Technology Focus Areas
A Hub for Innovation and Collaboration in the BuilderChain Online Community
In the Focus on Technological Models section, members explore the latest innovations transforming the construction industry through technology. This area highlights how to integrate advanced digital tools, automation, artificial intelligence, and BuilderChain’s operational ontology into your projects for superior results.
Patent Pending Process Designs
BuilderChain is redefining how construction projects are managed through the power of blockchain, tokenization, and Palantir's operational ontology. The platform incorporates several innovative, patent-pending concepts that drive value for construction companies, lenders, contractors, and subcontractors. These cutting-edge technologies ensure transparency, security, and efficiency while reducing risk and optimizing project timelines.
This comprehensive suite of tools positions BuilderChain as the most advanced, secure, and efficient construction project management platform in the industry, offering construction companies the ability to manage projects at unprecedented levels of precision and transparency.
ERP as a Black Box
All human interaction on the Builderchain network is conducted using the Builderchain network interface. The ERP app becomes a passive repository.
Learn MoreActionable Notifications
In today’s fast-paced construction industry, the ability to stay informed and act quickly is critical to project success. However, with teams spread across various locations and using different communication tools, keeping everyone aligned can be a challenge. This is where actionable notifications come into play—delivering real-time alerts directly to the applications where users are already working, such as email, Microsoft Teams, and Slack.
Learn MoreOAG versus RAG
AG takes RAG to the next level, allowing LLMs to leverage deterministic logic tools (e.g., forecasts and optimizers) and actions to close the loop with source systems via the Palantir Ontology. Each enterprise’s ontology encompasses the data, logic, and actions that drive operational decision-making in that specific context. Grounding LLMs in the Ontology effectively anchors them in the reality of a given business, not only driving more accurate, powerful applications, but also building even greater trust: LLMs can effectively “show their work” and surface specific sources from the enterprise’s own operational reality.
Learn MoreAI Optimized Scheduling
In the highly competitive construction industry, the ability to optimize resources and manage schedules across an entire metropolitan area can be the difference between success and stagnation. BuilderChain’s AI-Driven Scheduling, powered by Palantir’s "Dynamic Scheduling" capabilities, takes construction management to the next level by leveraging an advanced operational ontology that unifies data across projects and companies within a metro market.
This approach transcends traditional scheduling methods, allowing for the efficient allocation and optimization of resources on a scale never before possible.
The Abstracted Resource
Plan resource management consists of defining and categorizing resources for a particular floorplan in a manner that is most efficient and effective for the “take-off” process. This is opposed to the organization of resources (material, labor or turn-key) into categories intended to manage the purchasing/vendor process.
Both methods of organization of resources co-exist in the BuilderChain Network Resource Management functionality to provide an optimum process for both required management process.
Hierarchical Templates
n the complex and fast-paced world of construction, the ability to standardize processes while maintaining flexibility is crucial for success. BuilderChain’s hierarchical templates offer a powerful solution, providing a structured yet adaptable framework that allows construction companies to optimize every aspect of their operations.
By integrating these templates with BuilderChain’s ontology, BuilderPay’s financial automation, and Palantir’s advanced analytics, businesses can achieve a new level of operational excellence.
Network Estimating
Our patent pending estimating technique is certainly quite powerful when employed in a builder environment. But the use of inheritance and shared common data is realized when these technologies can be leveraged into a cloud based ecommerce and coordination marketplace for builders, subcontractors, suppliers and plan designers or architects. Likewise, our estimating technique will provide such efficiencies so that we can create a virtual lock on the marketplace.
How?
We will exclusively own and maintain the Resource Objects and the Resource Specifications and lock them down under our control. They are common across the marketplace and are not duplicated at each builder or vendor. This will be important to keep in mind as we describe how our technique works in a marketplace platform that supports multi-tenant functionality.
Microsoft Power Platform
BuilderChain’s revolutionary use of the Microsoft Power Platform alongside its ERP as a Black Box strategy transforms the way construction projects are managed. By leveraging the integrated capabilities of the Microsoft Dataverse, Palantir’s Foundry, and BuilderChain’s operational ontology, this approach streamlines every operational aspect of construction, providing a seamless and secure experience for users.
BuilderChain’s platform operates as a network operating system, where data flows effortlessly between various tools and applications, driving efficiency, accuracy, and transparency.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance
The integration of BuilderChain, Palantir Foundry, and Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance provides a comprehensive, real-time platform for managing construction projects.
While BuilderChain delivers blockchain-backed project management and Palantir Foundry offers predictive analytics, Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance adds a powerful financial layer that drives operational efficiency, compliance, and profitability.
Microsoft Fabric
Microsoft Fabric offers a transformative approach to business optimization by serving as an operational ontology that integrates data, processes, and decision-making into a unified platform. By leveraging the power of Microsoft Fabric, businesses can move beyond fragmented data management and siloed operations, creating a seamless, intelligent environment where every element of the organization is connected and optimized.
