---
title: "The Owner's Guide to Running More Valuable Capital Projects"
customer: "Autodesk"
customerWebsite: "https://www.autodesk.com/"
datePublished: 2026-10-07
dateModified: 2026-10-07
sourceAssetType: "ebook"
topics: ["capital-projects", "bim", "asset-management", "construction-technology", "lifecycle-costing"]
canonical: "https://theintelligencelibrary.com/autodesk/the-owners-guide-to-running-more-valuable-capital-projects/"
---

# The Owner's Guide to Running More Valuable Capital Projects

Owners can create more value by using lifecycle data, early collaboration, standardized workflows, and operational insights across capital projects.

## Key takeaways

- Use a single data platform to capture project, cost, schedule, and asset information across the full lifecycle.
- Engage owners, designers, builders, operations, and maintenance teams at the start to catch issues earlier.
- Standardize workflows, naming conventions, and forms to reduce rework and improve consistency across programs.
- Extend capital project data into operations to reduce downtime and improve long-term asset performance.

## How can owners use digital tools across planning, design, construction, and operations to get more value from capital projects?
Owners can get more value when digital tools connect the full asset lifecycle from design through operation, so teams can make better decisions, reduce rework, and improve long-term performance. The Autodesk source material says the biggest difference between top-performing owners and lower-performing owners is the innovative use of technology that provides real-time insight into projects.²

Built assets take years to imagine, plan, and construct, and many stakeholders must work together, from architects and general contractors to operations teams. Owners are also under pressure from rising costs, tight deadlines, and margins. The global construction industry’s growth was forecast to expand by just 0.8% in 2023. Excluding China, the industry was set to contract by 0.1% because of the weak economic backdrop, high material costs, and labor shortages.¹

Digital adoption also depends on people, not just software. A lack of skilled staff is one of the greatest barriers to integrating data-driven insights into business processes, according to commercial development services companies.³ That is why owners need company-wide buy-in, skilled staff, and technology that supports planning, delivery, and operations.

## What data should a capital projects team capture and reuse across the full lifecycle?
Capital projects teams should capture project, cost, schedule, design, and asset data in one place, then reuse that information for planning, lifecycle costing, and operations. Construction generates vast amounts of data, but the Autodesk source material says 95% of data generated through the construction process is lost and not shared downstream in operations, while 12% of time is wasted through fragmented data.⁴

The same source material also says 87% of facility managers will use more data and analytics to shape decision-making.⁴ That makes a centralized data strategy essential for owners who want to improve both project delivery and long-term asset performance.

Key tools for capturing and reusing data include:

- Centralized data platform: Keep asset performance and cost insights on a single platform so stakeholders can compare information side by side and spot bottlenecks, trends, and efficiencies.
- Lifecycle costing: Account for build cost, operating cost, depreciation, decommissioning cost, and residual value before deciding whether to build new or maintain an existing asset.
- Asset management software: Maintain a detailed inventory of assets, understand current performance, and identify what needs to be maintained, extended, or retired.

## How early should operations, maintenance, and facilities teams be involved in project planning and design?
Operations, maintenance, and facilities teams should be involved from the start so the project team can define requirements, catch clashes, and avoid costly changes later. Every construction build has many moving parts and multiple stakeholders, and early engagement helps align the whole team on the intended outcome.

That matters because less than a third of construction projects are completed within 10% of their original budget due to poor communication.² Incorrect designs are the second biggest cause of claims or disputes across the globe,⁵ and 69% of construction projects exceed the original budget by more than 10%.

To improve early collaboration, owners should:

- Outline expectations before the project begins, including the design intention and the business impact if the goal is not met.
- Get everyone on the same page by involving all stakeholders early and making sure design changes and plan updates are communicated clearly.
- Use automated clash detection so design issues are found during the design phase, not on site.
- Use cloud collaboration tools so every team works from a single source of truth.
- Use BIM to provide a digital representation of the physical asset and its components.

## What standardized workflows help owners run multiple capital projects more consistently across sites or programs?
Standardized workflows help owners run projects more consistently, reduce mistakes, and improve data quality across sites or programs. Uniform processes established before a project begins give contractors a clear way to work and make future operations easier.

