Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of daily operations in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC). New tools appear constantly, promising to automate BIM workflows, improve project coordination, or generate proposals faster. For many small and mid-sized firms, this creates pressure to adopt everything quickly in order to avoid falling behind. But focusing only on tools often leads to confusion and wasted effort. The real value of AI does not come from using the newest platform—it comes from improving how the business operates.

AI Is Already in Your Firm—Whether You Planned for It or Not Artificial intelligence is no longer a future consideration for architecture, engineering, and construction firms. It is already embedded in daily workflows, quietly shaping how proposals are written, meetings are documented, designs are reviewed, and decisions are made. The real challenge for AEC leaders is no longer whether to adopt AI—but how to do so responsibly, securely, and intentionally.

In architecture and engineering, partnerships with technology and BIM consultants are essential—but they are also frequently questioned. Budgets are reviewed, invoices are scrutinized, and a familiar executive question surfaces: “What have you done for me lately?” The answer cannot rely solely on activity, reports, or technical effort. To build long-term trust and measurable value, firms and their consultants must shift from progress-based communication to outcome-driven alignment.

As artificial intelligence continues to evolve at a rapid pace, its influence is being felt across nearly every industry. For architecture, engineering, design, and IT service organizations, AI has become more than a trend—it’s becoming a foundational part of how teams communicate, manage projects, streamline operations, and scale their businesses. What began as curiosity has quickly transformed into real-world applications that save time, reduce friction, and unlock new levels of productivity.

Data has become the core operational asset for modern

businesses—particularly for architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC)

firms whose work depends on continuous access to large, complex project files.

When systems fail, the consequences can cascade into costly delays, missed

deadlines, and potential loss of client trust. Understanding how disaster

recovery works—and what downtime truly costs—has become essential business

planning rather than technical background noise.

The holiday season brings a sense of joy, celebration, and—unfortunately—increased cyber threats. As people become busier with festivities, shopping, and wrapping up work projects, cybercriminals take advantage of lowered vigilance and high activity to launch sophisticated scams.

The architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry continues to embrace digital transformation, and one of the most groundbreaking advancements is Scan to BIM technology. What once required days of manual measurement, sketches, and site revisits can now be completed in hours through precision scanning and intelligent modeling. As this technology evolves, it’s reshaping how architects, engineers, and project teams document, analyze, and design both new and existing structures.

Cloud PCs are redefining how AEC firms approach infrastructure, collaboration, and scalability. By offering flexibility, fast provisioning, and centralized management, they provide a powerful alternative to traditional hardware. As more firms embrace remote work and cross-functional teams, virtual desktops offer a strategic advantage that aligns with the industry's evolving needs. While considerations around cost, connectivity, and security remain, the overall benefits point to a future where the desktop itself becomes as flexible as the projects it supports.

Security and efficiency are not mutually exclusive. In fact, when implemented thoughtfully, cloud-based tools can provide better security and greater transparency than traditional systems. By fostering collaboration between BIM professionals and IT teams — and involving leadership in the conversation — AEC firms can build a digital infrastructure that supports both innovation and protection.

One of the most impactful strategies involves optimizing the use of Revit plugins—small tools and extensions that expand the platform’s capabilities. However, without proper management, these plugins can clutter the workspace and create unexpected issues. This video outlines best practices for managing Revit plugins and highlights some powerful tools to consider for enhancing project delivery.

Thinking about making the switch from BIM 360 to Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) Docs? In this episode, we explore key improvements like cloud-hosted libraries, enhanced collaboration through bridging, and no extra licensing costs. Whether you're starting new projects or considering migration, this breakdown helps you understand what’s changing—and why it matters.

As the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry continues its digital transformation, collaboration between different disciplines has become more critical—and more complex—than ever. One of the persistent challenges in project delivery has been managing file-sharing workflows across different teams and platforms. A new bridging workflow is now addressing many of the pain points that have long plagued Revit users.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) has long promised to revolutionize the design and construction industry. Yet many firms continue to struggle with its full implementation. While the software and its capabilities are often framed as the challenge, the true obstacles lie deeper – in culture, communication, and leadership. What follows is a critical look at the patterns that hold BIM back in small and medium-sized firms, and how to shift those dynamics toward success.

