CDE market analysis 2024 with a focus on BIM functionalities
The consulting firm pom+, which specialises in the real estate industry, has published its latest market analysis on Common Data Environments (CDE) for 2024. The analysis shows that many CDE solutions have made significant progress in terms of BIM functionalities.
In the updated white paper, 17 project CDE solutions were analysed in detail. It was found that the user-friendliness of many tools has been improved compared to the previous year in order to support user groups without extensive BIM expertise. Nevertheless, the operation of most CDEs remains complex. Only three tools received full marks in the “usability” criterion, while six tools achieved four out of a possible five points. Almost half of the tools analysed were rated with three or fewer points on the five-point scale, which shows that the expected improvements in terms of usability were only partially achieved.
Focus on BIM functionalities
The expansion of BIM functionalities in most CDE solutions is particularly striking. A third of the tools analysed now offer comprehensive functions for complete BIM information management. Significant improvements were noted in BIM viewers in particular, which now offer better graphics and performance for large models. Geometric model checking has also been improved, particularly through the ability to perform clash checks directly in the CDE and visually analyse geometric changes in different project statuses.
Integration capabilities can be expanded
Despite this progress, there is still a need to optimise the integration and consistency of information management. The options for checking information are still rarely available and the use of artificial intelligence remains inadequate. The transfer of data between different parties and the integration of executing companies are also often rated as inadequate at present. Only one of the tools analysed allows data to be processed directly in the tool, which highlights the shortcomings in this area.
About the market analysis
The CDE market analysis has been conducted annually since spring 2023. In the first update, 17 project CDEs were analysed using around 40 evaluation indicators in the areas of usability, information management, interfaces, file storage, BIM functions and data protection. The analysis provides a comprehensive overview of the current status of technical developments and shows where there is still room for improvement.