Snapshot
Key Challenges:
Solution Used:
Results:
About Harris Doyle Homes
Harris Doyle is a leading construction company that specializes in residential and commercial projects. With a reputation for delivering high-quality work, the company has always been at the forefront of adopting innovative solutions to meet the ever-evolving challenges in the construction & real estate industry.
We had a very insightful conversation with Augustine Martinez BIM specialist from Harris Doyle and we learned how the world of real estate is constantly evolving, and with technological advancements, new tools are emerging to enhance the way we experience and visualize properties
Let’s dive in deeper and understand how Harris Doyle incorporated Sentio VR into their processes to revolutionize the way they showcase and market their projects.
“My experience in using Sentio VR was really fun because I was trying to find a product that was able to provide clients with an immersive experience without requiring extensive training and understanding of the product. And that ease of use is what sparked interest during the trial period of Sentio VR” said Augustine Martinez, a BIM specialist at Harris Doyle
Challenges
Limited client engagement due to difficulty in visualizing the final product via traditional 2D drawings
Before adopting VR, Harris Doyle primarily relied on 2D drawings and physical model homes to showcase their projects. This approach had limitations, especially when visualizing streetscapes or complex design options. That’s when they realized the need for a more engaging and interactive approach.
“Earlier when we introduced a product in city council meetings, it’d typically start off as a series of images, a slideshow, and no interactive media and that was our main marketing piece. We had physical model homes but no one got the full understanding of streetscape beforehand” says Augustine
Inefficiency of conventional design reviews
The lack of immersive experience and the absence of understanding of spatial arrangements in real-time perspectives like measurement, spaces, and lighting made it challenging for the clients to understand the designs and the projects in a 1:1 scale which led to misinterpretation and multiple iterations which caused delays in the project timelines and approvals.
Difficulty in Effectively Marketing The End product
With Traditional marketing methods like 2D drawings and slideshows, Harris Doyle found it difficult to showcase their services as they were unable to capture the essence of their designs and capabilities, making it difficult to engage potential clients effectively.
"We needed quicker project approvals and a better way to market our material. We needed a way to visually show a streetscape before it's constructed before any dirt is moved," Augustine explained
Solution:
Sentio VR offered a solution that met Harris Doyle's needs. The platform's intuitive interface allowed them to create 3D walkthroughs effortlessly, while the shareable links made it easy for clients to visualize their future homes and inculcate a feeling of belongingness.
Converting 2D drawings to 3D models
With Sentio VR, Harris Doyle was able to bring their designs to life by converting their 2D drawings into 3D models using Revit. This enabled them to create realistic streetscapes and provide a comprehensive visual representation of their projects.
“It was pretty quick and seamless going from Revit to Sentio VR. I didn’t find it taking extra time away from my day-to-day workload. It helped my workload and enabled me to deliver quality projects with more wow factors”
Adopting Virtual Reality for Enhanced Design Reviews
To tackle the inefficiencies in conventional design reviews, Harris Doyle turned to VR technology. They integrated Sentio VR into their design review process from the beginning to the end of a project, allowing for a more interactive and immersive experience. This not only streamlined the review process but also made it more engaging for all stakeholders involved.
They started using topographical data obtained through drone surveys, turning it into 3D overlaying their designs on topographical data thus creating a streetscape and sharing it with the internal team and the clients
Real-life instance shared by Augustine in transforming the homebuilding industry:
We had a last-minute change from a client that involved the customization of a footprint, Augustine quickly drew the model in Revit, rendered it, and put it in Sentio VR, and sent the client a link. The client was able to view where their car was going to sit next to that fireplace, and how much distance they had from that garage door.
Harris Doyle gained so much trust with that client and they purchased the plan and they’re a happy home owner now.
Enhancing Real-time collaboration with key stakeholders
The integration of Sentio VR and the use of real-time collaboration by Harris Doyle not only helped them win more projects but also improved their communication with clients. They were able to walk through the clients and the key stakeholders through the virtual model of complex residential projects and identify and resolve critical design issues on the spot by taking immediate real-time feedback. This helped them enhance trusting relationships with their clients.
Cross-platform compatibility: A seamless experience across devices
The ability to present the projects across devices with the clients without having to train them extensively on how to use the technology and still be able to walk them through an immersive experience by just sending a shareable link helped them speed up the review process and meet the client’s expectations.
“Shareable links and the environment worked well across devices and different platforms, such as phones, tablets, and the web. It was a game-changer for us. It wouldn’t do us any favors if we’re not able to share the content and the experience”
Results:
Cost savings: Saving $10,000 on a single project
Being able to visualize the designs in 3D helped Harris Doyle take more accurate and efficient takeoff estimations, identify potential issues before they became costly errors, and save nearly $10,000 per plan on a single project
“In traditional 2D methods, a person from the estimation department will come and do their general takeoffs using formulas for waste factors. But using Sentio VR, we’re now able to measure and figure out the surface area and see savings in finished options” says Augustine Martinez
Client Trust: Quicker decisions and more client satisfaction
Using Sentio VR's real-time collaboration tools to conduct virtual meetings with clients, and walking them through different design options was useful in resolving the misinterpretations leading clients to make quicker decisions
Faster approvals: Visualization of entire communities
Traditional methods of presentation often fail to capture the project's impact on the community, leading to delays. Sentio’s capability to visualize and understand the project’s scope and benefits leads to quicker approvals and improved project timelines
“We have trained our clients to expect us to be more technology-forward. We’re now able to showcase to our clients their homes and even the entire community before it’s even built which establishes a connection with our customers”
Conclusion
The integration of VR technology into Harris Doyle’s workflow has been revolutionizing multifold. The ease of use and the fun of building the projects resulted in the quick adoption of Sentio VR seamlessly in day-to-day operations, faster project approvals, better client engagement and timelines, and cost savings due to the elimination of rework.
In Augustine's words, adopting VR technology like Sentio VR is "definitely the right direction to take a good step" in transforming the homebuilding industry. The technology has not only impressed stakeholders but has also changed client expectations for the better and helped Harris Doyle become a tech company that builds homes.
We thank Augustine Martinez for sharing such a great experience.
Are you also interested in trying VR for design reviews and client presentations at your work and winning more projects? Try SENTIO VR for Free or get in touch with us directly.