As the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industries embrace cloud-based design tools and BIM workflows, a persistent challenge remains: the misalignment between BIM teams and internal IT departments. While both groups share the goal of efficient, secure, and high-quality project delivery, differing expertise and priorities can often hinder progress-especially when it comes to permissions, collaboration, and platform capabilities.This article explores the critical points of friction and outlines steps to improve collaboration between BIM and IT teams, helping firms fully leverage cloud-based design platforms.

The question, “Can you fix my Revit template?” might seem straightforward, but it opens a complex conversation about customization, workflow, and user habits in the architecture and design world. Revit templates are often misunderstood as a one-size-fits-all solution, when in reality, they are dynamic frameworks that evolve with every project, user preference, and firm-wide standard. Understanding what a template truly is—and why it cannot be “fixed” quickly without context—is the first step toward building better digital infrastructure for your design workflow.

As the architecture, engineering, and construction industries continue to modernize, the shift from 2D drafting tools like AutoCAD to Building Information Modeling (BIM) platforms such as Revit is accelerating. While the long-term benefits of BIM are clear—improved coordination, data-rich modeling, and automation—many firms still struggle with the transition. This article explores the real reasons behind the perceived high costs of BIM, key factors that affect a successful migration, and strategies for ensuring smoother adoption.

In architectural design, transitioning between software platforms can often be a challenge, especially when dealing with imported details. Archicad provides an efficient way to bring in AutoCAD details, manipulate them, and integrate them into a project’s workflow. This guide explores how to import, organize, and refine details within Archicad, making them more compatible with parametric modeling.

In a rapidly evolving industry, staying competitive requires bold decisions and a willingness to embrace change. The transition from traditional CAD to ArchiCAD represents such a pivotal shift, akin to the historical metaphor of burning ships to fully commit to a new path. This article explores why adopting ArchiCAD and embracing Building Information Modeling (BIM) is not just an option but a necessity for firms aiming to thrive in the future.

Implementing any new software can be a challenge, especially when it plays a crucial role in daily workflows. One such tool, widely recognized for its capabilities in the architecture and design industries, requires careful onboarding and continued support to unlock its full potential. To ensure team members can effectively adapt and excel with this tool, providing structured training and ongoing assistance is essential. Here’s how to make it happen:

Effective data exchange and interoperability are essential for modern BIM workflows, enabling smooth collaboration across various disciplines, software platforms, and project stages. Archicad’s capabilities support seamless communication among architects, engineers, contractors, and project managers, enhancing project delivery and minimizing errors.

In the architecture and design industry, the process of converting projects from AutoCAD to Archicad has become common as firms transition to more advanced and collaborative software platforms. However, this shift requires careful attention to quality assurance (QA) and testing. These steps ensure that converted models meet both design standards and client expectations, minimizing errors and optimizing the workflow. Comprehensive QA practices are essential to maintain the integrity, accuracy, and compliance of digital models, thus reducing costly revisions and ensuring smooth project delivery.

The transition from traditional drafting to a parametric design environment, like moving from AutoCAD to Archicad, presents numerous challenges and opportunities for optimization. One of the most crucial steps in this process is the documentation and drawing generation phase, which is essential for producing high-quality construction documents. This phase not only consolidates the efforts made in earlier stages, such as data migration and model reconstruction but also prepares the groundwork for sharing information with clients, consultants, and regulatory bodies.

As architectural design continues to evolve, so too does the complexity of managing large projects. The need for enhanced communication, coordination, and role management has led to the rise of BIM (Building Information Modeling) software like ArchiCAD, particularly its Teamwork or BIM Server functionality. These tools enable architectural firms to coordinate multiple teams, ensure precise role assignments, and integrate consultants and clients into one collaborative environment.

