Allied Builders Switches to Autodesk for Better Pricing Clarity and Predictability

Published by Autodesk on October 7, 2026 · Updated October 7, 2026

• construction-management
• autodesk-build
• pricing-predictability
• general-contractors
• rfi-submittals

Why did Allied Builders System switch to Autodesk Build?

Allied Builders System switched to Autodesk Build because the company wanted more predictable annual pricing, fewer surprise renewal increases, and a technology partner it could trust.

Justin Izumi, VP and Chief Estimator at Allied Builders System, said the previous platform created constant frustration at renewal time. He said the team could not trust that it would get a reasonable rate the following year unless it committed to multiple years upfront. Allied Builders System also wanted to avoid paying extra for modules it did not always use.

“My first reason for wanting to move off our previous platform was the stability of the pricing,” says Justin. “It just always felt like such a struggle to renew every year. I couldn’t trust that I was going to get a reasonable rate the following year unless I committed to it for multiple years upfront.”

Who is Allied Builders System?

Allied Builders System is a locally owned general contractor based in Honolulu, Hawaii, founded in 1970.

The company specializes in education, hospitality, property development, and other target markets. Allied Builders System works on many design-assist projects, usually in the $10 million to $40 million range.

The firm is frequently recognized as one of Hawaii’s top 20 construction companies and is regularly acknowledged for project management expertise and craftsmanship.

Customer snapshot:

• Firm size: <500
• Firm type: General contractor
• Revenue: $50 million to $100 million
• Focus area: Institutional, hospitality
• HQ: Honolulu, Hawaii
• Phase: Design, plan, build, operate
• Capabilities: Project management, document management
• Outcome focus: Cost, quality, schedule

What did Allied Builders System look for in a new construction platform?

Allied Builders System looked for a platform that had the features it needed to execute projects and a vendor it could trust.

Justin Izumi and the team wanted more than a replacement for their existing software. They wanted a platform with the right project management capabilities, a more favorable pricing structure, and a sales and support experience that felt collaborative rather than pressured.

Autodesk responded with discovery sessions, product demos, and a process that Justin described as accommodating and personalized.

“The account team spent a lot of time with us without any hard or high-pressure sales spiels,” says Justin. “It was just, ‘Here’s where we think we can help, and here’s what we can do for you.’ Then, when we needed more information or had to see something again, Autodesk was right there.”

How did Autodesk Build improve pricing clarity for Allied Builders System?

Autodesk Build improved pricing clarity by giving Allied Builders System flexible annual subscriptions that support unlimited projects and users.

Justin said Autodesk Build offered the features Allied Builders System needed without the extra charges the company had experienced before. Key project management functionality, including cost management, was available out of the box without an additional cost. Justin said this mattered because Allied Builders System wanted more capability without being charged for every module.

“We know if we want to increase our product usage, the modules are already licensed to us,” says Justin.

How did Allied Builders System make the software switch smoother?

Allied Builders System made the switch smoother by running both systems at the same time for a period and moving projects over gradually.

Justin said the team intentionally avoided a hard cut-off date. Instead, Allied Builders System used Autodesk Build while still using its prior solution so it could finish old projects in the old platform and start new projects in Autodesk Build.

That overlap reduced disruption and gave the team time to get comfortable with the new software as the business kept moving.

“Rather than try to make a cut-off date and switch over, we made an investment into overlapping the two so we could just cleanly finish our old projects the other platform and start new projects on Autodesk Build,” explains Justin.

What day-to-day work is Allied Builders System using Autodesk Build for?

Allied Builders System is using Autodesk Build to manage sheets, forms, photos, RFIs, meetings, and submittals.

Justin said the team is still early in the adoption process, but it is adapting well. He noted that changing platforms always requires some process adjustment, but the Allied Builders System team now feels comfortable using its existing workflows in Build.

Dawn Akamine, Project Administrator at Allied Builders System, said the platform is user-friendly and supported by accessible training resources.

“As I navigate Build, and get a sense of how its features can support me in my daily work, I appreciate what it can do more and more,” says Dawn.

Dawn said Build is easier to navigate than the previous platform, especially because of the undo function and the ability to assign tasks by role.

“I can take a task back to the beginning or redo a certain part without completely starting over,” says Dawn. “It’s very seamless.”

How does Autodesk Build support collaboration across project stakeholders?

Autodesk Build supports collaboration by making it easier to assign, forward, and respond to documents based on roles and company affiliations.

Dawn said she can forward documents to the right people faster by choosing a role or a company. That saves time and helps ensure documents reach the right collaborators.

Autodesk Build also supports internal and external collaboration on RFIs. Justin said architect partners can respond to RFIs within Build or forward them to a consultant when needed.

“I think we’ve got the full workflow for RFIs pretty much sorted out,” says Justin. “It’s useful.”

Dawn also said more people are asking for access to Autodesk and viewing plans more often than they did with the previous software, which suggests higher engagement across the team and outside partners.

“Build does help us be more transparent, which is what we want,” says Dawn. “It’s reliable, consistent, and helps keep us accountable to ourselves or any other teams.”

What is Allied Builders System planning to use next in Autodesk Build?

Allied Builders System plans to expand its use of Autodesk Build into cost management and other connected construction workflows.

Justin said the cost module is part of the near-term roadmap because the company sees the advantage of more integrated financials. For now, Allied Builders System uses Build for non-financial work, but Justin said there is potential for a larger ecosystem.

The company can also view Revit models within Build, and Justin said the BIM model viewer seems better in Autodesk than what the team used before. He also expects to use the recently released submittal module and explore Pype Closeout, which automatically rounds up project documents to make handover to owners faster.

Allied Builders System’s longer-term goal is to improve project delivery and overall efficiency.

“We want to become more efficient, more effective, and I think Autodesk Build is going to help us get there,” says Dawn Akamine. “We’re going to grow together.”