Architect Carl Shorter uses briq.works to help his clients understand the process, and to increase office productivity.

Carl heads up the Shorplans architecture practice in South London. The practice had been getting bogged down fielding calls from clients wanting updates and information on next steps for their projects.

He chose briq.works to help him both keep his clients in the loop and to give them a greater insight into the different stages and tasks that made up their projects.

‘We needed a more efficient way of managing our clients’

The Shorplans practice is an exceptionally busy one. Before using briq.works, much of Carl and his team’s time was taken up with admin, specifically dealing with client update calls.

‘We want to provide a great service to our clients and keep them up to date with what’s happening with their projects. But it was getting so busy dealing with phone calls that we really needed a more efficient way of handling things.’

‘On top of that, we also wanted to give our clients more of an insight into the different stages of their design, and briq.works helps us to do just that. Now, when we send a project plan to our clients, they can identify the key stages on their design and they can see that we’re being compliant with the RIBA way of working.’

“briq.works is intuitive to set up, with a supportive team on hand to help with any questions.”

briq.works is provided with the RIBA Plan of Work as a template, but Shorplans, like other practices, prefers to use their own templates based on the RIBA plan of work framework.

Carl explains; ‘We have two main project templates that we use, covering planning and building control. Once we’d set up these templates in the system we could use them again and again, making each new project set up quick and straightforward.’

‘And once we’ve set up our clients on the briq.works system, they know we’re progressing their projects and feel reassured from the start, confident that we’re taking care of the project for them. In turn, this has reduced the number of phone calls coming in from them.’

‘And when your clients are at ease and better updated, it reduces the pressure in the office.’

So what’s been the impact for Carl of using briq.works?

‘The office is calmer! We don’t have clients contacting us for updates so much because now they can see exactly what’s going on through briq.works. They know their project is in the system, and we’re just getting on with it. They are so much better updated in terms of what’s going on. And we’re more productive and less distracted by the phone ringing all the time, and able to get on with our own work.’