In the fast-paced world of architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC), efficiency and standardization are critical. One of the most effective tools for improving project workflows in ArchiCAD is the use of well-developed templates. A well-structured template ensures consistency across projects, saves time, and enhances the overall quality of the work produced. Below, we merge essential strategies for template creation with key insights into improving efficiency when working in ArchiCAD.

As architectural firms look to enhance their design processes, transitioning from traditional 2D software like AutoCAD to more advanced, parametric 3D platforms such as ArchiCAD offers tremendous potential. One critical phase in this migration is model reconstruction. This step ensures that the imported data is optimized for the new environment, enabling firms to fully leverage the advantages of ArchiCAD’s features. This article outlines the importance of model reconstruction and offers practical insights on how to approach this essential task.

Transitioning from AutoCAD to ArchiCAD is a significant step for any architecture firm, bringing with it a wealth of opportunities to enhance project efficiency and collaboration. This article dives deep into the data migration process, offering insights and practical steps to ensure a smooth transition.

Transitioning from AutoCAD to ArchiCAD is a significant step that can lead to substantial improvements in efficiency and project outcomes. By creating a fun, engaging, and well-structured training program, firms can overcome resistance and ensure that their teams are well-prepared to leverage the full potential of ArchiCAD. This approach not only fosters a smoother transition but also enhances the overall productivity and satisfaction of the team. Through strategic planning and dedicated effort, architecture firms can successfully navigate the complexities of this transition, ultimately achieving greater success and innovation in their projects

Before diving into the conversion process, it is essential to evaluate your project requirements thoroughly. This involves understanding the project scope, timeline, team collaboration needs, and BIM workflow expectations. By doing so, you can determine the specific features and functionalities you need in ArchiCAD to meet these requirements.

Transitioning from AutoCAD to ArchiCAD can be a significant step for architecture and design firms looking to embrace Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology.

However, this process requires careful planning, preparation, and execution to ensure a successful conversion and seamless integration of ArchiCAD into your workflow.

In the ever-evolving landscape of architecture, the transition from traditional drafting methods to digital design tools marks a significant shift. In a recent episode of our show, we delved into the world of 3D migration, particularly focusing on the journey from AutoCAD to ArchiCAD, a product by Graphisoft. Join us as we explore the insights shared by architecture veteran Willard Williams, shedding light on the conversion process and its implications for smaller architectural firms.

In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, ensuring that your architecture firm's IT infrastructure is up to date is crucial for maintaining productivity and efficiency. However, making decisions about when and how to upgrade your workstations can be challenging. In this article, we'll provide valuable insights and advice from IT experts on when to consider workstation upgrades, how to make informed decisions, and the importance of a smooth implementation process.

In today's rapidly changing work landscape, architecture firms, like many other industries, are increasingly adopting remote work solutions. The ability to work remotely not only offers flexibility to employees but also allows firms to tap into a wider talent pool and reduce overhead costs associated with physical office spaces. In this video, we'll explore some of the key considerations for architecture firms looking to implement remote work solutions.

As we approach the holiday season, the cybersecurity landscape becomes increasingly treacherous. Welcome to another episode of “Design and the Influence,” where we, as the Arc IT team, delve into the world of IT and technology to empower businesses like yours. Today, we’re addressing a topic that’s particularly relevant during this festive period: holiday phishing.

Welcome to another episode of "Design and the Influence," where we delve into common IT challenges faced by professionals in these fields. Today, we're focusing on the often-overlooked yet critical aspect of application versioning.

The feeling of a security breach is like a personal violation. Just like Mark's personal experience of getting his beloved beard accidentally chopped off, business owners feel deeply connected to their organizations. When an intrusion occurs, it can be as distressing as losing a part of your identity. Network security is the digital equivalent of protecting your "beard," and it is crucial for businesses to safeguard their digital assets.

In the realm of architecture, engineering, and design (AEC) firms, data security isn’t just a choice; it’s a necessity. The stakes are high, and the consequences of lax security can be catastrophic. In this episode of Design Under Influence, we delve into the world of email security, specifically focusing on Single Sign-On (SSO) technology. Our resident experts from ArchIT, Harry and Mark, share insights on why SSO is a game-changer for AEC firms and explore the costs, benefits, and potential drawbacks.

