Skip to main content

Ignite drives future-ready digital transformation with tech consolidation

Published Date

Ignite is leading the way in cloud-based collaboration and digital maturity by transitioning from 12 systems to a single source of truth with Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC). The forward-thinking firm’s relationship with Autodesk has spanned more than 15 years, and the centralisation of multiple dispersed products into ACC is the next evolution in its journey.

The evolution of the Autodesk-Ignite partnership 

Ignite has evolved from being an early adopter of BIM 360 in 2018 to becoming an early adopter of Autodesk Construction Cloud to centralise project data in a single environment. Now, every new project is powered by ACC, and the business is well on its way to achieving a true single source of truth for its project information.

“Previously, around 75% of our company was using Autodesk tools,” says Jeremy Benseman, Director – Design Technology at Ignite. “Today, that number is at 100%. We’re heading towards a unified data environment, and this transition marks our first major step.

“ACC has allowed us to consolidate our software stack, reduce infrastructure, and streamline workflows by providing a single location for project data to be stored,” says Cassandra Monteiro, Design Technology Coordinator at Ignite. “We’re excited about the future with the addition of these new tools and the integration of more AI into ACC. We feel our move to the solution fully allows us to leverage those tools and more as they come onstream,” says Monteiro.

The journey from prepared to proactive cloud-based working 

Ignite’s partnership with Autodesk cloud products began in 2018 with the rollout of BIM360. That decision proved crucial just two years later, when COVID-19 hit. “We were fortunate to already be on a cloud platform prior to COVID,” says Benseman. “With remote working essential for projects across Australia and New Zealand, our teams were able to continue collaborating remotely because BIM360 was already embedded in our workflow.” 

However, as technology usage expanded during and after the pandemic, the firm noticed a new challenge emerging: fragmentation. Over time, multiple tools had crept into daily operations – Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, local servers, and others. This was leading to duplication and inefficiencies.

“We ended up with 12 different places project data could live,” says Benseman. “That created risk and made it harder for teams to find what they needed. It was time for consolidation.”

A strategic leap to a single platform 

In 2023, Ignite made the decision to fully transition all project data and collaboration into ACC and by early 2024, the team had evaluated, customised, and piloted the platform. By 2025, ACC had been rolled out to every new project and legacy systems were being decommissioned.

“ACC reached a tipping point by offering better functionality, a cleaner user experience, and broader collaboration potential, and crucially, it allowed us to centralise everything, connecting our workflows, teams, and data at every stage,” noted Monteiro.

The team at Ignite recently travelled to Autodesk University: The Design & Make Conference, an annual global event for professionals in the design, engineering, architecture, construction, manufacturing, and media industries who use Autodesk software, learning about the future direction and functionality of the platform. Ignite found ACC to be the best for its needs and plans for future direction.

“We wanted to build alongside a platform that also values growth and invests in its technology. We took the leap when the ACC toolset exceeded BIM 360. Other trade partners in the market were also using ACC which presented a streamlined collaboration opportunity,” explains Benseman.

This consolidation wasn’t just about tools – it was about building a foundation and ecosystem for the future. Ignite is already planning future integrations with its ERP, CRM, financial, and operational systems.

"We’re building the foundations to use technology, including AI, more effectively – which will positively impact our teams and project outcomes,” says Benseman. “But first, we need the data in the right place. ACC is how we get there".


Navigating change management 

One of the challenges of implementing any new technology is the process of change management across teams. For example, the shift from folder-based storage to a metadata model was a big challenge throughout the transition because it changed how people thought about organising and accessing information.

To overcome this challenge, Ignite invested in internal education and communications. “Over-communicating is key to creating the cultural and operational changes to successfully integrate new systems and technologies,” adds Monteiro.

The team built visual examples to help staff understand how traditional folder structures mapped onto metadata attributes. They also ran training sessions and collected feedback through staff surveys to continuously improve the transition process.

Jeremy Whelan, Principal & Managing Director at Ignite, says, “Ignite is always looking over the horizon for ways to improve outcomes for our people, our clients and our business. Implementing ACC as our project information platform has provided opportunities to streamline how Ignite delivers projects. By centralising all project data, ACC has assisted us in aligning workflows across our studios, improving efficiencies, enhancing visibility, and providing better outcomes for our clients.

