Construction CDE Software
Keep drawings current. Keep decisions traceable.
Collabor8online Drawing Management provides construction CDE software for UK contractors, housebuilders, architects and consultants. Manage project drawings, documents, revisions, permissions and distribution in one controlled environment, with approval workflows available in selected packages.
Give each organisation access to the information it needs. Keep the current revision clear, retain earlier versions and maintain a record of project activity.
- Revision control: identify current drawings and retain their history.
- Controlled access: manage permissions for organisations, groups and individual users.
- Drawing registers and distribution: organise project information and record what has been issued.
- Review and approvals: manage document decisions through structured workflows in the appropriate package.
- Project audit history: establish what changed, when it happened and who carried out recorded activity.
UK-hosted project information, supported by a UK-based team.
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See How a Construction CDE Works on a Live Project
A Common Data Environment should do more than provide somewhere to store files.
On a live construction project, information is continuously being created, revised, reviewed, approved and issued between different organisations.
Collabor8online keeps those activities within one controlled project environment.
This gives project teams a clearer source of controlled information while preserving the record behind it.
From Upload to Controlled Project Information
A construction CDE should support the complete journey of project information — not simply provide somewhere to upload it
Add drawings and project documents
Consultants and authorised project users upload drawings, specifications and supporting information into the appropriate project and folder structure.
Control who can see it
Permissions determine which organisations, groups and individuals can access different areas of the project. Not everyone needs to see everything.
Review and approve information
Drawings and documents can move through structured review and approval workflows so project teams can establish their current status.
Manage Revisions
When information changes, revision history is retained while the current revision remains clear to project users.
Issue information to the correct people
Controlled distribution helps maintain a record of what information was issued, when it was issued and who received it.
Keep the history
Significant activity remains associated with the project record, helping teams establish what happened, when and by whom.
REQUEST A DEMO
Collabor8online provides the control, structure and visibility needed to manage construction information confidently and efficiently.
If you want a CDE that’s powerful, practical and easy for your teams to adopt — request a demo today.
See the CDE, Not Just the Claims
Structured Project Information
Organise drawings and documents within a project and folder structure that reflects how your teams work.
Project information remains accessible from one controlled environment rather than being spread across local folders, email attachments and disconnected storage systems.
Controlled Permissions
Give organisations, groups and individual users access to the project information relevant to them while keeping restricted areas private.
Collaboration does not mean everybody should have access to everything. Collabor8online allows the project team to control who can see different areas of the project.
Drawing Status and Approvals
See where drawings and documents sit within the review and approval process and retain a clear record of decisions.
In packages with approval workflows, project teams can manage review stages and recorded decisions alongside the documents they relate to.
Revision and Audit History
Retain the history behind project information so authorised teams can establish what changed and what activity took place.
Previous revisions remain part of the project record while current information can be clearly identified by the project team.
One Project. Different Organisations. Controlled Access.
Construction projects depend on collaboration between contractors, consultants, designers and the supply chain.
But collaboration does not mean everyone should have access to everything.
Collabor8online allows project information to be structured so authorised users can access the drawings and documents relevant to them while permissions remain under the control of the project team.
Control the Drawing Lifecycle
Drawings change throughout a construction project. Your team needs to identify the current revision and understand the history behind it.
Collabor8online Drawing Management combines revision control, controlled distribution and project activity records. Review and approval workflows are available in selected packages, helping teams manage decisions alongside the information they relate to.
Test the process using a drawing from your own project: upload a revision, check its status, issue it to the relevant people and retrieve the earlier information and recorded activity.
Revision Control
Automatic version control helps authorised users identify current project information while retaining earlier revisions. This gives the team a record of how a drawing has changed over time. Explore Drawing Revision Software
Drawing Approvals
Route drawings through structured review and approval processes and retain the outcome. Explore Drawing Approval Software
Controlled Distribution
Maintain records showing what information was issued and who received it.
RFI Management
Manage project information requests alongside the drawings and documents they relate to. Explore RFI Management Software
The Latest Information Matters. So Does Its History.
A CDE should help the project team work from current information today.