In this eye-opening episode, our IT experts delve deep into the world of email security for Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) firms. Join Alex, Mark, and Harry as they uncover common email security threats and reveal essential strategies to protect your valuable data.

Welcome to "Design and the Influence" - your go-to source for IT insights to help run architecture businesses smoothly. In this episode, our IT Brain Trust, Mark, and Harry discuss the critical topic of email archiving. Learn why it's essential for firms, the key differences between Microsoft and Google solutions, and the ins and outs of the archiving process.

Join us in this video as we delve into the Mac vs. PC debate within the architecture industry. Architects and design professionals face the challenge of selecting the right technology to support their work effectively. In this discussion, we explore the considerations surrounding this decision, such as software compatibility, performance, and the preferences of architecture firms.

Virtual PCs, powered by Cloud solutions like Azure and AWS, have gained popularity due to their transformative capabilities. Unlike traditional physical computers, virtual PCs offer enhanced accessibility and scalability. By harnessing the power of Cloud technology, businesses can optimize their computing resources and streamline operations.

The Importance of Onboarding:The onboarding process plays a critical role in integrating new employees into an organization’s workflow. A well-executed onboarding process allows individuals to swiftly adapt to their roles, understand company policies, and become productive team members. By streamlining the onboarding process, firms can significantly reduce the time it takes for new employees to reach full productivity and establish a positive impression of the company culture.

Architecture firms generate a lot of data, including drawings, models, and documents. This data is essential for the firm’s operations, and it is important to have a backup solution in place to protect it from loss or corruption.There are a variety of backup solutions available for architecture firms, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Some factors to consider when choosing a backup solution include the size of the firm, the amount of data that needs to be backed up, and the budget.

Have you ever had a problem with your docking station not working with Revit, for example, or another software, while perfectly operating with everything else you are doing? As an IT company servicing the AEC industry it’s one of the most common problems we help our clients resolve.

As an Architect, you understand the importance of staying ahead of emerging technologies in the field of architecture, design, and engineering. One technology that has caught our attention recently is Chat GPT, an artificial intelligence model created by OpenAI that is trained on data freely available on the internet.

In our recent episode of Design Under Influence, we discussed the potential impact of Chat GPT on Architecture businesses. The model’s ability to produce full, complete answers to open-ended questions that encompass all the data on a subject and then some, makes it a valuable tool for businesses. However, as the technology becomes mainstream, it’s crucial for businesses to ensure that their data is their own and that they have access to it for use with AI tools like Chat GPT.

For more information about our Specialized IT support for architecture and engineering firms, visit our website: https://getarchit.com

The Importance of Warranties and Support Plans for Work Machines:As architects and engineers, your tools are essential to getting your work done. From designing and drafting to project management and communication, work machines are the backbone of your professional lives. That’s why it’s important to make sure you have the right support in case something goes wrong with them. And that’s where warranties and support plans come in.

Find out our Q&A session recording. We've covered:

1. How the toolkit helps solve technology problems for Architects.

2. Toolkit in action demo.

3. Answering your questions live.

Key points:

1. Why you chose Mac over PC.

2. Tools you use in your workflow (tech stack).

3. What challenges did you have to overcome using Mac?

If you missed it, Here is the recording of our live Q&A event.

1. Running Bluebeam for PC.

2. New Bluebeam Cloud.

3. Using Adobe as a primary tool.

We covered:

1. Using Channels vs. Teams for managing projects.

2. Sharing files with clients and consultants.

3. Building Digital Design manuals and SOPs using Teams.

Revit 2023-How to decide when to upgrade your primary design tool?

We covered:

1. Revit 2023 New Features.

2. What are the upgrade costs?

3. Upgrade Process Roadmap.

Bubbles: https://boominteractive.io/

A New Tool that Aims to Reduce Design Discovery.