“Beyond operational improvements, ACC is also enriching Ignite’s culture of craft and innovation. Our teams have always embraced technology alongside traditional methods, working smarter, and continuously pushing the boundaries of design craft and collaboration. ACC allows us to unify people, data, and design into one connected platform, elevating efficiency, collaboration, and creativity across the organisation,” continues Whelan.

The results are already taking shape 

The shift to ACC is already delivering tangible benefits across the business, including:

  • Tech stack consolidation – reduced project data storage solutions from 12 systems to one.
  • Improved collaboration – teams across six branches now work in a consistent environment.
  • Risk mitigation – better visibility and version control means improved efficiencies and less rework.
  • Efficiency gains – time savings through reduced duplication and better document access.
  • Infrastructure savings – long-term savings are expected across infrastructure, licensing, and software management.
  • Future ready – being AI and future ready across the business.

Employee survey feedback is reflecting a positive experience, with 98% of staff aware of why Ignite is moving to ACC; 88% have or are using ACC on Ignite projects; and 81% feel confident navigating and using ACC independently. Importantly, 94% of Ignite is satisfied with ACC, with 58% of employees rating ACC’s speed and reliability as “good” or “excellent”.

One employee shared in the survey that “clear hierarchy and logical categorisation make locating documents straightforward”, while another said it is “easy to upload and revise files… The metadata and file history can be helpful too.” An employee shared that “it’s kind of an all-in-one software for the whole of a project’s life”, while another said, “I love the idea of tidying up the folders to get rid of unnecessary files and mistakes, like issuing drawings with the wrong revision or wasting time trying to find the last revision sent out. ACC has definitely made it easier to avoid these kinds of mistakes.”

Bringing clients along for the journey 

Clients and partners have responded positively to the shift as well. With Ignite standardising ACC as their central platform, trade partners and project managers are seamlessly connected, with access to real-time data, models, and documentation.

"We've been educating clients and consultants along the way," explains Benseman. "Once they're on board, the collaboration is smoother, and they see the value too."

Real-world impact on key projects 

Three standout examples of ACC’s power are Ignite’s work on 211 High Street, Christchurch; Koro, Suva, Fiji; and Arvida Te Puna Wairoa, Kerikeri.

  • 211 High Street, Christchurch:  

Ignite has been tasked with transforming the iconic Exelsior Hotel site into a high-quality commercial mixed-use building. The goal of the development is to reduce the carbon footprint through the use of glulam timber beams and columns, plus cross-laminated timber panels for the floor structure. The development is targeting 5 Star Green Star and 5-star NABERS rating upon completion. 

  • Koro, Suva, Fiji: 

The Koro Development Project represents Fiji’s first modern village, designed to integrate businesses, and cultural spaces into a unified, sustainable community. Architecturally, the project is ambitious in both scale and vision, aiming to redefine urban development standards in the Pacific region. The project is positioned as a model for sustainable growth, with a focus on cutting red tape and encouraging investment. Beyond its architectural significance, the Koro Development Project is expected to generate substantial employment while serving as a catalyst for further investment and urban transformation in Fiji.

  • Arvida Te Puna Wairoa, Kerikeri: 

Arvida Te Puna Wairoa is a spacious, semi-rural, and modern retirement community with a focus on Living Well. Reflecting the community, its active outdoor lifestyle, inspiring nature with its depth of agriculture, bush life and sustainable living are encompassed in the design. The planning creates a connection to the north tying it to the Kerikeri, while the east-west axis of the building connects the building to Waitangi directly to the west – a significant site for Mana Whenua and Aotearoa. 

“These entire projects live on ACC,” says Benseman. “Model coordination, document control, consultant collaboration – it’s all happening in one place. That level of integration has never been more seamless.”

A platform of innovation for the future 

As Ignite looks to the future, ACC is more than just a tool – it’s the cornerstone of a long-term digital strategy.

“We’re positioning ourselves to take advantage of what’s next,” shares Benseman. “Whether it’s AI, automation, or predictive analytics, we need the right data infrastructure in place, and ACC gets us there.”

 -Jeremy Bensemen, 
 Director - Design Technology

With plans to explore Autodesk Forma and further expand ACC toolsets, Ignite’s transformation is far from over. “We’ve gone all in,” says Benseman. “That’s what sets us apart – we’re not waiting. We’re building the future now.