How to Avoid a BIM Disaster: Four Critical Phases Every Team Must Get Right 

Let’s be real: BIM implementation can go from promising to panic-inducing fast. One minute you’re meeting a project spec, the next you’re buried in RFIs, confusion, and models no one trusts. 

To help you avoid that mess, members of the BIMTM team — Jeff Drews, Jared Sutliff, and Donnie Bogle-Boesiger — sat down for a roundtable talk to break down the four phases of BIM implementation. These insights are straight from the team’s experience: 

Phase 1: "We Need to Do BIM... Apparently" 

This is the compliance phase. You’re doing BIM because someone told you to — not because you believe in it. The spec says “3D model,” so you slap one together. No buy-in, no strategy. 

Where it breaks: 

The field is ignored. Models are built in a vacuum and fall apart during install. 

No trust from the trades. If their first BIM experience is bad, it’s hard to win them back. 

Lack of ownership. GCs push it off on the trades, and everyone optimizes for their scope — not the full project. 

💬 “If you’re not modeling like you’re going to build it, what’s the point?” 

Phase 2: "Okay... BIM’s Not Going Away" 

You’ve seen BIM on a few jobs now. You realize it's not a fad, so you start to invest — maybe hire someone or outsource — but the foundation’s still shaky. 

Common traps: 

Throwing field guys into BIM cold. They know how to build, but not how to model. 

Tech hires with zero trade experience. The model looks great — until it hits the jobsite. 

Execs see BIM as a cost, not a strategy. That lack of leadership bleeds into every decision. 

💬 “It takes humility to admit you’re still learning. Get help. Lean on people who’ve done it before.” 

Phase 3: "Time to Get Serious" 

You’ve had a few wins. You’re starting to see what BIM can do. Now it’s time to build standards, processes, and systems — but this is also where teams overcorrect. 

Watch out for: Overcomplicated templates. Bigger isn’t better if nobody can load the file. 

Tools without training. Great content is useless if your team doesn’t know how or when to use it. 

Siloed coordination. BIM needs input from PMs, prefab, and field — early and often. 

Pointless prefab. If your shop doesn’t build racks, stop modeling them just to say you did. 

💬 “Communication is contractual. Collaboration is cultural.”  

Phase 4: "We BIM Because It Works" 

This is the gold standard. BIM isn’t a requirement — it’s how you operate. Your teams see the value. They trust the process. They use it because it makes them faster, smarter, and better. 

Here’s what it looks like: 

BIM is embedded in everything. Estimating, planning, prefab — not just coordination. 

Field teams ask for BIM. They lean on the model, not work around it. 

You’ve got systems, standards, and trust. Everyone’s aligned. 

💬 “When the field calls to ask how many lights they need — that’s when you know BIM is working.” 

Final Thoughts From the Team... 

Jared Sutliff: “Don’t adopt BIM just to check a box. Use it to solve real problems. Let the rest go.” 

Donnie Bogle-Boesiger: “Don’t go it alone. Ask for help, celebrate small wins, and build trust along the way.” 

Jeff Drews: “BIM isn’t just software. It’s people. It’s process. And when it’s not working? Step back, regroup, and realign.” 

Want to listen to the full roundtable discussion? Check out BIMTM’s YouTube video: https://youtu.be/wi61I1eNIWY 

Who is BIMTM? 

BIMTM is a proud EVOLVE partner. Founded in 2021, BIM Technology Management (BIMTM) was born from a need for better BIM solutions. 

As industry professionals, we experienced firsthand the frustrations of dealing with unbuildable models, wasted time, and a lack of practical understanding from service providers. 

And since our entire team is U.S.-based, you’ll get real collaboration with industry pros who speak your language—no time zone juggling, no communication gaps, just seamless project coordination from start to finish. 

Contact BIMTM: https://bimtm.com/contact/