TOP I.T. TIPS ALL ARCHITECT PRACTICES SHOULD KNOW
Whether your priority is improved productivity, maintaining your reputation, improving team collaboration or all of the above - without the proper i.T. you won’t be able to achieve these things. Here are our top i.t. tips all architect practices should know.
Reliable Hardware
As an architecture firm, you must have reliable hardware to run your software and design applications smoothly. Invest in high-quality computers, servers, and other devices to ensure maximum uptime and productivity. Consider high-performance processors, graphics cards, and sufficient RAM to support your work with large and complex files. Selecting the appropriate hardware will support smooth navigation, quick rendering, and faster processing of architectural models, resulting in improved productivity.
Backup and Recovery Solutions
Backing up your data regularly and having a robust recovery plan is crucial for any architecture firm. Safeguard your valuable design data and ensure business continuity by routinely testing your backup and recovery solutions to ensure they work effectively. We recommend storing backups in multiple locations to mitigate the risk of data loss due to hardware failure, theft, or natural disasters. In addition, having incremental and versioned backups is handy. Incremental backups only save changes made since the last backup, reducing backup time and storage requirements. Versioning allows you to retain multiple file versions, enabling easy access to previous iterations or deleted content. And how about cloud backup services? These offer scalability, automatic backups, and remote accessibility, ensuring data redundancy and quick emergency recovery.
Project Management Tools
Use project management tools to manage your team and projects efficiently. Create project timelines, define tasks, allocate resources, set milestones, break down complex projects into manageable tasks and set clear goals and deadlines. Project management tools often have features that facilitate collaboration and communication among team members, clients, and stakeholders. You can assign tasks, share documents, exchange messages, and provide real-time updates.
Collaboration Tools
Collaboration tools such as shared document repositories, video conferencing, and project management tools help your team to work remotely and collaborate efficiently - who doesn't love promoting teamwork?
Cloud Computing
Cloud computing provides easy access to your data, reduces hardware costs, and provides scalable solutions. Autodesk BIM 360 or Trimble Connect enable architects to collaborate with team members, clients, and other stakeholders, sharing and working on design files simultaneously, tracking changes, and communicating efficiently, regardless of physical location.
Data Security
As an architecture firm, you work with sensitive data, including design plans, financial records, and client information. Ensure you have adequate security measures to protect your data from cyber threats. Your unique designs, plans, and models are your intellectual property; ensure data security safeguards your creative work from unauthorised access, theft, or misuse. It helps maintain the integrity of your designs and prevents intellectual property infringement. A breach of data security can undermine trust, both with clients and within the industry. Demonstrate your commitment to protecting your clients' information, fostering trust, and maintaining a positive reputation by prioritising data security.
Invest in Training
Invest in regular training for your team to keep them updated with the latest technology and design trends; this helps to keep your team motivated and productive. We're talking CAD software, BIM (Building Information Modeling) tools, project management software, and other digital platforms. Proper training ensures employees can maximise productivity, work more efficiently, and deliver high-quality outputs. In addition, with proper IT training, employees can leverage technologies such as cloud-based file sharing, video conferencing, and real-time collaboration tools, enhancing teamwork and overall project efficiency.
Disaster Recovery Plan
Develop a disaster recovery plan, including data backup, procedures, and business continuity planning. If the worst happens, you will appreciate minimising downtime and ensuring quick recovery in a disaster. Consider implementing redundancy and failover measures; this may involve implementing redundant hardware configurations, using backup power supplies (UPS), or deploying redundant network connections. Additionally, consider failover mechanisms that can seamlessly switch to backup systems in the event of a failure.
Stay up-to-date with Regulations
Keep up-to-date with data security, client privacy, and business operations regulations; these are ever-evolving, so scheduling a check-in regularly will also help ensure compliance and avoid legal issues, project delays, and financial penalties.