In a perfect world, clients would “see” their new homes just by looking at the blueprints of the plan they’ve chosen. In the real world, however, only a small percentage of people can accurately translate 2-D floor plans into 3-D space. To compensate, builders are turning to Building Information Modeling (BIM), and to CG Visions, one of the nation’s leading BIM consulting firms. 

 

BIM is a process of virtually building a home in a computer environment instead of the traditional 2D. BIM allows a designer to verify the integrity of the home and discover design flaws prior to construction. Errors that might not be noticeable using the old technology are easily seen when using a BIM. Preventing design mistakes before they are executed eliminate expensive field changes.

 

“BIM provides a variety of bi-product benefits, including the ability to create accurate plans, live elevations and sections,” said David Bozell, President of CG Visions. “Other benefits are estimates, realistic marketing materials and integration with back office systems. The building market is very competitive, and builders realize the benefits of using all of the data they can get from BIM to streamline their processes and contain their costs,” he added.

 

 “Ask any builder how many times having a 3-D model available would have saved time and money. Our virtual 3-D models can make a task much clearer to a construction crew or prevent a client misunderstanding,” Bozell noted.

 

CG Visions has worked with some of the top 100 builders in the U.S. to evaluate their processes and needs. These clients range from “custom home” builders who focus on a just few specialty homes annually, to “production home” builders who utilize a true production process to complete hundreds or even thousands of homes each year.

 

 

 

The company began when a business that needed assistance in integrating light gauge steel panelization software with an existing manufacturing line contacted Bozell, then a Purdue University Computer Graphics professor. After the successful consultation and integration for this company, word spread, with more companies contacting Bozell for help. Projects included apartments, dormitories, and hotels utilizing light gauge steel framing methods. Using BIM software allowed his clients to get design information, as well as bill of materials and manufacturing cut lists. The client list grew, with the workload becoming too much for a young professor working on a tenure track.

 

Bozell understood if his venture was going to take off he couldn’t do it alone. He asked Cory Shively, Scott Schultz and Tim Beckman to join the business. Each brought in an interesting mix of ideas and experience, and brought knowledge regarding growing a company. They also all worked in jobs within the digital media and construction fields. Most important, they possessed aptitude, dedication, drive, and an understanding that long hours and dedication would be required for this start up to succeed. 

 

“Throughout the growth of the company, we’ve taken different positions on how to best serve the building construction industry, but are respectful enough of each other’s ideas to hear one another out and come to a group consensus,” Bozell noted.

 

Often the meetings are split between the ‘dreamers’ and the ‘grounders,’ with positions often switching from meeting to meeting. “The bottom line is that we all have a passion for the building construction industry and introducing new technology to help increase productivity and profitability for the builder,” he added.

 

After the disaster of 9/11, the market for Light Gauge Steel construction started to decline. They needed to find a new market or close the doors. The time was right for new technologies in the residential building market, but CG Visions was back to square one in developing client relationships and figuring out pricing structure.

 

The group again put in long hours to make the transition. Their efforts paid off. The word continues to spread, with more and more calls from residential builders who need assistance in sifting through all the available technology. Builders also required help in converting their legacy data into the new BIM software.

 

Poised for growth, the company expects to add up to10 more people by the end of 2006. CG Visions currently employs 24 people with multiple divisions and services that include:

 

“Listening to the demands and needs of the industry, then providing products that specifically address those demands, is what makes CG Visions a key innovator in the construction industry. We utilize technology with the builder in mind, as our background is not only rooted in the “zeros and ones” of this digital era, but also the “sticks and bricks” of a traditional building industry,” Tim Beckman said.

 

Knowing, respecting, and evaluating the unique perspectives that builders and CG Visions staff bring to the table to create solutions is the fundamental basis of their mission to help builders build better.

 

For more information about CG Visions, e-mail info@cgvisions.com or call 765.471.8020

 

CG Visions, Inc.

3546 Osborn Lane, Suite A

Lafayette, IN 47909

www.cgvisions.com

 

As CG Visions worked with large volume builders, the need for integrated, on-line front-end sales software became apparent. Existing programs fell short of the complete sales solution that would allow builders to link sales tools with back office management systems.

 

Assessing their requirements, the company noted that builders needed software that reflected their CAD drawings, could collect specific client data to give marketing staff essential data and, most importantly, give the potential home buyer an easy and fun experience that would also encourage them to choose the builder offering the program.

 

The result, e-HomeInVision™, is an on-line sales tool that allows potential home buyers to configure a new home from their own computer or a show room kiosk. Information gathered during a visit to the site can be stored for use by the designer, for marketing purposes, or to trigger a sales process.

 

Potential buyers can browse communities for available lots or spec homes, interactively add or remove options, select from available exterior and interior colors and materials, view photographs, movies and other media associated with the home, and customize a printable brochure showcasing their newly configured home.

 

Once a homebuyer (or sales staff) chooses the plan, lot and color selections, the builder’s sales office may view client information add additional specifications that the client selects from the Design Center. A sales login also allows the builder to order materials needed and electrical items—and initiate a job start request.

 

To learn more about e-HomeInVision™ and what it can do to enhance sales and back office integration, contact CG Visions.