Box & Co connects cost, design, and construction with Autodesk partnership

For more than 80 years, Brisbane-based commercial builder Box & Co has built its reputation on trust, quality, and long-term relationships. Today, the third-generation family business is applying those same values to digital innovation. Using Autodesk Forma, including Autodesk Forma Data Management, Build, Cost Management, and Design Collaboration, Box & Co is transforming the way it delivers projects by connecting design, workflows, RFIs, documents, and cost information within a single platform. The result is greater visibility across the project lifecycle, streamlined processes, and a scalable foundation for continuous improvement – all supported by a technology partner that continues to evolve alongside the business. 

Founded in 1943, Box & Co has delivered more than 630 projects across South-East Queensland, specialising in complex environments including health, education, government, and commercial developments. While the company is built on a proud heritage of craftsmanship and relationships, it has also earned a reputation as an early adopter of technology. Long before digital transformation became an industry buzzword, Box & Co had already embraced cloud-based systems, allowing the business to continue operating seamlessly through the challenges of COVID-19. That same forward-thinking mindset continues to drive its investment in connected construction technologies today. 

A bigger vision was set

As construction projects became more complex, and digital workflows more central to delivery, Box & Co recognised that recording cost events alone was no longer enough. The company’s vision was bigger, with a goal to move beyond isolated cost management and connect design, workflows, RFIs, documents, and cost information to improve visibility across the entire project lifecycle. By understanding not just what cost events occurred, but why they occurred, project teams could make better-informed decisions and improve project outcomes. Previous systems made that difficult. 

Rigid processes often forced workflows outside the platform, limiting visibility and creating unnecessary administration. Promised innovation did not always materialise, while traditional enterprise solutions often required significant resources simply to maintain them. Box & Co wanted a platform that could adapt to the business – not one that required the business to adapt to the software. 

For Jeremy Box, Director – Innovation & Business Systems at Box & Co, Autodesk’s long-term vision immediately stood out. “When I first saw Autodesk Forma (previously Autodesk Construction Cloud) I was blown away by where it was heading. I could see the vision because it matched what we’d been talking about for years – bringing together models, contracts, cost management, and project information into one connected environment,” says Box.

The solution: start with workflow, not software

Box & Co’s implementation philosophy was simple: to start with workflow, not software. Rather than changing established business processes to suit technology, the company first mapped its existing workflows before configuring Autodesk Forma to support the way its teams already worked. 

Karl Harris, Business Systems Manager at Box & Co, says, “We work out how we want to do it first, then we apply the system to it. We don’t have to compromise.”

The business invested heavily in adoption, creating its own internal learning management system to train employees in the “Box & Co way” of using Autodesk Forma. As new capabilities are introduced, that training continues to evolve, ensuring teams remain confident and consistent as workflows develop. 

Today, Forma Data Management (formerly Autodesk Docs) provides the data backbone across projects, while Forma Build, Cost Management, and Design Collaboration support project delivery from design through construction. Flexible configuration allows workflows to be tailored to Box & Co’s operational requirements rather than forcing teams into rigid processes. The company is also piloting Autodesk’s pre-construction tools as it continues expanding its digital ecosystem. 

Integration as a key strategy

Integration has become another key pillar of Box & Co’s strategy. Beginning with off-the-shelf integrations before progressing to a custom n8n environment, Box & Co has built connected workflows that support digital approvals, workflow automation, and improved information flow across business systems. Open APIs and Autodesk Data Connector capabilities are also enabling the development of real-time reporting dashboards and richer project insights. 

As Harris puts it, “Autodesk Forma gives us a platform - not just a tool.” 

Rather than solving one problem in isolation, Autodesk gives Box & Co a connected environment where project information can continue to grow and evolve alongside the business. 

Greater visibility and measurable operational benefits 

By connecting cost, design, and construction information within a single platform, Box & Co is creating greater visibility across every stage of project delivery. 

The business has fully digitised approval processes for expenses and claims management, eliminating paper-based overflow and reducing manual touchpoints. Connected workflows are improving forecasting, strengthening governance, and providing management with access to real-time reporting rather than relying on multiple disconnected systems.

The improvements are already delivering measurable operational benefits. A recent ISO standards audit – a process that traditionally took two senior staff four days to complete – was finalised in just a day and a half, thanks to the accessibility and consistency of project information. The company is also building scalable reporting capabilities that will allow project managers to access critical information through a single connected environment while spending less time on administration and more time delivering projects. 

A technology partner 

Just as importantly, Box & Co sees Autodesk as not just a software provider, but a technology partner. Regular feature releases, flexible configuration, open data capabilities, and ongoing engagement have created a genuine partnership built around continuous improvement. The company actively shares practical feedback with Autodesk’s product teams, helping shape future platform development while ensuring the technology continues to reflect the realities of construction delivery.

Looking ahead, Box & Co plans to expand Autodesk’s role even further by rolling out additional pre-construction capabilities, extending workflow automation, strengthening integrations across business systems, building richer real-time reporting, and exploring emerging AI capabilities. 

“Technology isn’t replacing the way we build – it’s strengthening it. By connecting cost, design and construction within a single platform, we are creating a smarter, more connected approach to project delivery while building a strong foundation for the future,” concluded Box.