Discover everything BCX acheived in 2024 and the benefits new features have for users.

A Look Back on 2024

2024 has been a busy year for our clients and certainly a busy year at BuildCentrix. With a full slate of projects and initiatives going on, we know it can be difficult for clients to keep up with the new features and updates we release during the year. As we head toward the holiday break we thought it would be a good time to look to review the new features and updates we completed this year for those who may have missed out.

We focused our development efforts on three main areas: completing our suite of Autodesk plugins, enhancing our shipping and delivery tools, and building out our 3D Takeoff Builder. We also continued investing in upgrading our systems to handle all the new clients that came onboard in 2024 and to ensure plenty of capacity for 2025.

Shipping and Delivery

Shipping and delivery play a critical role in finishing projects on time and on budget, including establishing a clear and timely delivery schedule to maximize synchronized productivity and organization from field to office, regardless of a fabrication shop’s size or budget. While we had some basic functionality in our Shipping Calendar, it wasn’t enough to meet the challenges of this critical part of the construction process.   

We built out a full suite of Shipping & Delivery features and services and integrated them into the ordering process and shipping calendar. The new Shipping & Delivery features include:

• Allowing workers to set a delivery window when submitting a work order.
• Ability to set a loading bay for each work order. 
• Ability to assign each work order to a truck. 
• Ability to assign a driver to a truck. 
• Email notifications and messaging for shipping.

Customer feedback has been excellent and many clients are already successfully using these features to streamline their shipping and delivery processes.  

3D Takeoffs

Arguably one of BuildCentrix’s most defining features is our ability to use 3D takeoffs to speed up the detailed process of ordering parts for a project. In 2024, we took full advantage of the success our clients gained from our 3D rendering and amplified that process to include integrated 3D Takeoff Builder in the BCX application. With a few clicks, users can upload a blueprint, set their measurement scale, and submit it to our 3D takeoffs to begin building the necessary parts for their project. These new features now allow users to:

• Add custom blueprint projects and upload blueprints to complete multiple takeoffs.
• Access the Field Status on blueprint projects so users can easily set and track each work order on their blueprint.
• Create prefabricated and reusable assemblies shop managers can share with the field crews. 
• Create product palettes for specific systems to make it fast and easy to create takeoffs, especially for piping and plumbing.
• Access more than 800 additional piping and plumbing fittings recently included in the database.

With 3D takeoffs, users can see their blueprints filled out with the exact measurements indicated on their original blueprints and can submit them directly to the BuildCentrix ordering page. There, users can also double-check their work and confirm the correct pieces with the right measurements will be ordered to ensure accuracy. In addition, our new 3D Takeoff Builder updates grant users the ability to view their built-out blueprints in 2D or 3D for ultimate visibility. 

While 3D online takeoffs are still in the early stages for some users, client feedback and input has been outstanding. We will continue to work hard to make creating takeoffs a fast and easy experience.

Hangers & Supports

We completed all the 3D rendering for piping and plumbing and duct hangers and supports. We also added them to the 3D Takeoff Builder so users set their hangers right on their takeoffs.   

Work Orders

BuildCentrix’s accelerated client database has been at the forefront of our 2024 work orders initiative. This feature is primarily used to gather, collect, and streamline operations for HVAC and plumbing manufacturers across North America, all through one centralized digital solution. We updated the work order page to provide our clients a seamless user-friendly and device-flexible (desktop to tablet) interface. 

The new design encourages an ease-of-use presentation, and we quickly saw an increase in customer satisfaction as the work order page became easier for clients to navigate. Ultimately, this feature helps shops meet tight deadlines, improve quality, and keep their shops organized through: 

• Improved efficiency: Provides clear, real-time access to work instructions, reducing errors and miscommunications.
• Enhanced accuracy: Automatically integrates with CAD/CAM software and ERP systems to ensure consistent and up-to-date specifications.
• Boosted productivity: Enables faster job tracking, updates, and completion with immediate visibility into project progress.
• Reduced waste: Minimizes errors and rework by ensuring workers always have the latest information at their fingertips.
• Supported scalability: Simplifies operations for growing shops by organizing and automating workflows.

While the launch didn’t go as smoothly as we hoped, for such a big change most clients adapted well. We did learn some good lessons, including the importance of more advance notice, better communication, and even early release videos to help people understand the change.  

Customized Forms for Work Orders

In the latter part of the year, we finally tackled rebuilding the Submit Order page into a more modern architecture so we could support a wider range of client needs. A big part of the re-build allows us to add custom forms to the page to support existing client forms. These could include forms for labor, materials, support documents, inspection questionnaires, and other custom data required to support a work order or process. 

While clients won’t be able to add these custom forms themselves, all it takes is a quick call or email to our support team and they can be added to a client’s deployment. 

Spooling

We have implemented the platform’s spooling capability, which takes your models from BIM 360 or ACC into the BCX Model Spooling user interface so field personnel can spool or order directly from the model. BCX automatically generates the .maj file for duct spools/orders, and the order status can be updated in real time so everyone can see where each component or assembly in the model is in the process (i.e., sent for manufacturing, manufactured, shipped, installed). This functionality is a game changer because it eliminates redundant communication and bridges the gap between the office designer and the project site.Where previously a field person would have to choose a PDF, call the designer to request the component, wait for the designer to send an email to the shop, and call the shop if he wanted to know the order status, this process is now digitized and updated in real time. 

Palettes

Imagine having a preset list of parts that you know you’ll have to use based on project knowledge and repetition. BuildCentrix has created the Palettes feature, a solution to clients manually sifting through hundreds of products in their inventory. Our team continued to build off that momentum and updated the platform to integrate customized Palettes into the 3D Takeoff Builder. The Palettes feature is designed to further simplify any user’s workflow to make project takeoffs faster and more accurate, specific to the individual using the application. 

Here’s what users can do with Palettes:

• Use Palettes in 3D or blueprint takeoffs, allowing forepersons to upload blueprints, trace measurements, and streamline planning more accurately.
• Group individual parts and prefabs for quick access, eliminating the need to manually search the inventory.
• Customize Palettes by trade type or project needs, which is perfect for field teams and forepersons.
• Easily edit and update Palettes as a shop’s database evolves.
• Access Palettes directly from the top of the toolbar for seamless navigation and efficiency.

Technology and Systems

Our support team was hard at work behind the scenes, quickly and efficiently addressing work tickets on critically important and highly technical updates and improvements. These are the types of tasks that our highly experienced and skilled team of engineers excels at so our clients can focus on projects and business.

2024 has been a record year for welcoming new clients to BuildCentrix, and 2025 is already shaping up to be a very busy year. In 2025, we will be launching many upgrades and new features to help make our clients more efficient and productive so keep an eye on our website, newsletters, and emails throughout the year.  

Many thanks and happy holidays to all our clients and users! And an extra big thank you to those who have provided such great information and feedback to help us build services to meet the needs of those workers building projects. 

Happy holidays from everyone at BuildCentrix!