But its value can become even greater months or years later when somebody needs to understand what happened.
Collabor8online maintains user-attributed project activity so authorised teams can establish information such as:
- When information was uploaded;
- When revisions were created;
- How information moved through approvals;
- What was distributed;
- Who carried out recorded activity.
That provides a clearer project information record than relying on disconnected email chains, local folders and manually maintained spreadsheets.
Streamlined Approval Workflows With Full Traceability
Approval workflows are available in selected Collabor8online Drawing Management packages. Manage review stages, approval status and recorded decisions within the project, with notifications helping the relevant people follow the process.
Workflow advantages
Clear hold points and approval status
Digital signatures with timestamps
Automatic notifications to keep work moving
A Construction CDE for Small and Mid-Sized UK Contractors
Collabor8online Drawing Management suits contractors who need to coordinate drawings and documents across consultants, subcontractors and project teams.
It is particularly relevant when revisions are difficult to follow, drawing registers are maintained manually or project information is scattered across inboxes and shared folders.
Housebuilders, architects, consultants and engineers can also use the platform to control information across their projects. The appropriate package depends on your live projects, users and requirements for approvals, RFIs, markup and other advanced features.
Main Contractors
Control project information shared between consultants, subcontractors and the wider supply chain.
Housebuilders
Maintain consistent drawing and document-control processes across developments and project teams.
Architects & Consultants
Issue, review and manage controlled design information while retaining revision and approval history.
Specialist Subcontractors
Access relevant project information and respond to document requirements within a controlled environment.
Project Managers
Maintain greater visibility over revisions, approvals, permissions and project information history.
Supporting ISO 19650 Information-Management Processes
Collabor8online Drawing Management provides project structures, permissions, revision control, controlled distribution and activity records. Review and approval workflows are available in selected packages.
These capabilities can support organisations working with ISO 19650 information-management processes. Suitability depends on the project’s requirements, the selected package and how the system is configured and used.
Bring your client’s information requirements and approval process to the demo. We can review them against the available capabilities and identify the configuration your project needs.
Manage Project Information Alongside Your BIM Tools
Collabor8online Drawing Management gives project teams a controlled place to manage and distribute information produced through their design and BIM workflows.
Use project structures, permissions, revision control and distribution records to manage the files shared between design teams, contractors and the supply chain.
If your team uses Revit or other authoring software, bring examples of the outputs you need to share. We can check your file formats, viewing requirements and preferred workflow against the appropriate package.
3D viewing is available in selected packages. Specific viewing and integration requirements should be checked during the demo.
Secure, UK-Hosted Project Information
Construction information can remain commercially important long after it was first issued.
Collabor8online provides controlled access to project information through project and folder permissions, supported by user-attributed project history and UK-based hosting.
- UK-hosted project data
- Controlled user access
- Individual and group permissions
- Private project areas where required
- Project audit history
- UK-based support
Connect Controlled Project Documents with Site Manager
Collabor8online Drawing Management controls drawings, documents, revisions, permissions and distribution.
Collabor8online Site Manager is a separate service for site processes and records, including RAMS, inductions, sign-in, inspections and site diaries.
Where both services are configured together, a Site Manager account can be linked to a Drawing Management project. Relevant drawings and files can then be accessed through Site Manager without opening the separate Drawing Management interface.
The connection provides access from Site Manager to Drawing Management information. Folder access, permissions and the required Site Manager modules are configured for your needs.
Explore Drawing and Document Management | Explore Site Manager
Tell us which information your office and site teams need to share, and we can demonstrate the appropriate setup.
See Your Own Drawing Workflow in Collabor8online
Bring an example of how your team currently manages drawings, revisions, approvals or distribution.
We’ll show you how that process could work in Collabor8online Drawing Management: who can access the information, how revisions are controlled and what records are retained.
Use the demonstration to check the fit for your project and identify the package and configuration you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Common Data Environment in construction?
A Common Data Environment, or CDE, is a controlled digital environment used to manage and share project information between authorised members of a construction team.
It can bring together drawings, documents, revisions, approvals, RFIs and other project information in one structured location, helping teams work from controlled information rather than relying on disconnected email attachments, local folders or shared drives.
