San-Francisco-based provider of SaaS construction productivity software Plangrid (set to become part of Autodesk) recently announced the launch of PlanGrid Connect: an out-of-box, no-code platform, which gives teams the flexibility to create custom integrations and enables real-time access to critical data with any application. In parallel, updates to the Plangrid API allow information entered in Field Reports and Tasks to be exchanged between apps, and new pre-built integrations enhance how safety records, RFIs and 3D files are shared to and from PlanGrid. The company is running webinars, in partnership with its integration services provider Azuqua, in January 2019 to talk further about the development.
Easily configurable integrations
Building on an existing set of direct integrations between PlanGrid and other popular solutions like Autodesk Revit, Kahua and EarthCam, PlanGrid Connect enables construction companies to easily integrate with more than 100 other applications. Powered by Azuqua, PlanGrid Connect gives customers out-of-the-box connections to systems such as Box, Egnyte, Smartsheet and DocuSign. With a simple drag-and-drop interface that eliminates the need for expensive custom software development, customers can build PlanGrid integrations tailored to fit the specific needs of their business in minutes.
For example, with PlanGrid Connect, a DocuSign integration allows signed documents to be saved and organized in PlanGrid so they can easily be found and referenced during inspection walk-throughs. An automatic sync between PlanGrid and a cloud storage platform can also be scheduled — plans and documents stored in Egnyte or Box can be automatically pushed to PlanGrid and project data can be archived back to the cloud storage platform.
PlanGrid expands APIs
New PlanGrid API endpoints allow information entered into Field Reports and Tasks to be exchanged between and viewed in other technology applications. The API endpoints enable customizable integrations with dashboards, trackers, project management tools, data analytics services, cloud storage platforms and more.
For example, an integration between PlanGrid and Smartsheet can map the project schedule directly to PlanGrid Tasks. When an office user such as a Project Engineer updates Smartsheet, the corresponding Task in PlanGrid will automatically sync and update, allowing a field team to know exactly what they need to do and when.
(The Plangrid Connect announcement (here), which was also briefly discussed by Plangrid’s Amit Puri at COMIT‘s community day in London on 6 December 2018, reminds me of a flurry of ‘Connect‘ announcements in 2014: Aconex launched its Connected BIM service in October 2014, the same month that Trimble Connect was launched, after which Bentley Connected with Trimble. Newforma launched its cloud services Connectors in September 2016 – including a connector to Plangrid, which is also integrated with HoloBuilder [see previous post].)
