BSD Customer Case Study: 
Svigals + Partners Brings Specification Writing In-House with BSD SpecLink

The Need: Svigals’ personalized attention to each project is a key component to their success. However, when they looked at their specification writing process, they saw that it consisted of master text provided by a local specification consultant, combined with basic word processing. They decided they needed to bring this entire process in-house, so that they would have better control and coordination of their documents. Using BSD’s SpecLink would allow them to give the same level of attention to the specification process that they give to creating the design.

The Solution: Robert Skolozdra, Associate with Svigals, says, "We no longer hire consultants to write our specs. We also spend less time during construction reviewing shop drawings trying to figure out what the spec consultant was looking for. We can easily copy and modify similar project types." By creating a SpecLink Office Master, Svigals has been able to bring all their spec writing in-house and completely automate and simplify their process, while saving significant outsourcing costs per project.

They also found that with their "old" system, they were not updating their reference standards or manufacturers information. Once they deleted text, it was gone – instead of being preserved in a master file. "With SpecLink you always have the master data at your fingertips. You are always working with updated standards," says Skolozdra. This has significantly increased their productivity in all areas. He continues, "SpecLink formats, links, and generates the table of contents so we can focus on building the technical sections."

Asked what he liked best about SpecLink, Skolozdra states, "Office and client master data can be added so that the document is seamless. Plus, SpecLink is very compatible with other word processing software. You can cut and paste, import and export as needed. Then SpecLink formats everything, including line space, line numbering, and paragraph formats automatically. It also generates page numbering and table of contents automatically. This creates a professional looking document every time you print it."

The Outcome: It took the associates at Svigals just a few days to understand the basics and begin using SpecLink. Skolozdra says that the assistance provided by BSD’s technical support department has been great. They have now used SpecLink on over 50 projects. Because of the way SpecLink’s database is set up, they are able to keep lists of both namespecific and non-proprietary items in their data file. This data handling ability is just one of the unique SpecLink features Svigals uses every day to create better specifications.