Have you ever had an issue trying to open your favorite design app like Sketchup or Adobe InDesign only to see an error message about your video card not supporting the software? The problem is most likely related to your docking station and multiple display screens, and this is what we are looking at in this post.

Would Integrating a cloud storage solution in your architecture business give you a big advantage in your day-to-day work? It depends. In this event we covered:

1. On-premise VS Cloud Storage solutions.

2. Integrating cloud storage with your design tools.

3. Remapping your project’s workflow.

Risks include scams that can originate from your partners, consultants, or project owners.

Download our Free Cybersecurity e-book, distribute it to your employees and get together to review your security processes and procedures.

1. Onboarding New Employees.

2. Managing various software versions in your organization.

3. Cybersecurity.

If you are running an architecture practice or a design studio you've likely faced a number of issues with supporting both Mac and PC users in your office. We certainly have on behalf of our clients. In this LinkedIn Live Boris and Alex will tackle the most common Mac vs. PC issues and offer ArchIT recommendations on making both platforms work for your business.

1. Keeping personal and professional data separate on Mac.

2. Are Macs more secure than a PC?

3. Using Mac vs. PC to run Revit and Bluebeam.

Network printing was a solved problem a long time ago. It is straightforward to set up and mostly easy to manage. Who thought that we’d have a whole episode dedicated to this? Yet, network printing became one of the most talked-about topics in Q3-Q4 of 2021.

We brought to help us today Randy Waldeck, who is an acoustic engineer and one of the partners at CSDA Design Group.

A bit on Randy Waldeck…

He shared with us, how was the process of becoming one of the partners in CSDA, which he managed to achieve in only three years of work at the company.

Since 2020 many more workers have had to consider remote work, and have had the remote work debate. Some businesses opted out of that alternative, and others have embraced the idea with open arms. Maybe you are considering remote work, or you have decided to take the leap. If you need help with making the change, or just want to read more of a discussion with Alex Osenenko (host, VP of Growth, ArchIT), Boris Rapoport (cohost, CEO, ArchIT), and Jennifer Kretschmer (interviewee, remote since 2008) about remote work then, stay tuned.

We will talk about what separates a successful from a mediocre architect. How do determine if your business is going well? What should you focus on to have growth? And what are the important things that must-have? These are some of the questions will be answering. Helping us today, figuring out these subjects, is Mark R. LePage. Mark is a residential architect located in Waxhaw, North Carolina, and is the founder EntreArchitect.

Welcome to another episode of design and influence, where it is our job to help architecture design and engineering professionals use technologies so that their team can do their best work. So we sort of take this and pack and repack. We also try to give you advice on how to utilize tech in your day-to-day work with you and your team, so that you can be happier and more centered on running a better business, be a happier person and do better.

It is going to be a discussion and it touches 100% of people who dare to press "play" and who are reading the article. 100 Percent of you are impacted by the following subject, the subject being " Email cluttering".

Online Free Course: https://archit.learnworlds.com/course/cybersecurity-training Cybersecurity

PDF Guide: https://getarchit.com/trxl/

Today, we discuss an important subject that we all deal with daily, even though the way we deal with this issue varies from company to company. We're referring to the process of upgrading your operating system to the next release. What prompted this conversation is Microsoft's latest release— Windows 11. As for Apple, MacOS Monterey has been out since late November. I just got a new MacBook— the M1 and Monterey is already pre-installed on mine. Due to this, I've had to deal with some issues that compelled me to discuss the timing and how to deal with these updates as an organization.

Hello and welcome to another episode of Design and Influence. Today, we go into details on how to manage passwords for your organization. This is one of the critical components of running a firm successfully. Your team can safely and securely access the information they need to do their work by adequately organizing passwords in an electronic password manager like LastPass. This management strategy is what we will discuss today because we think it is the best bet for your organization.

In simplified terms, a family to Revit is equivalent to a component in Rhino or Sketch Up or an AutoCAD block. However, it is also way more than that. What Can One Do Upfront to Optimally Benefit from Revit?