Learn MoreProduct Configurator
In today’s competitive construction industry, the ability to configure, estimate, and deliver products with precision and efficiency is crucial for success. BuilderChain’s intelligent, rules-based product configurator, powered by Palantir’s advanced capabilities and integrated with our operational ontology, revolutionizes how construction projects are managed.
This powerful configurator not only enhances your ability to generate accurate configurations but also simplifies your business processes, reduces complexity, and drives operational excellence across the entire project lifecycle.
Sales Options versus Production Options
In the estimating process, Sales Options and Production Options play distinct but complementary roles.
Sales Options are customer-facing choices that allow clients to customize products or services according to their preferences. These options are often flexible and geared toward enhancing the buyer’s experience by offering a wide range of configurations. For example, in construction, a customer might choose different finishes, appliances, or add-ons like extra rooms or landscaping. Sales Options are designed to align with customer desires while driving up the value of the sale.
Production Options, on the other hand, are internal configurations necessary for executing the selected Sales Options. These relate to the specific materials, labor, and processes required to fulfill the chosen configurations. Production Options focus on feasibility, resource allocation, and cost control, ensuring that the customer's choices can be efficiently produced and delivered. In the estimating process, both options must be aligned to ensure that what is promised to the customer can be effectively produced.
Sales Options provide flexibility and personalization, while Production Options guarantee the operational feasibility and profitability of delivering on those choices. Balancing both is essential for accurate cost estimation and ensuring profitability in a customized product or service offering.
Tokenized Financing
Using blockchain tokenization and smart contracts in construction and real estate financing offers groundbreaking operational advantages that can transform how projects are funded, executed, and managed. Let’s break down how these technologies work and the compelling benefits they offer.
Learn MoreTokenized Insurance
Blockchain tokenization and smart contracts are set to revolutionize construction and real estate insurance by offering unprecedented levels of transparency, efficiency, and security.
These technologies enable a more streamlined and automated approach to insurance processes, reducing costs, speeding up claims, and enhancing trust between all parties involved.
Preconstruction Swarm
Preconstruction Swarm redefines how the preconstruction process is executed by deploying AI agents to autonomously manage, orchestrate, and optimize tasks.
Powered by Palantir Foundry’s operational ontology, these AI agents ensure that every step of preconstruction—from site assessments to procurement and permitting—happens faster, with greater accuracy, and at lower overhead costs.
Dashboard Design
In the digital age, effective communication through data visualization is a cornerstone of decision-making and operational efficiency. At BuilderChain, powered by Palantir’s Foundry, the 8 Principles of Graphical Excellence, as outlined by Edward Tufte, are at the heart of creating intuitive, powerful dashboards that deliver actionable insights.
These dashboards, driven by an operational ontology, help businesses achieve better clarity, precision, and speed in their construction projects. Let’s explore how these principles come to life within BuilderChain’s platform.
Common Engine Primitive
In today's fast-paced construction industry, operational efficiency isn't just an advantage—it's a necessity. BuilderChain's Operational Engine, powered by Palantir Foundry's Dynamic Scheduling capabilities, is redefining how projects are managed and executed. By harnessing the power of a "common engine primitive," we're delivering unprecedented optimization and scalability to your project operations.
At the core of BuilderChain's innovation is the concept of a common engine primitive—a foundational element that drives consistent success across all operational facets. Palantir has mastered this principle, providing a unified platform that seamlessly integrates data, analytics, and real-time insights. BuilderChain leverages this powerful engine to synchronize its back-office merchants, BuilderPay, and Builder Validation Services, creating a cohesive ecosystem that enhances every stage of your project lifecycle.
BuilderChain's Operational Engine is designed to meet these challenges head-on, leveraging the unparalleled capabilities of Palantir Foundry's Dynamic Scheduling to optimize every aspect of your project operations.
Software Defined
A software-defined organization (SDO) is one that prioritizes software solutions across its operations, aiming to enhance efficiency, flexibility, and innovation.
Learn MoreFunction as a Service
Serverless Is Trending Again In Modern Application Development
Devin Dickerson, Principal Analyst AUG 15 2024 • • •
For a time, it appeared that the reach of serverless platforms had exceeded their grasp. After some notable success stories like the high-profile “serverless-first” Capital One strategy, hype appeared to be dying down. This is partly because serverless has always struggled from unclean definitions, and despite the lack of infrastructure and application servers to wrangle with, developers still needed to have some understanding of operating within a cloud-native platform. The proof is in the pudding: Around 2020, there was a significant drop-off in public interest in serverless platforms according to Google search metrics. But an interesting uptick started to percolate in 2022, and today, search metrics and our survey data show that serverless is more popular than ever.
Conclusion: A Strategic Resource for Your Professional Growth
The Focus Areas within the BuilderChain Online Community are designed to be powerful resources for construction professionals seeking to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry. Whether you’re exploring new operational models or diving into the latest technological advancements, the BuilderChain community provides the tools, insights, and collaborative opportunities needed to drive lasting innovation.
By participating in these Focus Areas, you’re not just gaining knowledge—you’re contributing to a collective effort to redefine how construction projects are managed and executed in the digital age. Join the BuilderChain Online Community today, and be part of the movement that’s transforming the future of construction.