What information is stored in a construction CDE?
A construction CDE can contain drawings, specifications, project documents, revisions, approval information, RFIs and other controlled project records used throughout the life of a project.
The purpose is not simply to store information, but to help project teams manage how that information is accessed, revised, reviewed, approved and shared.
How does a CDE help main contractors?
A CDE gives main contractors greater control over the information being shared across a project.
It can help project teams manage drawings, revisions, approvals, permissions and document distribution while maintaining a clearer history of what changed, what was approved and who had access to the information.
This can make it easier to coordinate information between consultants, subcontractors and the wider project team.
What is the difference between a CDE and construction document management software?
Construction document management software focuses on organising, controlling and distributing project documents.
A Common Data Environment provides the wider controlled environment in which project information can be stored, accessed, reviewed, revised, approved and shared between authorised organisations.
In practice, the two are closely connected. Document management is a core part of how a construction CDE operates.
Can access be restricted by company, group or individual user?
Yes. Collabor8online allows project information to be controlled using permissions so different organisations, groups and individual users can be given access to the information relevant to them.
This helps project teams collaborate without giving every participant access to every area of the project.
How are drawing revisions controlled?
When drawings are revised, Collabor8online retains the revision history while helping authorised users identify the current information they should be working from.
Previous revisions remain part of the project record, helping teams understand how information has changed over time.
Can drawing approvals be managed inside the CDE?
Yes. Structured review and approval workflows are available in selected Collabor8online Drawing Management packages. The appropriate workflow and configuration depend on your project requirements.
This helps project teams maintain a clearer record of document status, approval decisions and the activity associated with the review process.
Can consultants and subcontractors access Collabor8online?
Yes. Consultants, subcontractors and other project participants can be given controlled access to the information relevant to their role, organisation or area of the project.
Permissions can be used to limit access so users only see the project information they are authorised to work with.
Can Collabor8online manage more than drawings?
Yes. Collabor8online can be used to manage a wider range of construction project information, including drawings, documents, specifications, RFIs and other project records.
The aim is to keep important project information within one controlled environment rather than spread across multiple systems and email chains.
How should UK contractors choose construction CDE software?
Start with the information your project needs to control. Check revision management, drawing registers, permissions, distribution records, approval requirements and audit history.
Then assess the selected package, hosting, support, training and implementation requirements.
For Collabor8online Drawing Management, use a demo to test a real project workflow and confirm which capabilities are included in the package you need.
Does Collabor8online maintain an audit history?
Collabor8online maintains user-attributed project activity so authorised teams can establish when information was uploaded, revised, reviewed or distributed and who carried out recorded activity.
This can provide a clearer project information history than relying on disconnected email chains, manually maintained spreadsheets or local file storage.
Can Collabor8online support ISO 19650 information-management processes?
Collabor8online Drawing Management provides information-control capabilities that can support these processes, including project structures, permissions, revision control, distribution and activity records. Review and approval workflows are available in selected packages.
The appropriate setup depends on your project’s information requirements and agreed procedures. Review those requirements with us before selecting a package and configuration.
Specific contractual or project requirements should always be reviewed against the configuration required for that project.
Where is Collabor8online project data hosted?
Collabor8online project data is hosted in the UK.
This provides UK construction organisations with a controlled environment for managing project information, supported by user permissions, project history and UK-based support.
Is a CDE the same as a shared drive?
No.
A shared drive primarily provides somewhere to store and share files.
A construction CDE is intended to provide greater control over project information by helping teams manage permissions, revisions, approvals, distribution and project history.
The difference is not simply where the information is stored, but how it is controlled throughout the project.
Who is Collabor8online Drawing Management designed for?
Collabor8online Drawing Management suits small and mid-sized UK contractors, housebuilders, architects, consultants and engineers who need controlled project drawings and documents.
Typical users include design managers, document controllers, project managers and authorised supply-chain participants.
For RAMS, inductions, attendance, inspections and other site processes, assess Collabor8online Site Manager separately or alongside Drawing Management.