Are you an architectural professional thinking about using a Mac in your practice? Maybe you are already using a Mac in your practice in a sea of PC users and are dealing with some of these issues. Today we will highlight the pros and cons of using your Mac in your architecture design or engineering firm practice.

One issue that is problematic for businesses, especially architectural businesses, is how to remain consistent in showcasing the special flavor of what you do.

The challenge businesses are presented with is executing projects with excellence consistently, so the business is awarded additional projects. One way to meet that challenge head-on is documenting and memorializing your institutional knowledge.

This is what we will unpack today. We are going to talk with Kiran Nayak, a BIM consultant, and digital practice leader. Kiran possesses vast experience in design and architecture and is in the process of building this kind of organizational database.

You may ask why are we discussing this in September?

We are currently having significant issues with supply chains all over the world. If you don’t have your holiday gifting strategy plan in place now, you may be left with a disappointing result.

People are everything to a company. Today’s topic provides you with a checklist for onboarding new employees. We have found that many times, sufficient planning in hiring new people is lacking, which causes delays in allowing the new employee to hit the ground running.

Today our discussion centers around the question of whether a small architecture firm should implement BIM as a software solution. We will take a deeper look what whether it is cost-effective, the time savings benefit, and what the onboarding process will look when converting to BIM. Joining our discussion today is the Digital Design Manager of Bar Architects here in San Francisco, Kiran Nayak.

Autodesk is converting everyone from a network licensing model to a named user model, which requires using your email address to access your software license. One difficulty with the conversion is that if an employee hasn’t used a tool for some time and their license was changed over to the new named user model - when they attempt to open it, they may receive an error message about licensing. If this occurs, there are some additional steps that need to be taken in order to open properly. We will go through those steps here.

On this edition of Design Under Influence we are unpacking Autodesk AEC Software Collection. It has 15 unique and interesting tools. We will discuss an overview of the collection, what is included, and give you the top three that may be the most useful to you. In addition, we discuss a few bonus applications.

A lot of people are familiar with these tools to some extent, and some are using them heavily. Autodesk owns Revit and Trimble owns SketchUp. Because Revit is owned by Autodesk, it also integrates with AutoCAD and other Autodesk tools. SketchUp and Trimble have a whole suite of their own tools. There are great reasons to look at these two tools in a competing fashion.

We then unpack it to give you valuable and useful advice. Today we are discussing switching from AutoCAD or 2D Drafting to Revit.

Today’s discussion centers on Revit. Revit is a software tool for architects and engineers.

If you are considering purchasing Revit, we will help you to understand which version is best for your needs and what the implementation may look like. Today, we will discuss two of Revit’s options: Revit and Revit LT.

Read the full article.

Read the full article.

Since literally everyone is using computers and internet phones to conduct business, as well as manage our day-to-day lives, guarding against mobile phone scams is of great importance. You may be asking yourself, “What can go possibly go wrong with my mobile phone?”

Most of us have been working from home for a year now, and as we move into some hybrid types of business environments, it’s important to remember that hackers are still out in force looking to take your business and your money and your attention. Today, we’re talking about how to keep them away from your material and intellectual assets.

Today, we’re unpacking a subject that will help architects think and act on their competitive advantage, which is technology. The topic is this: IT offense versus IT defense and what each represents.

We’re very excited to welcome guest Bryon McCartney, the Chief Creative Strategist and co-founder of ArchMark.

ArchMark is a specialized marketing agency geared towards architecture & design firms. We’ll be talking about how to grow your company and how technology can help you do so!

Growth and technology are intimately related to your business.

In today’s world, relationship-building is still extremely important in attracting and retaining clients. But that’s more of the business development side of your business — the reactive side.

Today we’re unpacking an especially interesting topic here: how to evaluate your future IT provider so that you can be sure to find the perfect match for your architecture and design firm.

So how do you even know if you need a new IT provider, anyway?

We’re going to talk about the process of switching IT providers.

We’re taking you through:

1. The reasons why you might want to switch.

2. The barriers you might encounter when making a change.

3. What commitments do you need to make to implement a successful shift.

Today we’re talking about Microsoft Teams and how to channel communication systems that are more efficient than email.

