The Plangrid Developer API: Plangrid Just Gave a Huge Boost to Construction Technology

Today Plangrid announced a new open API for customers and developers (You can read more about it here). We at Vernox are incredibly excited about this announcement and want to outline three ways in which we see it directly benefiting those within the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry.

First, a little background on technology development over the last twenty years. With the spread of the internet and cloud computing, more and more software programs have gone to a cloud-based hosting and deployment model. Desktop installed applications have given way to cloud-based programs that allow all users, even those in remote locations, to access, create and update information in real-time.

I experienced first-hand the benefits of cloud computing in the mid-2000’s as Salesforce.com (SFDC) became the standard in cloud-based customer relationship management platforms. SFDC provided a much-needed application for sales teams, keeping everyone up to date with consistent information regardless of location. Perhaps even more importantly, sales management was able to more quickly and easily gain key insights into their sales process. Over time, SFDC opened their ecosystem to customers and 3rd party developers, with the introduction of a Developer API, among other things, which expanded the integration possibilities. Today, SFDC has an enormous user base and developer market that allows the loyal users of SFDC to create virtually any streamlined integration or process flow that they need.

So, how does the introduction of a Developer API in an app like Plangrid help AEC industry better utilize technology? Here are three ways in which we see this becoming incredibly valuable for AEC firms and their users:

Productivity improvement –

This is a big one. At Vernox we are constantly being asked by our users how they can connect data in vernox to their other apps, including Plangrid. To date this has been challenging as most legacy software products within the AEC industry do not easily allow for such integrations. Plangrid’s API will allow us to build data connections that eliminate manual data entry and the exporting and importing of data files. Having integrated systems where data flows automatically will increase the benefit that technology has on productivity within the AEC industry by reducing the amount of manual work required to use the tools.

Faster insight into project health –

As a Project Manager, Project Executive or Owner in charge of project success, how quickly can you gain insight into project health? Are you able to identify root causes of delays resulting from RFIs or Change Orders? Do you have the insight needed to address potential schedule roadblocks before they seriously delay the critical path of the project? With an integration between an RFI management app like Plangrid and a field planning and scheduling app like Vernox, you could have near real-time insight into where RFIs are likely to cause a delay. Faster insight equals more time to address issues while you can still course-correct and avoid costly delays.

Better technology for the AEC industry -

As the saying goes, a rising tide lifts all ships. Plangrid’s move to make their ecosystem available to developers will push the technology envelope within the AEC industry. Allowing API access to their ecosystem will surely spark creativity among customers and technology developers as they work to improve how technology is used and deployed within the AEC industry.

How do you think that Plangrid’s developer API will impact technology within the AEC industry? What use cases have you thought of for a Plangrid integration with another technology app or system? Leave a comment with your ideas.