDP.

The hotel and tourism sector comprises a significant portion of Australia's GDP. Both local and international visitors generate revenue for hotel chains when they travel to various parts of the country for tourism and leisure. In 2018, travel expenditures had risen by 21.3%, increasing from $107.9 billion to $130.9 billion. This expansion has provided a unique opportunity for builders, estimators, and construction companies in general. With more demand for hotel and holiday accommodations, builders can access and tender for  lucrative projects that generate revenue and improve their bottom lines. 

A wall by any other name: whether you know them as green walls, plant walls, vertical gardens or biophilic design, living walls are on the rise for new builds in our major metros. 

From One Central Park in Sydney to Brisbane’s Aria Botanica, our verticals are becoming more verdant thanks to a considerate design that blends a building with its natural surrounds. 

Buildsoft has released a new update to Cubit, with version 9.1.7. See details of the fixes included in the release below. 

As almost every industry continues to leverage big data, the construction sector has been left behind in using numbers to drive success. Manufacturers, bankers, and retailers are using data to provide insights and make better decisions. By collecting and analysing data in real-time, such businesses are able to cut costs, handle emerging customer concerns, and provide higher quality services. Leveraging data within the construction sector is beneficial for companies looking to generate growth.

Australia’s residential construction boom began in 2012, as demand exceeded supply and more everyday Aussies said yes to the dream of homeownership.

Fast forward seven years and construction represents approximately 11% of gross domestic product, providing ongoing job security to just over 9% of the total workforce… but these numbers are changing.

Every year, engineers and builders look to develop innovative, energy-efficient, and cost-effective materials for their projects. Such a revolution is important because traditional building materials are becoming depleted or inefficient to meet current demand. For example, mining large quantities of iron ore just to extract metal is an environmentally unsustainable technique. With technology advancing performance in many different aspects of building and construction, the same technologies are being leveraged to explore and implement new building materials. 

As the most commonly used material in construction, concrete has been relied on for decades to provide durability, strength, and flexibility. Significant advancements have been made in the world of concrete manufacturing and usage over the years. Builders can now access concrete in multiple grades, compositions, and performance levels. 

For many years, construction companies have been looking for ways to reduce the gap between architectural drawings and actual plans (on the ground). Converting physical blueprints on paper -and 2D models on a screen- into 3D reality can be very complicated. These conversions are what make productivity and scalability challenging for builders.

Productivity has been an achilles heel in the construction sector. With global investments expected to double by 2030, improving productivity will be the key to success within this field. The unfortunate reality is that many projects still go over budget and experience delays. If you want your company to remain competitive and win more customers, you’ll need to find ways to cut costs, communicate more effectively, hire top talent, and harness the power of technology. 

Buildsoft has released a new update to Cubit, with version 9.1.6. See details of the enhancements and fixes included in the release below. 

The goal of any business is to grow. However, this growth comes with many new challenges that your company will have to deal with. From handling more workers to having higher expectations from customers, growth can easily turn into a nightmare if your construction business isn’t prepared. In many cases, growth directly impacts quality. This is because many companies still rely on the same processes they were using before expanding, ultimately resulting in a drop in quality over time.

Since its invention 20 years ago, 3D printing has been used to create unique products across multiple industries. The realm of possibility for 3D printed structures has continued to expand over time. From medical devices to sculptures and even furniture, 3D printed objects are becoming common in our daily lives.

Buildsoft has made some improvements to Bartender, with version 1.4.1. See details of the update below. 
 

Sustainability is the new hot topic that's sweeping across many different industries. Customers are looking to become involved in projects, products, or initiatives that don't deplete the limited resources we have available. This is why electric cars, sustainable timber, and renewable energy have become popular in recent years. 

Technology has become a critical component of many engineering and construction companies. Builders, surveyors, estimators, and contractors are leveraging the digital transformation to cut costs while improving efficiency.

Over the last thirty years Australia’s skylines have continually risen, reflecting a change in the way we think about the relationship between towers and densification. Far flung from the early days of business districts, today’s skylines reveal a bricolage of brick, steel and concrete, combining traditional trade and public services, building grids with residential towers and apartment housing.

Prefabricated construction is the environmentally savvy disruptor tipped to break the budget strangling mould of the Australian housing market. Common in nations like Sweden, where prefabricated modular design dominates around 70 percent of the residential housing market, the benefits of prefabrication in construction satisfy a growing demand for safe and affordable housing on a limited deadline. 

BrightBox Software has released an important update to MudShark, their premiere earthworks estimating software.

Buildsoft has released a new update to Cubit, with version 9.1.4. See details of the enhancements and fixes included in the release below.