BSD Customer Case Study: 
SpecLink Quarterly Updates Keep Interplan Specifications Up-To-Date

Interplan LLC is a comprehensive development services company offering site evaluation, image development, architecture, engineering, interior design, permitting, and construction services.

The firm is dedicated to providing total solutions for national and local corporate programs for the restaurant, retail, and hospitality industries. Interplan works with companies of all sizes, providing new design, renovation, remodeling, conversion, and specialty services.

The firm is based in Orlando, Florida and currently employs a staff of over 150, with total annual billings of $10 million. Interplan is licensed in 48 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. From top to bottom, Interplan has built its operation to respond swiftly, accurately and cost-effectively to solve specific client problems. As a result of this successful approach, client companies have experienced profitable results and have utilitized Interplan’s services to produce more than 20,000 sites since 1972.

Interplan provides the restaurant industry new design, renovation, remodeling, conversion and specialty services for full service, quick service and design focused restaurants. In the hospitality area, Interplan provides new design, renovation, remodeling, conversion, FF&E and specialty services for hotel and resort properties. And for retail they provide new design, renovation, remodeling, conversion and specialty services for in-line, design focused, big box and gas/convenience facilities.

The Need: The speed at which Interplan conducts business has never been faster. Timing is crucial - especially in the restaurant and hospitality industries. Companies providing architectural, design and construction services for these markets need to be able to respond quickly and accurately. When Dennis Cabala, Director at Interplan Midwest, evaluated his specification writing process, he saw it as an area where they could both save time and increase accuracy.

The team at Interplan was spending large amounts of time doing research to ensure that all their spec data was current. This included confirming model numbers, examining industry standards – even checking to make certain that various manufacturers were still in business. Cabala wanted to find an easy-to-use, straightforward commercial master guide system for their specification writing – and one that would provide the updates he needed. In 2001, Interplan made the switch to SpecLink.

The Solution: Cabala says, “The quarterly updates we receive from SpecLink means that we no longer have to do all the research. We know that the information SpecLink provides is up-to-date and accurate. SpecLink contains all information we need to completely specify an item – without overlooking something like the quality or thickness of finish items. It gives us everything we need for accurate product selection.”

And if there is a specific manufacturer Interplan uses, that is no cause for concern, says Cabala, “With SpecLink we have the ability to create spec sections for manufacturers not in the master data base, adding the information to our Office Master.”

The Outcome: Interplan initially looked at SpecLink because it was so user friendly. And that continues to be a great benefit for them. Between the quarterly updates and ease of use, Cabala estimates that switching to SpecLink has resulted in timesavings of 60%. One of their current projects reinforced their decision to use SpecLink. They were working on a specification for Bank One. “The program (SpecLink) allowed us to re-use previously written specifications. Because of the quarterly updates, we knew all of the data was the most current information available, making this one of our best spec projects to date using SpecLink.”