The most useful standards include:

- Naming conventions
- Punch lists
- Asset data requirements
- Change-order workflows
- Request for information processes

A common data environment (CDE) is a strong foundation for this approach because it serves as the single source of truth for all stakeholders. Project management software and customizable forms also help owners keep schedule, cost, quality, and approvals under control.

Automation adds another layer of consistency by handling repetitive work and reducing the risk of human error. That lets teams focus on higher-value tasks instead of manual coordination.

## How can project management, engineering, facilities, and maintenance teams collaborate more effectively on large capital programs?
Project management, engineering, facilities, and maintenance teams collaborate more effectively when they share the same data, the same model, and the same workflow rules. BIM, cloud collaboration tools, and project management software give everyone a common view of scope, design changes, schedules, and approvals.

This shared environment improves accountability and helps owners manage timing, cost, and quality. It also supports better design reviews because decision-makers can work directly with construction teams and keep design intent aligned with execution.

Useful collaboration practices include:

- Using a common data environment as the single source of truth
- Granting access based on user roles and responsibilities
- Keeping project communications and approvals in one cloud platform
- Using standardized forms and workflows to make reviews faster and more consistent

## How do you improve long-term asset performance through better capital project execution?
Long-term asset performance improves when capital project execution is designed to support operations, maintenance, safety, and uptime from day one. Regular maintenance, data-driven planning, and proper sequencing reduce downtime, extend asset life expectancy, and minimize risk.

The Autodesk source material says AI, working with IoT sensors, can use machine learning algorithms to predict maintenance needs. It also says AI can analyze human data such as footfall and automatically adjust temperatures to optimize comfort and energy use. That kind of connected operational data helps owners reduce downtime and improve how assets perform after handover.

## How did Pure Salmon use past performance data to boost efficiency?
Pure Salmon used Autodesk Build and BIM Collaborate Pro to streamline project delivery on two new facilities in the US and Brunei. The land-based Atlantic salmon farming company uses state-of-the-art technology to ensure fish are reared in the healthiest living conditions possible, free from antibiotics, pesticides, hormones, and microplastics.

The software streamlined processes, reduced costs, and allowed the team to focus on value-adding activities.

> "Not only can we highlight issues earlier during the build phase to resolve things quicker, but we can learn from past mistakes and build these into our decision-making practices for the future." — Azza Nureldin, BIM Lead, Pure Salmon

## How did MQDC keep The Forestias on time and on budget?
MQDC kept The Forestias aligned by using a single, secure, always up-to-date source of truth and tailored access permissions for each user. The Forestias is a US$3.5 billion, 158-acre mixed-use development on the southern outskirts of Bangkok, with more than 500 contractors, 11 types of projects, and more than 50 sub-projects.

From the outset, the MQDC team needed to keep hundreds of contractors aligned and communicate design changes and plan updates while maintaining data security. The software solution let the team create tailored access permissions so every worker, both internal and external contractors, had access to precisely the information needed to complete tasks.

MQDC also used the platform to track all dimensions of data in one place, including project progress, coordination of 3D models, document control, schedules, CAD, and BIM approvals.

> "We can now track all dimensions of data in one place, such as the project progress and coordination of 3D models, document control, schedules, CAD, and BIM approvals." — Phakorn Phattrapornpisit, Assistant Vice President, MQDC

## How did Dat Xanh streamline project visibility and approvals?
Dat Xanh E&C used Autodesk Build and BIM 360 for complete project management, which transformed how the team shared and approved project documents. Dat Xanh E&C is part of the Dat Xanh Group, a real estate brand with nearly 20 years of establishment and development across Vietnam.

The team used the system to share design drawings, construction plans, and machinery and equipment specifications much faster. Using Reviews within Build, Dat Xanh teams automated the process with predefined review workflow templates, reviewed Revit models and 2D PDFs directly in Build without converting to IFC, and identified design issues by pinning markup comments.

The published results included a 30% reduction in design conflict, a 55% reduction in paperwork costs, 2-3 hours saved per document approval, and a 20% reduction in management costs.