Read the full article.

Today we’re unpacking a very important subject on Design Under Influence: how to run Revit on the MacOS operating system.

We’ll also answer an even more important question: should you even run Revit on your Mac in the first place?

Today’s episode is all about giving some tactical advice to people like you so that you don’t have to take this problem on all on your own.

If you’re not investing in technology and making IT solutions a priority for your business, you might as well be designed under the influence.

While this might work out from time to time, in the long term, you need a better strategy.

Today, we’re talking about replacing your old file server.

Today we are talking about the prices and costs of Information Technology. It is going to be a juicy episode, as sometimes this topic is overlooked by architecture firms.

We are breaking down pricing models for IT firms that you can bring in to help your architecture and design firm manage its information systems!

As a small business owner looking to grow, it can be a little bit overwhelming. Sometimes it feels like there is everything to do but not enough time.

Read the full article.

Today, we’re helping you build your technology budget so that IT can be your competitive advantage as we move in 2021.

In last week’s episode, we gave you an overview of what needs to be included in your budget.

In this episode, we’re digging into specifics and giving you a free downloadable spreadsheet that can go to work for your firm.

Get a free IT budget template

At Arch IT, we’ve been chugging away remotely to get our clients prepared for 2021.

Initially, it looked like COVID-19 might be a minor hiccup, but it's become clear that architecture and design firms are going to need to plan around the pandemic for the duration of 2021.

Commencing the planning process always starts with the budget and IT is a big part of that.

Read the full article.

Welcome to another episode of Design Under Influence! Here, we deconstruct how to make technology your architecture, design, and engineering firm’s competitive advantage. In this episode, we’re giving you some tactical information that you can share with your employees across the company. Today, we’re digging into how you can make the most out of your home Wifi.

Today we’re digging deep into cyber insurance—following up on the theme from the last episode (hyperlink that episode) where we talked about the dangers of phishing and cyber-attacks.

We’re also extremely excited to introduce a guest on the Pod—Zachary Waters—to help explore the world of cyber insurance and how it can go to work for you!

People in business circles are buzzing about VDI services. In this episode, we’re going to unpack this as a potential solution to remote work.

Solving problems related to remote work is on the mind of nearly every business right now.

So what is Desktop As a Service?

Today, we’re talking about a subject that is near and dear to all of us business owners and business leaders: My IT guy says: "We can’t do this.”

These are dreaded words, and ones that can really hold your business back.

The first answer to a potential problem should always be an exploration of potential solutions, even if it means investing more money to fix the problem. Only after all resources have been exhausted should the answer be no, I can’t help you.

Improper use of technology is about as good as designed under the influence of drugs or alcohol, a method that might not always be optimal for productivity.

Today we’re talking about something that everyone has been dealing with for the last months with the pandemic—phishing.

We have some crazy phishing stories to tell you today and hope to give you some essential steps to avoid these attacks at your firm.

Today we’re tackling the use of spreadsheets for resource management and all the implications of using that process.

It feels like everyone that Boris works with is struggling with resource management these days—or at least has a system that could be improved upon.

While we may not be able to come up with a solution, we’re hoping to leave you with some ideas to approach it more effectively and efficiently.

Using spreadsheets can be tricky.

It certainly has its downsides, but on the other hand, neglecting to use them can induce significant costs.

Welcome to Episode 2 of Under Influence Architecture and Design! It’s Alex and Boris, your hosts here to help architecture and design engineering firms create their competitive advantage via technology. We feel that the inability to utilize tech to its fullest advantage is like designing under the influence. This might be desirable in certain situations, but it’s not sustainable.

Today we’re going to face down a problem that Boris deals with every day in assisting with IT—how firms store their files.

Many of the smaller engineering and architecture firms we work with become frustrated when trying to manage all the different tools required by their clients.

Because smaller firms have to pair with larger firms to use their tech, they are constantly bouncing between different tech depending on the client.

For example, on a very basic level, one client might require meetings through Zoom while another uses Microsoft teams.