The DE Benefit Matrix: Quantifying Digital Engineering Success

July, 2024

In the fast-paced world of Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC), Digital Engineering (DE) promises to revolutionize how we work. From streamlined designs to cost savings, DE offers big wins—but only if we can measure them. So, how do we prove DE delivers? Enter Benefits Realisation Management (BRM), a practical framework to plan, track, and celebrate DE’s impact.

In my previous article, I explored using leading and lagging indicators to measure the success of Digital Engineering in projects.

This time, I will delve into another approach for measuring the success of DE in projects.

The Digital Engineering Promise

Digital Engineering transforms AEC projects by:

Saving Time: Automate repetitive tasks to speed up workflows.
Boosting Quality: Tools like BIM catch errors early, reducing rework.
Enhancing Teamwork: Cloud platforms keep everyone on the same page.
Cutting Costs: Optimised processes and fewer mistakes save money.
Empowering Decisions: Real-time data drives smarter choices.

But promises aren’t enough. Without a clear way to measure these benefits, DE’s value can feel like a guess. That’s where BRM comes in.

What Is Benefits Realisation Management (BRM)?

BRM is a straightforward process to define, track, and measure the benefits of DE. It ensures your digital tools deliver real results by:

Planning Early: Set clear goals at the project’s start.
Aligning with Strategy: Tie benefits to your company’s priorities, like cost savings or client satisfaction.
Tracking Progress: Monitor benefits throughout the project and beyond.

How to Apply BRM to Digital Engineering

Here’s how to make BRM work for your DE initiatives:

Build a Benefits Register: List your DE benefits, like reduced rework or faster approvals. Assign an owner, a measurable goal, and a metric (KPI) for each.
Prioritise Smartly: Focus on benefits that align with your project’s goals, like cutting costs on a tight budget.
Map the Path: Show how DE tools lead to outcomes (e.g., BIM → clash detection → fewer errors → lower costs).
Track and Celebrate: Use a spreadsheet to monitor KPIs weekly and share wins to keep the team motivated.

Why BRM Matters for Digital Engineering

BRM turns DE from a buzzword into a measurable success story. It helps you:

Show clients and bosses the ROI of DE (e.g., “BIM saved $150,000 in rework”).
Set realistic goals and avoid overpromising.
Keep teams accountable and motivated.
Improve DE strategies over time.

Sample BRM “Benefits Register”

A Benefits Register is your roadmap to making Digital Engineering (DE) deliver real results. By working through it with your team during project kickoff, you’ll clarify how DE tools like BIM or cloud platforms can save time, cut costs, and boost quality. Even if you can’t implement it right away, use the register to spark ideas about DE’s potential.

Here’s a sample for a $10M building project to show how it works:

For more details, check the full register here. Below, we break down the key components to build your own.

Key Components of the Benefits Register:

Identification
- Benefit ID: A unique code for each benefit (e.g., B001, B002).
- Benefit Description: What the benefit is, in clear terms (e.g., “Reduced rework due to clash detection”).
- Owner: The person or team responsible for making it happen.
- Project Stage: When the benefit will show up (e.g., Design, Construction).
Measurement
- Type: The benefit’s category (e.g., Financial, Operational, Strategic).
- Strategic Objective: The project or company goal it supports (e.g., “Reduce project costs by 10%”).
- KPI: The number that tracks progress (e.g., “% of clashes undetected”).
- Baseline: The starting point before DE (e.g., “10% clashes undetected”).
- Target: The goal after DE (e.g., “2% clashes undetected”).
Tracking
- Status: Where the benefit stands (e.g., Planned, On Track, Realised).
- Realisation Timeline: When you expect the benefit to happen (e.g., “Q2 2025”).
- Dependencies: What needs to be in place (e.g., “BIM software installed”).

Winning Over Stakeholders

Skeptical clients or executives? Use your Benefits Register to show how DE saves time and money. For example, highlight how a $50,000 BIM investment could save $150,000 by catching errors early. Start with small, visible wins—like faster design approvals—to build trust.

Get Started Today

Ready to make DE a game-changer? Start small:

Grab your team and brainstorm 3-5 DE benefits for your next project.
Use Excel to create your Benefits Register.
Track progress weekly and share updates to keep everyone excited.

With BRM, you’ll turn DE’s promises into results you can measure—and celebrate. Start building your Benefits Register today and see the difference it makes!

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