COLLABORATING EFFECTIVELY: ACCESS 360 AND NBS

Access 360 is the divisional name for three businesses; Bilco UK – roof access, Profab Access – riser doors, wall and ceiling access panels and Howe Green – floor access, which form part of the Tyman Group. Access 360 manufactures products that offer both fire and non‐fire rated solutions and work closely with specifiers by providing them with a range of technical documentation and digital (BIM) object models through to complete specification clauses. Access 360 also works in conjunction with clients to handle the technical drawings and full manufacturing design elements from the initial stages of a project through to the delivery. This means that Access 360 must ensure that all information required by clients is provided in the clearest and most accessible format possible. As part of a recent webinar on Collaborative Specification Writing, Access 360’s Specification Manager Christian Baker‐Smith explained how the three businesses are benefitting from NBS platforms; manufacturer product platform, NBS Source, and cloud‐based specification platform NBS Chorus. “NBS Source offers the Access 360 division of companies a readily available source of technical data for our customers. When coupled with NBS Chorus, we can provide architects and specifiers with a complete suite of technical information to help them specify their projects” Christian commented. Each of the three divisional companies can create specification documents using NBS Chorus and track each project independently. When working with an architect specifying multiple brands, Chorus enables Access 360 to compile this into one project pack and provide this to the architect in the format they require. “Due to the fact that Chorus enables us to easily access our projects and subsequent clauses, it makes updating specifications extremely quick and easy.” Another benefit of using Chorus, which Access 360 has found to be beneficial, is the level of consistency it brings to their projects. “Before NBS Chorus, the documentation was not always updated ‐ leading to a risk of incorrect data being issued and a significant amount of time being spent checking standard documents. The format of the documents would also look extremely different depending on not only which of the businesses created it, but the individuals themselves. “Now, NBS Chorus has removed the need to review and update our clauses as this happens automatically within the software and allows us to present documents to the marketplace in a uniform format. It’s really important that we have the tools to do that.” When a new product was launched or there were changes in performance, it used to require a significant amount of work to set up the documentation. However, now with Chorus writing specification documents is significantly easier for Access 360 as all products are easily located under the Uniclass reference on NBS Source and within NBS Chorus. "Previously, we had a review period every quarter to check that all the documentation was correct and to check that everyone’s laptops were up‐to‐date. Using NBS Chorus has led to a considerable cost saving for the business. We don’t have to hold those quarterly meetings anymore because we know that we can rely on Chorus being up‐to‐date with the latest information and we don’t have to worry.” Christian also highlighted the feature in Chorus Revisions as a factor in boosting Access 360’s efficiency. “It’s much easier to make revisions on Chorus. Previously you could easily lose a specification set when a client changed their mind about something, but now all of the information is held on a centralised system which makes it quick and easy to update them.” “I can’t stress enough how great a benefit NBS Chorus has brought to our business.”

For more information on COLLABORATING EFFECTIVELY: ACCESS 360 AND NBS talk to Profab Access Ltd