> "The use of technology has made project management more efficient and faster than conventional methods. Now, we’re focusing on the further value of digitizing workflows and project data." — Le Hao, CEO

## Frequently asked questions

### How can owners use digital tools across planning, design, construction, and operations to get more value from capital projects?

Owners can get more value by connecting the full asset lifecycle with digital tools that improve real-time insight, coordination, and decision-making. Autodesk's source material says the biggest difference between top-performing and lower-performing owners is the innovative use of technology that provides real-time insight into projects.

[Direct link](https://theintelligencelibrary.com/autodesk/the-owners-guide-to-running-more-valuable-capital-projects/#how-can-owners-use-digital-tools-across-planning-design-construction-and-operations-to-get-more-value-from-capital-projects)

### What data should a capital projects team capture and reuse across the full lifecycle to make better decisions?

Capital projects teams should capture project, cost, schedule, design, and asset data in one place, then reuse it for planning, lifecycle costing, and operations. The source material says 95% of construction data is lost after construction, 12% of time is wasted through fragmented data, and 87% of facility managers will use more data and analytics to shape decision-making.

[Direct link](https://theintelligencelibrary.com/autodesk/the-owners-guide-to-running-more-valuable-capital-projects/#what-data-should-a-capital-projects-team-capture-and-reuse-across-the-full-lifecycle-to-make-better-decisions)

### How early should operations, maintenance, and facilities teams be involved in project planning and design?

Operations, maintenance, and facilities teams should be involved from the start so the project can define requirements, catch clashes, and avoid costly changes later. Early engagement matters because less than a third of construction projects are completed within 10% of their original budget due to poor communication, and incorrect designs are the second biggest cause of claims or disputes globally.

[Direct link](https://theintelligencelibrary.com/autodesk/the-owners-guide-to-running-more-valuable-capital-projects/#how-early-should-operations-maintenance-and-facilities-teams-be-involved-in-project-planning-and-design)

### What standardized workflows help owners run multiple capital projects more consistently across sites or programs?

Standardized naming conventions, punch lists, asset data requirements, change-order workflows, and request-for-information processes help owners run projects more consistently. A common data environment and standard forms improve data quality, reduce mistakes, and make it easier to scale the same approach across sites or programs.

[Direct link](https://theintelligencelibrary.com/autodesk/the-owners-guide-to-running-more-valuable-capital-projects/#what-standardized-workflows-help-owners-run-multiple-capital-projects-more-consistently-across-sites-or-programs)

### How can project management, engineering, facilities, and maintenance teams collaborate more effectively on large capital programs?

Project management, engineering, facilities, and maintenance teams collaborate more effectively when they share a common data environment, BIM models, cloud collaboration tools, and clear approval workflows. That shared visibility improves accountability, supports design reviews, and helps owners manage timing, cost, and quality.

[Direct link](https://theintelligencelibrary.com/autodesk/the-owners-guide-to-running-more-valuable-capital-projects/#how-can-project-management-engineering-facilities-and-maintenance-teams-collaborate-more-effectively-on-large-capital-programs)

### How do you factor lifecycle cost and long-term operating impact into capital project decisions from the beginning?

Lifecycle cost should be part of the first business case, not an afterthought. Owners should compare build cost, operating cost, depreciation, decommissioning cost, and residual value so they can decide whether to build new, maintain an existing asset, or redesign the plan for better long-term value.

[Direct link](https://theintelligencelibrary.com/autodesk/the-owners-guide-to-running-more-valuable-capital-projects/#how-do-you-factor-lifecycle-cost-and-long-term-operating-impact-into-capital-project-decisions-from-the-beginning)

### How do you improve long-term asset performance through better capital project execution?

Long-term asset performance improves when capital project execution is designed to support operations, maintenance, safety, and uptime from day one. Regular maintenance, data-driven planning, and AI connected to IoT sensors can reduce downtime, extend asset life expectancy, and minimize risk.

[Direct link](https://theintelligencelibrary.com/autodesk/the-owners-guide-to-running-more-valuable-capital-projects/#how-do-you-improve-long-term-asset-performance-through-better-capital-project-execution)


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