The construction industry and the successful execution of construction projects rely on a wide range of technical professionals and field personnel working in close collaboration and processing huge amounts of information. Electrical engineers, architects, mechanical engineers, chemical engineers, IT professionals and support staff are among the many roles that professionals fill in this industry.

In the United States, the demand for design and detailing work by structural engineers cannot keep up with the supply, making outsourcing and offshoring a compelling possibility for construction and engineering firms (Outsourcing and Offshoring: Options for the US Construction Industry, International Business and Economics Journal). Many companies have already adopted an offshore model where structural design work is performed locally, while detailing work is offshored to emerging economies.

For many firms, outsourcing construction roles is what puts them in a position to bid for larger jobs. Efficiencies can be created in certain areas, allowing for a more strategic focus of resources and the capacity for expansion.

Those areas include everything from back office functions, accounting and IT, through to 3D modeling and drafting services.

Of course, at all times, work standards are of paramount importance, as are national and corporate security (depending on the project). So it’s imperative to ensure you work with trusted professionals who are familiar with the requirements of the industry and can perform to the level that you require.

If you plan to outsource a project’s construction management, you can fully leverage your outsourced partners established network at each step. This can include architects, expediters, and general contractors throughout the development process, which increases the competitiveness as they compete for your business, giving you the highest quality for the best price. National general contractors can take it a step further by performing across the country, while utilizing locally-experienced partners in the region of their project.

Democratize information to subcontractors

When trusting unfamiliar faces with project responsibilities, you need to ensure everyone is on the same page. Subcontractors provide specialized work essential to project success, but their efficacy is only as good as the onboarding General Contractors provide.

Integrating subcontractors into existing processes can be challenging, but we help democratize information. These 3D models empower subcontractors with the same project details everyone has access to, so they can effectively do their job. Equipped with information passed down from the design, detailing, and fabrication phases, subcontractors receive a thorough overview of project expectations.   

Outsourcing vs. Subcontracting

Outsourcing is primarily a cost-cutting measure where tasks done in-house are now being completed by individuals or businesses outside of the firm and not affiliated with it. It is often part of a company’s strategy to reduce labor costs and applies to many areas within a firm.

Subcontracting, on the other hand, is when a company hires another individual or company to complete a specialized task that typically cannot be done internally. Subcontracting does not involve permanently allocating out entire jobs or departments within a firm and the job is agreed upon on a contract basis.

As it became increasingly popular in the late 20th century, outsourcing became a buzzword, causing confusion between what qualifies as subcontracting and what is truly outsourcing.