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Bentley > Case Studies > Business Process Integration and Efficiency Improvement at Balfour Beatty with GroupBC Technologies
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Business Process Integration and Efficiency Improvement at Balfour Beatty with GroupBC Technologies

Technology Category
  • Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Middleware, SDKs & Libraries
  • Sensors - RFID Readers
Applicable Industries
  • Cement
  • Construction & Infrastructure
Applicable Functions
  • Maintenance
  • Procurement
Use Cases
  • Inventory Management
  • Personnel Tracking & Monitoring
Services
  • System Integration
  • Training
The Challenge
Balfour Beatty, a UK-based multinational infrastructure group, was facing challenges in expanding knowledge sharing across its more than 60 companies and improving collaboration on its projects. The group’s Major Projects division was at the forefront of this effort, which included the early implementation of tendering, procurement, and project collaboration systems. The business also sought to standardize many of its information management business processes, including the development of consistent workflows across the group, and human resource strategies to support effective information management. However, the outdated Access databases were proving to be a hindrance in achieving these objectives.
About The Customer
Balfour Beatty is a UK-based multinational infrastructure group providing construction and related services predominantly in the UK and North America. Known as a Tier 1 main contractor, the group comprises more than 60 companies, including group brands like Living Places, and forms part of joint ventures with external companies. Since 2002, Balfour Beatty has been working to expand knowledge sharing across the group and improve collaboration on its projects. The group’s Major Projects division has been at the heart of this effort, which included the early implementation of tendering, procurement, and project collaboration systems.
The Solution
Balfour Beatty adopted BC Enterprise+, a toolset from GroupBC, which provided a foundation of 'extranet' or filesharing functionality across project teams. Its underlying relational database (RDB) architecture also proved a strong basis for standardizing and managing Balfour Beatty workflows beyond the usual transmittal and submittal processes. The toolset replaced outdated Access databases and is used to support procedures including requests for information/technical queries (RFIs/TQs), a seven-step non-conformance report (NCR) process, health and safety, materials testing and approval, permits, inspection test plans, 'snagging', risk capture, temporary works, labour and plant allocation capture, and file naming and numbering in compliance with BS1192:2007 / ISO 19650. GroupBC’s ProcessPlan has also been trialled to check procedural compliance within Balfour Beatty’s rail plant management teams.
Operational Impact
  • The implementation of GroupBC's technologies has resulted in more consistent, standardized workflows across Balfour Beatty businesses and joint ventures. It has also increased data re-use through integration with third-party applications and reduced reliance on vendor-delivered consultancy support and training due to internal investment in staff skills. The adherence to open standards and maintenance of well-documented APIs provides a strong basis for integration of the GroupBC SaaS platform with other toolsets, both cloud and on-premise. The GroupBC toolset is now integral to how Balfour Beatty works with its people, its customers, and with its supply chains. The toolsets also help Balfour Beatty teams demonstrate ISO19650-compliant BIM implementation processes.
Quantitative Benefit
  • Over 63,000 users of the GroupBC toolset
  • 9,000 active users at any one time
  • 40 live project workspaces a year

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