4. Top notch IT infrastructure and equipment
Savvy builders invest in the latest technology in building materials and processes in other areas, so why should information management be any different? Information transfer speed and reliability are critical to keeping a project on schedule. It is something we take very seriously at BarkerBlue. We have an enormous investment in computers, servers and routers in a very secure server room – our version of Fort Knox – with extensive data and power back up and even backup air conditioning. We are the fiber optic hub for our local business district and have a massive
internet pipe which moves data at 40 megabytes per second. This commitment might seem excessive, but our customers should never have to worry about having their data – complete, current and 100% accurate – arrive on schedule with no surprises. A disaster recovery plan, co-location facilities and integration with other technologies and systems are also important. Request a tour of the facilities to ensure they’ve invested in their IT infrastructure.
5. Commitment to reducing paper and overall environmental impact
How committed are they to reducing paper? For the past several years, BarkerBlue has aggressively been cannibalizing our printing business by making information we host downloadable, printable, and enabling activities
such as digital on-screen take-off for bid sets and other documents. Our customers tell us that by fully utilizing our technology they print between 25% and 50% less on each project. Watch out for reprographers who use their online planroom as a Trojan Horse to secure more print ordering. One telltale sign is a planroom that only shows
low-resolution drawings and doesn’t allow the user to download digital fi les, forcing them to print everything.
Beyond using recycled paper, advanced planroom technology that reduces the amount of printing required, and using an information management partner that promotes other sustainable practices like energy efficiency and renewable energy, could earn a project Innovation in Design credit under the USGBC’s LEED rating system.
6. Educated, professional staff
While cutting edge software and equipment is important, there is no substitute for experienced, professional service. Make sure your information management partner is committed to ongoing staff education and that the people running your jobs are trained in digital document management. This is another reason to make a visit to the facility to get to know the people who will be handling your information. Even in today’s digital age, nothing is more effective in ensuring quality than building face-to-face relationships.
7. Industry leadership and key partnerships
I have spent about a quarter of my time over the past decade helping advance the reprographics industry through ReproMAX, the largest network of independent reprographers in the world. A shop that’s not involved with a leading trade group is less likely to learn about best practices or have access to cutting edge technology. ReproMAX this year forged a technology partnership with McGraw-Hill Construction to develop a set of integrated products and services for document management and distribution for the construction industry. A shop that’s not connected with industry
know-how like this doesn’t have nearly the same capabilities or expertise.
8. Long track record of satisfied customers
As most construction professionals know, the lowest bid you receive usually isn’t the best company to work with. In construction, experience is key. Look for a reprographic firm that not only has experience with the type of project you’re building, but that also comes recommended from other fi rms. If that firm has long-term relationships with clients, you can be more assured that the reprographic company provides great service, technology and at a fair and reasonable price. Much of BarkerBlue’s new business comes from internal referrals within existing accounts. We
find that project managers or directors from other projects will ask for us by name on their new jobs. Clients like Webcor Builders, DPR Construction, Myers Development and Rudolph & Sletten have been with us for over 20 years on average.
With green building, advancements in digital design, plan development and distribution, the construction business is no longer a slow, stodgy industry. As the industry evolves, traditional blue print shops that cling to papercentric processes and refuse to innovate will be left behind. It’s critical that builders have an information management partner that is not only with, but ahead of the times and a leader in their field.
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