Product category:
Building and Site Management
News Release from: Autodesk | Subject: Autodesk Buzzsaw
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 17 January 2008
Waterman Group expands its use of
Autodesk Buzzsaw
To help it expand and grow, Waterman Group have implemented collaborative project management software, using Autodesk Buzzsaw via Autodesk reseller Excitech.
Waterman Group is one of the UK's leading multi-disciplinary engineering consultants serving clients in the infrastructure, environment and property markets around the world The company decided that it was time to implement collaborative project management software and purchased Autodesk Buzzsaw via Autodesk reseller Excitech
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 29 May 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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Waterman chose Buzzsaw as it integrated well with AutoCAD.
As well as being used on commercial projects, Waterman is also making use of Buzzsaw as a data transfer tool throughout its international network which includes offices around the world in countries including UAE, Belgium, Poland, Russia, China, Australia Ireland and Kazakhstan.
Internal Transfers.
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Prior to the implementation of Buzzsaw, Waterman had faced difficulties transferring the large presentations created for new client pitches between pitch teams.
These files were often over 200MB, almost impossible to email.
The company realised that Buzzsaw was the perfect solution to this problem, and began using the software for the internal transfer of large data files.
The benefits of Buzzsaw were apparent very quickly.
Following the success of its initial rollout, Waterman has been progressing and adapting its use of the software considerably.
Collaborative Projects.
Buzzsaw continues to be an invaluable data transfer tool with the international company transferring more and more information using the software.
As Lee Barnard of Waterman Group explains, "It is not unusual for files of anything up to 60 MB to be transferred internally".
"The flexibility of the cost model for the Buzzsaw solution meant that Waterman was able to make an initial investment to satisfy its immediate requirements, while at the same time, leaving the door open for further upgrades when needed".
"The company is now in the process of trialing how Buzzsaw can be used to enable the group's offices to collaborate on projects".
"For example, Waterman is currently working on several projects in London, where the Reinforced Concrete detailing is being carried out in the group's Warsaw office in Poland".
"Being able to quickly transfer up-to-date data has allowed the company to achieve a fast turn around on the drawings and meet the issue dates".
"A second project where Buzzsaw is being trialed is a group of individual building blocks in South London".
"The majority of the design is being carried out in the London office; however one block is being designed in the firm's Dublin office".
"Most of Waterman's UK offices are connected by a wide area network; however the Dublin office has yet to be connected".
"Without Buzzsaw this would have made the project near impossible but now the company is able to transfer and share data between the two offices, allowing for easy access to the drawing and data files for the other blocks within the development".
"Waterman is also hoping that Buzzsaw will be able to help the group increase its business in China, Dubai and Abu Dhabi".
"As these are new areas to Waterman, staffing could be an issue but using Buzzsaw, staff in any location will be able to contribute to the projects".
""This is an opportunity that simply would not have been available without a collaboration tool," says Barnard.
"According to Barnard, there are numerous benefits to using Buzzsaw, including being able to control who has access to specific documents".
"It is very simple and quick to give users access to documents, all we need is their email address and we can add them to the relevant user groups." Buzzsaw has also made dramatic savings in terms of the time taken to send documents".
"Previously we either had to email files which were often so large that they would take hours, or we had to send them on a CD in the post, now the only time involved in the process is the time it takes to upload the documents to Buzzsaw and then for the receiver to download them.
This can be done anytime, anywhere," says Barnard.
"Waterman was also impressed with how easy Buzzsaw is to use and the lack of administration required as Barnard explains.
"Once logged on it is just like working off an internal server.
The interface is very clean and easy to follow.
When we initially installed Buzzsaw we replicated our existing folder structure which meant that staff were instantly familiar with the setup, so much so that they almost forgot they were using Buzzsaw".
Looking ahead Barnard says that the firm hopes to include more information about its activities on its Buzzsaw site as the number of external visitor's increases.
"As our use of Buzzsaw expands, architects and other disciplines are being given access to the site, therefore we feel it is important to include more company information".
"" We don't want to give away too many details of what they had/have".
Barnard also says that the firm is contemplating moving to Buzzsaw Professional".
""We are keen to take things one step at a time".
"Moving to Professional would allow us to share project data more widely and invite outside firms to view data as our live trials progress, this is definitely something we are interested in".
"As soon as it becomes clear that Professional will enhance our position we will not hesitate to upgrade".
Steve Rouse of Excitech says, "Buzzsaw has really helped Waterman Group to reduce their costs in terms of communications and to help them meet deadlines by allowing offices in different locations to collaborate on the same project". Request a free brochure from Autodesk ...
"As their knowledge of the software grows the benefits will continue to increase.".
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