BUILD A BRIDGE – A New Era of Collaboration

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.

The Challenge of Traditional Collaboration

Historically, teams working with Revit relied heavily on file transfers between servers, shared drives, or email attachments. Architects would send models to consultants, who then downloaded and linked them locally. This method was slow, error-prone, and often created version control issues that impacted coordination and deadlines.

Later developments allowed project teams to collaborate in shared hubs hosted on a centralized platform. However, this created its own problems—primarily around permissions. Engineers and consultants found themselves dependent on architects or other stakeholders to grant access to their own models, leading to logistical hurdles at critical project milestones.

Introducing the Bridging Workflow

To solve these problems, a new bridging feature was introduced. This workflow allows multiple project teams to work within their own secure environments while selectively sharing files across projects. Unlike earlier solutions, this bridge eliminates the need for repetitive manual uploads and downloads.

Here's how it works:

• Each project team works on its own hub and maintains administrative control over its data.
• Teams can initiate a "bridge" to another project, allowing selected files to be sent directly.
• The receiving party can choose to accept and place the files where they see fit—no overwriting or forced updates.
• Crucially, shared files maintain their “cloud-hosted” status, allowing for cloud-to-cloud Revit linking without extra steps.
• Versioning is built-in, enabling users to compare model changes between versions with precision and ease.
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Benefits of the Bridge Workflow

This updated method provides several advantages:

• Autonomy with Control: Teams no longer have to rely on external admins for access. Each team has full control over when and how they send or receive files.
• Clear Version Tracking: Each time a file is shared, it becomes a new version. Teams can use comparison tools to view changes across updates.
• Cloud-to-Cloud Linking: Files sent via the bridge retain their cloud compatibility, allowing seamless integration into existing Revit models.
• Automated Syncing: Teams can configure folders to sync automatically, ensuring the latest versions are always shared on schedule.

Streamlining Collaboration

The bridging workflow improves not only external collaboration but also internal coordination. For organizations managing multiple projects or working across departments, this method offers a structured, efficient way to move data without compromising control or security.

Success with this approach lies in planning. Teams should agree on sync intervals—such as weekly updates or milestone-driven exchanges—and use consistent naming conventions and folder structures to stay organized. Equally important is using the built-in versioning and comparison tools to track changes and reduce rework.

Conclusion

The evolution of collaborative workflows in Revit is making it easier for architects, engineers, and consultants to coordinate efforts without sacrificing efficiency or ownership of their data. The bridging method marks a significant step forward, reducing friction, improving transparency, and helping teams deliver projects with greater clarity and control.

If you have questions or need help please reach out to us.  ArchIT specializes in providing IT services for architecture, design, and engineering firms.