The digitalization of the construction industry has, in recent years, fundamentally changed the way projects are managed. The Common Data Environment (CDE), i.e. a common data environment that enables centralized documentation management, effective communication between all project participants and transparent control of the construction process has become the key concept.
As TechnoStruct Academy points out, the implementation of CDE brings, among other things, higher efficiency, better cost management and prevention of errors caused by outdated documentation.
SENTIENT – leader in construction consulting services
SENTIENT is one of the largest independent construction and real estate consulting companies in Central and Eastern Europe. They operate in 13 countries, have offices in Prague, Bratislava, Budapest, Warsaw, Bucharest and Zagreb and have participated in hundreds of projects from shopping centres, hotels to residential development. SENTIENT’s main services include project and price management, building site supervision, development monitoring and technical due diligence. Hadn’t there been modern digital tools, it would not be possible to provide these services effectively.
Fieldwire – the best-rated construction management software
Fieldwire is a modern platform that changes the way construction projects are managed and connects all participants within one environment. The company was founded in 2013 and has been part of the Hilti group since 2021, which ensures strong supportive environment and local support. Its main advantage is simplicity and clarity, thanks to which it has quickly become a common tool on construction sites.
It allows working with current drawings and the ability to add notes directly to plans, easy assignment of tasks including schedules and photos, creation of digital forms and automatic reports. There is also a BIM viewer for 3D models and planning tools that ensure better overview and coordination. User reviews from around the world confirm simple and intuitive operation, quick implementation and significant contribution to effective project management.
Searching an ideal tool: from Archipad to Fieldwire
SENTIENT has tested several CDE platforms in the past, such as Archipad, PlanRadar, Dalux and Autodesk BIM. However, it gradually became clear that for the type of projects SENTIENT works on and the team’s expectations regarding software requirements, Fieldwire is the most effective solution, combining mobility, accessibility and intuitive task and documentation management.
According to an internal comparison by SENTIENT, Fieldwire has significant advantages over some other CDE tools:
- it works on iOS and Android and allows web access;
- all projects and devices are linked within one account;
- it enables collaboration with investors, suppliers and designers
- it offers a BIM viewer, photo archive, chat and real-time communication;
- it provides automated forms, reports and clear Gantt charts.
First deployment: W Prague – Hotel Evropa project
The decisive moment for choosing Fieldwire was the W Prague – Hotel Evropa project. This is where SENTIENT first saw that a cloud environment and mobile applications allow for managing a complex project with dozens of suppliers much more efficiently than traditional tools.
After the successful experience with the Evropa Hotel, SENTIENT is gradually deploying Fieldwire to all their projects. Thanks to this, their teams now work in a unified environment, always have up-to-date drawings and documents available, and can flexibly respond to changes directly on site. What is also a great added value is the high-quality support of Hilti, which is behind the implementation of Fieldwire in the region.
Benefits for the construction industry
Using Fieldwire has brought SENTIENT and their clients a number of specific benefits:
- acceleration of information transfer between the construction site and the office;
- reduction of the risk of errors and omissions;
- more effective coordination of subcontractors;
- transparent reporting to investors;
- digitization of photo archives and construction logs.
The implementation of Fieldwire at SENTIENT clearly shows that the digitization of the construction industry is not a matter of the future, but of the present. Successful implementation of CDE tools such as Fieldwire brings measurable time and cost savings, increases construction quality and strengthens investors’ confidence.
Photo: SENTIENT archive