This post was created based on my experience attending the webinar titled “Revizto 5.15 and How to Reach the Next Level of BIM Coordination” The webinar was conducted in German, and the insights have been rephrased in English for this post. For those interested, the full webinar is available here.

In construction, every project is a balancing act. Communication breakdowns, budget overruns, timeline extensions—these are familiar foes. I recently attended a webinar that highlighted just how much potential there is to redefine the way we manage projects.

At the heart of the discussion was a new wave of project management tools—tools that promise not just to track tasks but to bring true coordination, clarity, and agility to construction.

And while I’ve had some experience with platforms like Revizto, listening to industry experts share their insights on real-time data, automation, and mobile integration got me thinking: Are we, as product managers, truly leveraging the full power of these tools to reshape how construction projects operate?

I have to pause… and ask, can the power of real-time collaboration close the gaps before they open?

Imagine a construction project where every key player—from design to field operations—is in sync, accessing the same information, in real time. It sounds idealistic, but this is exactly what today’s real-time collaboration tools are starting to make possible.

Max Funkner, Customer Success Manager at Revizto, put it best: “When we bring all communication and data together on one platform, we’re not just avoiding mistakes; we’re building a foundation for better teamwork and faster decisions.”

In construction, issues often arise in the blink of an eye, and a single misstep can lead to a costly domino effect. Max’s comment resonated because it highlighted something we too often overlook: project management software is not about task management; it’s about creating alignment.

It’s about removing the friction that slows teams down, the miscommunications that cause rework, the delays that balloon costs. With real-time tools, decisions happen in the moment, not after days of back-and-forth emails.

If we start using these tools as they’re designed—to bring people together and keep projects fluid—then we’re already halfway to solving some of construction’s most enduring problems.

Another part of the discussion zeroed in on automation, a feature that, when used right, is an absolute game-changer. Does it really free up teams?

Automation in construction isn’t just about reducing workload; it’s about eliminating repetitive, often mundane tasks, allowing teams to focus on high-value work. Lars Bertenbreiter, Territory Account Executive, underscored this, saying, “Scheduling tools that identify potential issues before they happen—that’s where we see real value added.”

Think about it. Scheduling tools that don’t just update but actively flag potential bottlenecks. This isn’t basic project management – this is predictive management.

We’re talking about freeing up human attention to focus on what humans do best—solving problems, making judgment calls, driving projects forward.

As product managers, we should be thinking about how to showcase the impact of this kind of automation. Imagine piloting a few high-stakes projects, gathering data on time saved and missteps avoided, and using these results to secure broader adoption. It’s an approach that doesn’t just validate the tool’s value; it proves it in tangible ways that speak directly to construction’s pain points.

Can project management software use the power of data visualization to drive action, not just results?

One of the more subtle but crucial benefits of modern project management software lies in data visualization. In an industry as complex as construction, where every decision is layered with dependencies, having clear, actionable data is a must. But it’s not enough to simply have data; it needs to be understandable, useful, and accessible to every stakeholder, from the project manager to the on-site team.

I’ve seen this firsthand with dashboards that are designed for clarity and insight rather than overload. And as the webinar emphasized, regular reviews of these dashboards with cross-functional teams can turn them from passive reports into tools for proactive management. When data isn’t just shared but understood, teams are empowered to make smarter, faster decisions.

Making smarter, faster decisions means having the ability to collect data anywhere and anytime brings the office to the field.

The ability to access project data on-site is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity. Construction is inherently mobile, and the last thing a field team needs is to be tethered to a desktop to access essential updates. Max expanded on this with a perspective that hit home: “With mobile access, teams can log updates, share images, and flag issues in real time, right from the site. This cuts down on delays and keeps everyone aligned.”

Imagine the difference it would make if every member of a project could make updates, capture site conditions, and flag concerns instantly. There’s no waiting, no follow-up calls, no guessing. It’s about enabling field teams to respond to the realities of the site without ever losing touch with the broader project.

Mobile access turns the job site into a connected extension of the project office, and that’s the kind of transformation we should be aiming for.

Now, here’s the reality check.

Construction lags behind other industries in IT investment, typically dedicating only 1% of revenue to it, compared to 3% in other sectors. Lars noted that the construction industry’s slow adoption of technology is compounded by challenges like low standardization, high complexity, and skilled labor shortages. These aren’t small hurdles; they’re structural issues that make the stakes for successful technology adoption even higher.

The solution? Investment in training.

Technology alone won’t solve the industry’s problems if teams aren’t equipped to use it effectively. A structured approach—setting goals for training completion, investing in certification programs for key skills like issue tracking and automation—isn’t just beneficial; it’s necessary. When people understand the tools, they’re more likely to engage with them fully, seeing firsthand how they solve the issues they grapple with every day.

This webinar left me with a question that every product manager in construction should consider. We have the tools, and they’re getting more sophisticated by the day. But are we, as an industry, ready to commit to fully adopting and implementing these solutions?

Are we prepared to invest not just in the technology but in the training and strategic change required to make these tools work?

The future of construction project management is here, but it requires more than just adoption. It demands a shift in how we view project management itself—not as a set of tasks but as a connected, real-time, data-driven workflow that actively drives a project forward.

The technology can do it, and it’s our job to bring that potential to life.

—

Attending the “Revizto 5.15 and How to Reach the Next Level of BIM Coordination” webinar was a powerful reminder of how far construction project management has come—and how much potential lies ahead. With my background in product management, I see firsthand how real-time collaboration, automation, and mobile integration can reshape the construction landscape, moving us beyond task tracking to true coordination and alignment.

This post distills insights from the German-language webinar, rephrased here to bring the conversation forward. For those interested in diving deeper into the future of BIM coordination, the full session is available here. Because advancing our industry isn’t just about adopting tools; it’s about building the kind of projects—and teams—that drive real impact.

• Jef Kalil, AECO Product Leader | Transforming Tech Solutions with Data-Driven Innovation | Agile & AI Enthusiast | BuildingSMART Certified