In an industry built on precision and trust, finding ways to improve communication, project tracking, and collaboration can determine whether a construction project succeeds or struggles. For Pórtico, a construction and architecture firm in Monterrey, Mexico, navigating these challenges led them to Buildpeer, a platform that has since transformed their processes, team dynamics, and client satisfaction.
Pórtico History: A Legacy of Personalized Construction
Pórtico began 25 years ago, founded by a collaboration between two civil engineers aiming to develop residential projects in Monterrey. Over the years, the company established a reputation for delivering luxury homes tailored to client needs. This focus on personalization comes with its challenges in project management.
Unlike large commercial projects with pre-defined costs, materials, and timelines, Pórtico's projects operated with flexibility. Clients had the freedom to choose details like flooring, fabrics, and fixtures during the project.
While this approach allowed Pórtico to customize every project, it also introduced significant administrative and communication hurdles.
The Differences between Commercial & Residential Projects
When Alejandro Belden joined the company, he brought experience from highly structured commercial environments with companies like Geométrica, Torre Lola, and Pabellón where unit price cards and micro-managed schedules were standard. But at Pórtico, things were different. The company managed decisions in real time with clients, making it difficult to apply rigid administrative methods. Project records, photos, and details were scattered across spreadsheets, emails, and WhatsApp messages, creating organizational chaos.
“Where are the spreadsheets? Where are the records? But there was nothing like that. I had to ask myself: Is this just how Pórtico works, or is this the industry standard?” - Alejandro Belden
This fragmented approach revealed key problems:
- Difficulty tracking project progress
- Poor internal and external communication
- Lack of centralized documentation
Despite his best efforts to implement traditional systems using spreadsheets, the challenges only multiplied as projects grew in scope.
The Integration of Buildpeer
The discovery of Buildpeer came at a pivotal moment. After unsuccessfully trying to develop his own project management solution, Alejandro Belden met Mauricio Valdez, CEO and co-founder of Buildpeer, and realized the platform already embodied the solution he had been envisioning.
Buildpeer streamlined their workflow by addressing core construction issues such as:
- Centralized Communication: Buildpeer unified communication across teams, clients, and job sites, replacing scattered conversations on platforms like WhatsApp.
- Daily Updates and Visual Documentation: The platform’s photo module became a favorite feature for Pórtico’s clients. Rather than relying on phone calls or site visits, clients could view real-time photo updates and reports from their smartphones.
- Organized File Management: Gone were the days of bulky binders and forgotten project revisions. With Buildpeer, clients had access to neatly organized digital files through cloud-based integration with platforms like Dropbox and OneDrive.
“The photo module has been a game changer for involving clients. We eliminated the need for nightly phone calls or daily visits to check on project progress. Instead of bulky binders filled with project revisions and quotes—which often ended up forgotten—we now provide clients with neatly organized digital files, making communication and document access seamless.” - Alejandro Belden
Building Trust and Client Satisfaction
One of the most significant improvements came from Buildpeer’s impact on client trust. The platform’s transparency allowed clients to stay informed without being physically present at the job site. By logging into the system, they could see project milestones, materials being installed, and progress photos—all with comments and timestamps.
“This peace of mind translates into trust, making the working relationship more comfortable and ultimately resulting in happier clients.” - Alejandro Belden
This level of visibility reduced the need for last-minute site visits and late-night phone calls. As Alejandro Belden put it, “Clients experienced peace of mind knowing their dream home was progressing as planned, and this trust led to smoother collaboration.”
The real-time updates also fostered quicker decision-making. For example, if a design change was required or materials arrived late, clients could be notified instantly, and adjustments could be made without delays.
From Administrative Chaos to Streamlined Success
Before Buildpeer, managing over 100 daily photos through WhatsApp chats created confusion and wasted time. With Buildpeer, these images were tagged, stored, and easily searchable—allowing Pórtico to reference any specific moment in the project’s timeline. Comments were saved as logs, which proved invaluable when revisiting past decisions or resolving disputes.
Additionally, Buildpeer’s file-sharing capabilities meant Pórtico’s administrative team could log material deliveries and project changes instantly, ensuring that site supervisors, subcontractors, and clients were always aligned. Even subcontractors quickly adapted to using the platform, further streamlining collaboration across the team. Alejandro noted.
“Our subcontractors are now using Buildpeer. They’re even assigning tasks to me! This shows how everyone is more engaged and connected through the platform.” Alejandro Belden
Success Metrics at a Glance:
- Faster Decision-Making: With centralized communication and photo logs, delays caused by client approvals were significantly reduced.
- Enhanced Collaboration: On-site workers used the mobile app to upload photos and send Requests for Information (RFIs), improving response times between job sites and the main office.
- Higher Client Satisfaction: Pórtico reported happier clients thanks to better project transparency and smoother communication.
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Lessons Learned and Industry Impact
Pórtico's success with Buildpeer highlighted an important lesson for the construction industry: tailored, flexible workflows can coexist with technology-driven structures. Pórtico embraced the opportunity to enhance its processes and deliver better results.
“Whether it’s Buildpeer or another platform, having a tool that facilitates communication, collaboration, and information storage is invaluable. It’s something that emails, WhatsApp, and Teams simply couldn’t achieve.” Alejandro noted.
The platform’s adaptability also proved vital. From luxury homes to larger projects like apartment complexes, Buildpeer scaled seamlessly to meet the needs of every project. The simplicity of the interface meant that even workers unfamiliar with technology could upload photos and updates without difficulty.
When asked if he recommends Buildpeer to other developers, construction companies, or Architects….
He smiled…“Of course not it's our competitive advantage. No, but definitely, because it allows us to have communication that we could never achieve before from emails, WhatsApp, teams (Microsoft Teams), you name it.”
Interested in learning how Buildpeer can improve your construction project management?
