Shimizu Construction Co., Ltd. (President Kazuyuki Inoue) has signed a partnership agreement with the global work tech company eptura, and will deploy a business to streamline various asset management tasks that occur during the building operation phase through data linkage between our digital twin and the company's FM solution tool.

eptura, a company that has established its name as an FM solution vendor, was founded in 2022 as a company inheriting the business of the U.S. company ARCHIBUS and provides digital solutions that streamline the management of all assets, including facilities, equipment, and fixtures, based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, with total revenue in 2023 reaching 0.2 billion2 million dollars. Autodesk played a significant role in the founding of eptura, establishing a strong partnership through strategic early investments, enabling data linkage between Autodesk Tandem and eptura's new products.

On the other hand, within our company, the challenge was to expand the BIM data of design, architecture, and facilities created during the design phase to asset management of equipment, fixtures, and fittings during the building operation phase, and to commercialize it. Through this process, after evaluating the digital asset management solution tools provided by eptura, it was determined that by linking it with BIM data, we can provide services that improve customer satisfaction. As a result of this evaluation, our company proposed a partnership agreement to eptura, which evaluated our commercialization plans and led to the signing of the contract. Through this contract, we can timely access information on their new products, as well as receive web training and technical support related to the products.

The foundation of our asset management business utilizes data linkage of software from both Autodesk and eptura. Specifically, by first using Autodesk Revit to construct detailed BIM models of architecture, structure, and facilities during the building design phase, then using Autodesk Tandem to build a digital twin from BIM data. Subsequently, integrating this with eptura's platforms, "Eptura Asset" or "Eptura Workplace." Through this data linkage, Asset decrypts the parts information of the digital twin, integrates and manages performance data of equipment, fixtures, maintenance schedules, and more.

An example of integrated management is building equipment management. By constructing a digital twin of equipment, linking it with Asset allows for interpreting maintenance information from equipment parts and sending out operational instructions like regular inspections or parts replacement to registered personnel via email. Additionally, various data such as maintenance records, equipment operating hours, energy usage, etc., can be automatically accumulated. Analyzing these data results and providing feedback to the equipment maintenance plan enables efficient planning without strain or waste.

It is also suitable for managing fixtures and fittings under a free address system. First, by constructing a digital twin of fixtures and fittings listed in the fixed asset ledger, significant reduction in inventory operations of fixed assets could be achieved by clarifying their location within the office. Subsequently, by linking the digital twin with Asset, for example, collecting human presence sensor information installed on items like desks, chairs, sofas for relaxation, private room booths, etc., to Asset reveals usage frequencies and the number of users. As a result, tailored office setups based on individual company realities become possible and contribute to performance improvement.

Our company plans to utilize the data linkage of software from both companies to make effective use of BIM data and expand the asset management business to enhance customer satisfaction in the future.