CRM is a useful system in many industries with a very wide range of activities. We described in one of our articles the advantages of using Strada in managing photovoltaic sales. This time, let's take a closer look at the possibilities of the system in the work of architects and designers.

Various analyzes allow us to predict that the market for solutions for the architectural and construction industries will increase by nearly $5 billion by 2024 compared to the period just before the pandemic. To illustrate the scale of the sector, it is worth mentioning the example of the USA where engineering and architecture services are provided by approximately 110,000 companies, with revenues totaling nearly $300 billion annually. Such a advanced service profile requires both professional tools for project work and contact management with clients.

CRM in Project Industries

Management systems are not only desired by designers themselves, but are also highly useful in the work of management, marketing specialists, teams working on profiling and sales of services in the engineering or construction industry. While reviewing the possibilities and advantages of using CRM in architecture and construction, it is worth briefly looking at two basic foundations of IT support for project offices - due to the need for at least partial integration with management systems:

CAD Software

Its main purpose is to:

• 2D drawing

• 3D modeling

• export to other programs

• presentation, visualization and animation

• creating measurements, lists, full technical documentation.

Task Management

In this case, process management software, including for construction, enables:

• budgeting

• task assignment and tracking of progress

• managing the work of subcontractors

• integration with accounting

• reporting and monitoring incidents

• managing inquiries and offers.

CAD software is therefore designed for specialized, narrow use, also in industry, in the production of machines, vehicles, ships, airplanes, etc. On the other hand, construction management systems have characteristics similar to CRM systems, but are geared towards the specific nature of the construction industry.

Having an outline of the management and IT requirements of the construction, design, and engineering industries, let's trace the integration and implementation possibilities of CRM systems, including Strada, in their specific activities.

CRM for Architects and Engineers

Observing the work of architects and design engineers, a basic conclusion arises: they deal with complex programs that support their multidimensional professional activity.

The CRM system supporting the architecture industry should be in the background of primary solutions: simple, intuitive to use, with a user-friendly interface. Strada is such a system: it contains tool modules that do not require learning, and the graphics are toned down.

Another issue is contact with the client outside of email, with the ability to present a portfolio. Ideal places are social media services, preferably with a professional profile, such as LinkedIn. Therefore, CRM should enable integration with the most popular social media applications.

Another issue is the complexity of processes in the work of architects. Cooperation with specialists, i.e. designers of structures, installations requires delegating tasks. Strada allows for remote coordination of work, assignment of orders, creating schedules, and the ability to observe and settle the progress of implementing projects.

When describing software that facilitates management, we mentioned budgeting, and in the case of CAD programs, the expectation of easy file exchange. Strada CRM allows for creating cost estimates for tasks, and its integration with Dropbox provides easy and quick access - from any location - to even very complex projects placed on external cloud servers.

In summary, the CRM system for architects, engineers - with certain profiling - is a very important tool for managing work and contacts with clients. This arises from two issues: designers also create a product, and their work is teamwork. Contemporary cooperation groups comprise people often dispersed even in distant parts of the world.

Looking to the Future

it can be inferred that the long-term trend will be the ongoing pursuit of work (and production) optimization and utilizing the global arena as the world's design office. The competition will be won by companies that best coordinate the threads of their multi-aspect activities. The nearest future of Strada is intense testing of the service, listening to users, and adapting functions to their needs. Architects are welcome among our clients. With their analytical and spatial perspective, they will give our team valuable guidelines in response to the question: how to create the CRM of the future: an intuitive and beneficial system for any enterprise?