Technology in Architectural Practice

This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Practice Management Member Conversations and Technology in Architectural Practice .
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I am curious how firms are handling the purchase of ipads for use by their staff.  We have a number of early adopters for whom the firm has purchased iPads and pays the monthly service through Verizon or ATT.  Currently apps are the responsibility of the individual and are not reimbursed.  We are considering a number of options for further distribution coupled with many requests.  There is no doubt the device is useful for business but also a very personal device at the same time. 

Some of the possibilities we have considered are:

    Continue purchasing the devices through the firm and pay for service.
    Buy the device but leave service up to the individual
    Provide a stipend/voucher to the individual for the initial purchase and/or service
    Simply adopt a Bring Your Own Device approach.

The firm also currently provides and pays for approximately 30 iPhones to senior staff, who are also requesting ipads.  One thought is to pay for one or the other but not both.  For iPads we could be looking at up to 40 devices, so the numbers get pretty big in both capital and ongoing expense.  Further, this is primarily a financial and policy question not really about the justifyability of the device or network security.

What are other firms doing?

Thank you,


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Steven Haines Assoc. AIA
Director
Centerbrook Architects & Planners
Centerbrook CT
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We have found the ipad to be a project management tool and as such we have treated it just as we have with laptops for our field personnel and senior managers. However we limited ourselves to the WiFi only version as we maintain our own WiFi network at all of our sites. As for apps, we deploy a standardized set of tools that have made it through our vetting process for compatibility to our network and systems. We have master copies of the device configurations to reclone a device should an end user load all sort of other stuff on it. Jail breaking is prohibited. There are no recurring service costs besides the company cellphones. If new apps come online, we test them thoroughly first and then provide training on how to use them within the company and subsequently deploy them. ------------------------------------------- Ricardo Ramos Assoc. AIA, LEED® AP, CSI Alpha Analysis, Inc. Arcadia CA -------------------------------------------
Original Message: Sent: 03-01-2012 09:18 From: Steven Haines Subject: iPad Purchase Policies This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Practice Management Member Conversations and Technology in Architectural Practice . ------------------------------------------- I am curious how firms are handling the purchase of ipads for use by their staff. We have a number of early adopters for whom the firm has purchased iPads and pays the monthly service through Verizon or ATT. Currently apps are the responsibility of the individual and are not reimbursed. We are considering a number of options for further distribution coupled with many requests. There is no doubt the device is useful for business but also a very personal device at the same time. Some of the possibilities we have considered are: Continue purchasing the devices through the firm and pay for service. Buy the device but leave service up to the individual Provide a stipend/voucher to the individual for the initial purchase and/or service Simply adopt a Bring Your Own Device approach. The firm also currently provides and pays for approximately 30 iPhones to senior staff, who are also requesting ipads. One thought is to pay for one or the other but not both. For iPads we could be looking at up to 40 devices, so the numbers get pretty big in both capital and ongoing expense. Further, this is primarily a financial and policy question not really about the justifyability of the device or network security. What are other firms doing? Thank you, ------------------------------------------- Steven Haines Assoc. AIA Director Centerbrook Architects & Planners Centerbrook CT -------------------------------------------

We have implimented Ipads specifically for the CA phase of work.  The cost isn't an issue as they are saving us quite a bit.  When the CA phase is over, the Ipads are returned to the firm for the next person who needs it and old ones will be phased out when they are obsolete.  Check out our blog post on this issue for more information:

http://freelon.tumblr.com/post/15569280190/paperless-architecture


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Kevin Turner AIA
Associate Principal
The Freelon Group, Inc.
Durham NC
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