Denisse Luna
Need inspiration to guide your 2026 AEC outreach strategy? We’ve got you covered This year, BIMobject is drawing insights from 1,352 Architects, Engineers, BIM managers, Contractors, and other AEC professionals worldwide. Our 2025 survey reveals how they search, evaluate, and choose products, giving you a clear view of where to focus your marketing efforts in 2026.
We gathered insights from professionals across disciplines:
Nearly half of your audience (48%) works in smaller, faster-moving firms (1-15 employees). In other words, your future buyers seek speed, clarity, and self-service access to your products in the form of BIM objects. Today, AEC professionals expect to find reliable, manufacturer-specific BIM content without needing additional steps that slow them down.
BIM objects are the digital versions of your products that architects and engineers can place inside their project models. This makes BIM content one of the most critical touchpoints for influencing early decisions.
Now that we understand their workflow, here’s what the data reveals next...
To effectively influence AEC professionals, your marketing efforts need to align with how professionals actually work and make decisions. Here are five insights you cannot miss:
BIM objects are now a make-or-break factor. Three out of every four designers require your products in the form of BIM objects to move forward with their projects. When your product is available as a downloadable BIM object, it's one click away from being placed directly into a live project model. That's not only a marketing lead, but a design decision made in real-time during a critical decision phase.
Learn more: Why BIM objects drive marketing visibility
Almost a third of professionals (30%) start their product search on BIMobject before even visiting manufacturer websites or trade shows. A significant portion of specifiers use a dedicated BIM library like ours.
This trend positions BIMobject as a high-intent discovery channel. When an AEC professional searches for a product category on our platform, they are actively seeking a solution to a specific project need. Prioritize visibility and optimization on major libraries to capture demand as it emerges.
A detail worth noting: BIMobject isn’t only where professionals search for products, it’s also where manufacturers can stay connected with them. Through targeted email outreach, promoted placements, and built-in analytics, manufacturers can understand who is engaging with their products and reach the right audiences at the right moment. It’s a straightforward way to keep your brand present in the same space where AEC professionals make decisions.
See how to maximize your reach: connect with millions of users, publish your products with us today!
This statistic confirms that the majority of downloads are not casual browsing. They indicate genuine high-level interest. Most downloads result in actual use: two-thirds of professionals place downloaded BIM objects directly into project models.
Every download is a possibility of getting specified. High-quality, verified BIM objects transform visibility into actionable intent. Want to know more? Peek inside an architect's workflow and discover how a product gets considered in a project.
Sustainability has become a core selection factor for AEC professionals. Nearly three in four respondents (73%) say environmental data plays a role in their product decisions.
Product transparency, achieved through Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), certifications, and performance data, is now an integral part of the decision-making process. When professionals can easily access sustainability data, they’re more likely to shortlist your brand.
Even though substitutions still happen, most professionals double-check what is installed. That means decisions made early in the design phase often hold if the product information is reliable. Providing BIM objects helps your product stay part of the project from start to finish.
The takeaway is simple: the closer your products are to the architect's workflow, the higher your chances of being selected. Architects, Designers, and Engineers are making product decisions digitally.
Success now depends on being part of digital spaces where professionals decide. The closer you are to their workflow, the stronger the influence on final decisions.
Download it to explore the data in more detail. Ready to turn these insights into action? Discover how to leverage these insights to enhance your product visibility. Book a demo with our team today!
Q: How does BIM content help marketing teams?
A: BIM content helps marketing teams by putting your products directly inside the tools where architects and engineers work. Instead of waiting for someone to visit your website, you appear at the exact moment they are designing and comparing options.
Q: Where do architects and engineers search for products?
A: Today, most architects and engineers search for products on digital platforms rather than starting on manufacturer websites. Typical starting points include:
Q: How can manufacturers improve visibility with AEC professionals?
A: Manufacturers improve visibility with AEC professionals by placing accurate, high-quality information in the channels where decisions are made.Key steps:
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