Last month marked the launch of PAEVEN, a Private Sector Bidding Platform for A/E RFPs, which uses technology to connect architecture and engineering firms with potential clients in an efficient and interactive fashion.
We did a Q&A with PAEVEN founder Jared Perry to learn more about his vision and plans for the online bidding platform, and its potential to be a game changer for the A/E industry.
Q. In a nutshell, what was your main driver behind starting PAEVEN?
A. Truthfully, the idea of PAEVEN has come to me in spurts, but the overall premise came about because I love to compete. The problem with loving to compete is that when you’re not invited to play, it’s hard to show what you can do. I don’t like sitting on the sidelines, and I think there are a lot of very talented firms out there that deserve a seat at the table.
Getting work should be based on merit, not a college roommate connection or any other good ol’ boy network. The logic is sound. People hear it and they say it, but they can’t do it – until now. Before PAEVEN there really wasn’t a way to get past the bias or evaluate 100 bids at the same time. Now there is. And if you think about it, there are two winners here:
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Clients.
The clients who want the best design or the best price or the best schedule or the most niche firm, or 1,000 other criteria. They get it with PAEVEN because of the competition. You’re not constrained to 3 or 5 firms. The system handles it all based on what is most important to you (the owner) and ranks accordingly for your evaluation.
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The architecture and engineering industry
Imagine if everyone had the same connections. Imagine if you got to bid on projects you wanted to do all the time. To get the project you have to be innovative in your design, your approach, and the tools you use. No complacency. Every project is a competition, and in-turn, we can push the envelope of the A/E design industry.
Q. What firm size and firm type are you targeting in particular? Who is your ideal market?
A. We are actually openly marketing to all firm sizes and disciplines. So far our sweet spot has been firms between 10 to 100 employees, but we aren’t actively pursuing one size range in particular. We are really just looking for innovative firms who don’t want to do things the way they’ve always been done. Just like the transition from hand drafting to 2D CAD to BIM. Some firms got on board and some didn’t. The idea is to push our industry forward. Some are ready to lead now, and others will come kicking and screaming.
From a market perspective, we are only working in the private sector. The system is capable of handling everything from retail to steel mills. However, our team members are primarily focused during our launch effort in the following markets:
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Commercial real estate
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Retail
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Hospitality
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Restaurant
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Private colleges and universities
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Sports
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Multi-family residential
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Hospital and health care
Q. Why do you believe the A/E industry is ready for such an online tool? Are there any particular obstacles?
A. I believe technology is inevitable and becoming engrained in the industry. I also believe that we are on the verge of a massive transition of business owners in the A/E design field. More and more professionals in the Millennial generation are striking it on their own or moving up the corporate ladder. They are not satisfied with doing things the way they’ve always been done. The innovators are saying “Why not?” and the laggards are saying “Why bother?”
The only obstacle in our way is proof. Social proof. People need to see others promoting or using it before they can accept or try it. I’ve been through the steps of logical thought progression for this concept over and over and over. I still cannot find a reason why people would not want a tool like this. At the end of the day we believe in moving our industry to the forefront of technology. If not us, then who?
Q. Do you have any competitors, and if so, how do you differentiate yourself?
A. During two years of research we have found no direct competitor for the services PAEVEN provides. The most common comparisons we have heard when presenting PAEVEN to others are iSqft, Bidclerk, or Procore. All great services I’m sure, but not in our same market. Those companies are geared towards construction bids, whether Design-Build or Design-Bid-Build.
PAEVEN is geared towards architects, engineers, and the companies who use their services. PAEVEN could include contractors if they intend to post RFPs for architects and engineers to bid on, but that’s the extent of contractor involvement. We are aimed at being the go-to resource for the beginning of the project life cycle.
Our belief is in competition, a level playing field, and innovation for our industry.
Jared Perry is a principal at Sixmo, an A/E consulting firm, and the founder of PAEVEN, a website and technology company designed to support growth and competition in the AE industry. He can be reached at jperry@paeven.com. For more information on PAEVEN click here.
Now it's your turn: Does technology have a role in the bidding process? What are the benefits? Is their a downside? Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment.
For other trends in business development, check out PSMJ's recently released How Successful A/E Firms Keep Clients Happy and Win New Work. In this complimentary ebook, we present the results of a study that PSMJ recently conducted regarding business development best practices.
In the PSMJ Blog, we have covered technology and the A/E industry from a number of angles. Here is a list of technology-related blog posts:
10 Tips for Effective Project Management with BIM
Where 3D Printing Plays in the A/E/C Arena
5 Tips on How to Survive the Marketing Tech Madness
The New Technology That Will Transform the A/E Industry
5 Common Technology Mistakes Made by A/E Firm Leaders
Mastering Technology for Firm Success