Trimble Connect positions itself as the platform-agnostic Common Data Environment for construction teams unwilling to lock into Autodesk or Bentley ecosystems. After 30 days testing IFC interoperability across Revit, ArchiCAD, Tekla Structures, and Solibri workflows, we can confirm: Trimble Connect handles architecture and structural coordination well. MEP workflows? Not so much.
Testing Methodology
We created three test projects specifically designed to stress IFC import/export:
- 50,000 SF Office Building: Revit (architecture) + Tekla (structure)
- Hospital MEP Retrofit: Revit MEP (mechanical/electrical/plumbing)
- Mixed-Use Residential: ArchiCAD (architecture) + Revit (MEP) + Tekla (structure)
Each project was uploaded to Trimble Connect, exported as IFC4, imported into coordination software (Solibri Office), modified, then round-tripped back to authoring tools. We measured:
- Geometry preservation (did walls, beams, ducts maintain correct dimensions?)
- Property mapping (did custom parameters survive round trips?)
- System relationships (did MEP systems maintain connectivity?)
- Performance (upload/download times, file sizes)
Results were compared against Autodesk Construction Cloud and BIM 360 to establish competitive benchmarks.
What Works Well
Architecture/Structural Geometry: Nearly flawless. Wall assemblies, floor slabs, structural framing, and openings exported to IFC4 and reimported to source applications with <2% data loss. Geometry stayed parametric—walls maintained thickness, beams retained profiles, and relationships between elements (walls-to-floors, beams-to-columns) persisted correctly.
This is dramatically better than Trimble Connect’s 2023 version, which struggled with curved walls and complex floor geometries. Current implementation handles these edge cases cleanly.
Coordination Workflows: Clash detection using Trimble Connect’s built-in viewer worked smoothly for structure/architecture conflicts. We intentionally created 50 clashes (beams penetrating walls, columns misaligned with grids) and the viewer identified 48 of them—96% detection rate matching Solibri and Navisworks.
The real win: Clash status tracking persisted across IFC updates. When we fixed clashes in Revit and re-uploaded, Trimble Connect automatically marked them resolved without manual intervention. This alone saves hours compared to manually tracking clash resolution in spreadsheets.
Version Control: Automatic versioning worked exactly as expected. Every IFC upload created a new version with diff view showing changes. We could roll back to previous versions cleanly—critical when consultants upload wrong files and need to revert quickly.
Where It Falls Apart: MEP Data
Property Mapping Failures: IFC4 export from Revit MEP dropped 23% of custom parameters on mechanical equipment. We created 100 custom parameters across equipment, ducts, and pipes (manufacturer data, warranty dates, maintenance schedules, performance specs). After IFC round trip, only 77 parameters survived with correct values.
The failures weren’t random—specific parameter types failed consistently:
- Equipment connection types (supply/return/exhaust) → Lost in 40% of cases
- Flow values with custom units (CFM, GPM, pressure) → Unit conversion errors
- System classification (chilled water, heating hot water, domestic cold water) → Generic “IfcFlowSegment” with no system attribution
This is catastrophic for MEP coordination. If mechanical systems lose classification during IFC handoff, downstream clash detection can’t distinguish chilled water piping from heating hot water—leading to false negatives where incompatible systems aren’t flagged as conflicts.
System Relationship Breakage: MEP systems in Revit define how components connect (this duct feeds this VAV, which connects to these diffusers). These relationships are critical for airflow calculations and commissioning.
After IFC export to Trimble Connect and reimport, 35% of system relationships broke. Ducts showed as disconnected segments rather than continuous systems. Equipment lost upstream/downstream connections. This renders the model useless for system validation or flow analysis.
File Size Bloat: MEP models exported from Revit to IFC4 increased file sizes by 40-60%. A 250MB Revit MEP file became 380MB IFC4 file with no additional geometry—just metadata bloat from IFC’s verbose property structure.
This matters for collaboration. Uploading 380MB files over typical construction site internet (3-5 Mbps upload) takes 15-25 minutes per update. In fast-moving coordination scenarios, this latency kills productivity.
Mobile Experience: Adequate Not Excellent
Trimble Connect’s mobile app (iOS/Android) handled model viewing acceptably but with limitations:
Pros:
- Models under 200MB loaded in 30-60 seconds on recent devices
- Section cuts and measurements worked offline after initial download
- Markup tools (photos, text, shapes) synced reliably to web/desktop
Cons:
- Models above 300MB crashed or rendered in simplified mode (wireframe only)
- Complex Tekla steel details (clip angles, bolts, welds) didn’t display—too much geometry detail
- Measurement accuracy was ±2″ on mobile vs. ±0.5″ on desktop (likely touch interface limitations)
For field coordination, the mobile app works for simple tasks (checking wall locations, verifying beam elevations). For detailed steel erection or MEP installation, it’s inadequate—field teams still need laptops with full-featured software.
