Why Architecture Firms Need Both a BIM Manager and a Specialist IT Provider

For most 20–70 person architecture firms, having either a strong BIM Manager or a capable IT provider is not enough on its own.

BIM Managers typically focus on Revit standards, model quality, and workflows, while IT providers focus on systems, performance, security, and data management.

The most effective firms combine both - ensuring that design environments are not only well-defined, but also properly supported by the underlying technology.

Without this alignment, firms often experience:

• inconsistent Revit environments
• performance issues across teams
• poor coordination between systems and workflows
• increased risk to project delivery and design integrity

Many firms assume that either:

• the BIM Manager can handle all technical requirements
  or
• the IT provider can fully support design environments

In reality:

• BIM Managers are not responsible for infrastructure, security, or system performance
• IT providers often lack understanding of BIM workflows and design environments

This creates a gap where critical issues fall between roles.

A BIM Manager focuses on how design work is structured and delivered.

This includes:

• Revit standards and templates
• model structure and consistency
• naming conventions and documentation
• coordination across project teams
• managing plugins and design workflows

Their role is to ensure design quality and consistency.

A specialist IT provider focuses on the systems that support design work.

This includes:

• workstation performance and configuration
• network and data access
• Microsoft 365 and SharePoint environments
• cybersecurity and access control
• backup and recovery systems
• user onboarding and standardisation

Their role is to ensure systems are stable, secure, and performant.

When BIM and IT operate separately, firms often experience:

• Revit environments that are correctly designed but poorly supported
• performance issues that BIM cannot resolve
• inconsistent user setups across teams
• plugin conflicts and version issues
• lack of clarity over who owns specific problems

In practice, this leads to:

Delays, rework, and frustration across project teams

The most effective firms take a coordinated approach.

1. Clear Role Definition

• BIM Manager defines how design work should happen
• IT provider ensures systems support those requirements

2. Standardised Environments

• BIM standards are reflected in user configurations
• consistent setups across all users and projects

3. Coordinated Change Management

• Revit upgrades and plugin changes are planned jointly
• IT validates compatibility and performance
• BIM ensures workflow alignment

4. Ongoing Alignment

• regular communication between BIM and IT
• alignment with project requirements and business goals

This creates a stable, predictable design environment.

Growth

A well-aligned BIM and IT environment allows firms to take on more complex projects with confidence.

Profitability

Reducing rework, performance issues, and inconsistencies improves team productivity and protects billable time.

Risk

Better coordination reduces the risk of:

• project delays
• data inconsistencies
• design errors
• security issues affecting intellectual property

An architecture firm had a capable BIM Manager but continued to experience:

• inconsistent user environments
• performance issues with Revit
• plugin conflicts across projects

After aligning BIM and IT responsibilities:

• user environments were standardised
• system performance improved
• version and plugin management became controlled

The result was a more stable environment and smoother project delivery.

When evaluating IT providers, architecture firms should consider:

• whether the provider understands BIM environments
• how they will work alongside internal BIM roles
• how they support Revit, plugins, and project-based requirements
• whether they provide ongoing alignment and strategy

The goal is not to replace your BIM Manager - but to enable them to be more effective.

Architecture firms work with Netcare because we understand how technology supports design environments.

• experience supporting systems that run Revit, AutoCAD, and BIM workflows
• structured management of user environments and configurations
• coordination with BIM Managers to align systems and workflows
• strong cybersecurity and data management practices
• structured onboarding through the First 90 Days process
• ongoing strategy discussions to align technology with business needs

Netcare helps architecture firms create environments where BIM and IT work together - not in isolation.

If you’re reviewing your current IT setup or planning improvements, we are ready to discuss your requirements and explore the options with you.

Call us now on (02) 9114 9920 or reach out on-line via our Contact form