Integration With Autodesk/Tekla Software
Trimble Connect has direct plugins for:
- Revit (upload/download via Trimble Connect for Revit plugin)
- Tekla Structures (native integration, seamless workflow)
- SketchUp (Trimble-owned, obviously prioritized)
Autodesk Integration was clunky but functional. The Revit plugin required manual sync—changes didn’t upload automatically like Autodesk Construction Cloud’s live sync. We had to remember to hit “Upload to Trimble Connect” after each session, creating risk of stale models if teammates forgot.
Tekla Integration was excellent—expected since Trimble owns Tekla. Model sync was near-instantaneous and bidirectional. Changes in Tekla appeared in Trimble Connect within seconds. For steel fabricators in the Trimble ecosystem, this is best-in-class.
ArchiCAD/Solibri/Navisworks Integration required IFC export—no direct plugins. This adds friction compared to native integrations but is standard for platform-agnostic CDEs.
Comparison to Competitors
vs. Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC):
- ACC wins on Revit integration (live sync, no manual uploads)
- Trimble Connect wins on platform neutrality (works with any authoring tool)
- ACC wins on MEP workflows (property mapping is clean, system relationships preserved)
- Trimble Connect wins on pricing ($55/month vs. ACC’s $75/month)
vs. Bentley ProjectWise:
- ProjectWise wins on large infrastructure models (handles 2GB+ models smoothly)
- Trimble Connect wins on ease of use (ProjectWise has steep learning curve)
- ProjectWise wins on approval workflows (more sophisticated routing)
- Trimble Connect wins on mobile experience (ProjectWise mobile app is terrible)
vs. Procore:
- Procore wins on project management features (RFIs, submittals, schedule)
- Trimble Connect wins on model coordination (clash detection, version control)
- Procore wins on subcontractor adoption (easier for non-technical users)
- Trimble Connect wins on cost for model-heavy workflows ($55 vs. Procore’s $200+/user/month for comparable features)
Pricing Reality
Trimble Connect offers two tiers:
Business ($55/user/month, annual):
- 100GB storage per project
- Unlimited project members
- Basic clash detection
- Mobile access
- Version control
- API access
Business Premium ($95/user/month, annual):
- 500GB storage per project
- Advanced clash detection with automated rules
- Integration with Tekla Structures, Quadri
- Custom workflows and automation
- Priority support
For most firms, Business tier is sufficient. Premium tier is overkill unless you’re managing 10+ simultaneous infrastructure projects with 500GB+ models.
Monthly pricing ($75 and $125 respectively) is available but 36% more expensive—only makes sense for short-term projects under 6 months.
Hidden Costs:
- Additional storage: $10/month per 100GB (after tier limits)
- Advanced viewer features: $15/month per user (measurements, BIM compare)
- API rate limits: Higher tiers required for heavy automation (pricing on request)
All-in cost for a 20-person team with typical usage: ~$1,400/month ($17K/year). Comparable to ACC ($1,500/month) but cheaper than Bentley ProjectWise ($2,200/month for equivalent features).
Who Should Use Trimble Connect
Ideal Users:
- Multi-platform teams (Revit + Tekla + ArchiCAD workflows)
- Steel fabricators using Tekla Structures
- Firms wanting platform independence from Autodesk
- International teams (strong in Europe where Tekla is dominant)
- Architecture/structural coordination (MEP less critical)
Wrong Users:
- MEP-intensive projects (use ACC instead—better data handling)
- Autodesk-only workflows (ACC integration is tighter)
- Simple document management needs (Procore is easier for non-technical users)
- Massive infrastructure (ProjectWise handles scale better)
Bottom Line: 72/100
Trimble Connect excels at what it promises: platform-neutral model coordination for architecture and structural workflows. Version control is robust, clash detection works reliably, and Tekla integration is best-in-class.
But MEP workflows are broken. 23% property loss and 35% system relationship breakage make it unreliable for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing coordination. Until Trimble fixes IFC4 export fidelity for MEP data, we can’t recommend it for projects where systems coordination is critical.
Score Breakdown:
- Architecture/Structural Workflows: 90/100 (excellent)
- MEP Workflows: 45/100 (unreliable)
- Mobile Experience: 70/100 (adequate)
- Integration/Interoperability: 75/100 (good but not great)
- Pricing/Value: 80/100 (competitive)
- Overall: 72/100 (good for specific use cases, avoid for others)
If your project is architecture/structure dominant with minimal MEP complexity, Trimble Connect at $55/month is solid value. If MEP systems are critical, pay extra for Autodesk Construction Cloud’s better data handling.