Speckle Next-Gen Tekla Connector: Upgrade Your Structural Workflows

As a structural engineer turned AEC software developer, I've spent countless hours cleaning data, trying to coordinate models and information, and exchanging information between different software platforms.

That's precisely why we’ve developed Speckle's Next-Gen connector for Tekla Structures - to tackle the challenges structural engineers face daily.

Tekla Structures: What Is It and How Much It Costs

Let's go back to the basics: what is Tekla Structures? Tekla Structures, a structural engineering must-have tool, is a specialised structural detailing software.

From intricate steel connections to complex concrete reinforcement, Tekla enables the structural engineer and detailer to create highly detailed 3D models with comprehensive material information, reinforcement details, and connection specifications. In summary, lots of data!

What about the cost? A Tekla Structures license starts at about £5,000 per year per seat. That's a significant investment for any firm. While Tekla is a powerful tool worth its price tag, the cost of multiple licenses for coordination can strain budgets. This is where Speckle comes in - it's entirely free and open-source, allowing you to share your Tekla models with stakeholders who don't have Tekla licenses.

Structural Engineers: Coordination and Data Chaos

As a structural engineer, I faced constant challenges with model coordination and data sharing.

I was sick of receiving emails asking, "Is this the latest version?" or "Can you send the updated model?". Every structural engineer knows this pain. With Speckle's Next-Gen Tekla connector, your models are automatically versioned and accessible through a simple web link—no more hunting through email attachments or shared drives.

Cross-discipline coordination has always been a nightmare. Picture this common scenario: The architect changes the grid layout in Revit, and you have to update your Tekla model. Traditionally, this means waiting for an IFC export, importing it into Tekla, manually checking what's changed, and updating your model.

With our Tekla connector, you can stream changes directly from Revit to Tekla in real-time, immediately see architectural changes in your Tekla environment, and quickly make informed decisions about structural implications.

Tekla Next-Gen Speckle Connector: Key Features

New Intuitive Interface

The redesigned interface brings consistency across Speckle connectors and the web app, making navigating and managing your models easier. This familiar experience means less time learning new interfaces and more time being productive!

Getting Results Even Faster

One of the critical improvements in our Next-Gen connector is speed. When you're working with large structural models, every second counts. Our new connector processes only the changes when you republish, making it faster than traditional methods and the previous version of Speckle Tekla Connector. This means you can keep your models synchronized without the usual waiting time.

Tekla Next-Gen Connector: Real-World Workflows

Let me share how you could transform your structural engineering workflows with data automation.

Think about your typical process of tracking steel quantities and connection types across projects. We all know the nuisance of manually extracting this information from Tekla, compiling spreadsheets, and creating reports - often weekly or even daily.

Here's how you could streamline this entire process using Speckle:

☑️ First, connect your Tekla models to Speckle, which will automatically update as your team changes the model. No more manual exports or waiting for updates.

☑️ Next, use Speckle's data extraction capabilities to pull out exactly what you need - steel weights, connection types, assembly marks, and any other critical metrics your team tracks.

☑️ The real magic happens when you pipe this data directly into Power BI. Imagine having live dashboards showing you precisely what you need to know: total steel tonnage broken down by project phase, distribution of connection types across your structure, immediate cost implications when design changes occur, and material procurement forecasts.

This isn't just about saving time - it's about having reliable, current information at your fingertips when making crucial design decisions.Think about all those hours spent each week collecting data, updating spreadsheets, and creating reports for team meetings. This automated workflow could give that time back to your team, letting them focus on what they do best - engineering.

Tekla Next-Gen Connector: Current Capabilities and What's Next

Let's be clear and honest about where we are at the moment: our Tekla connector currently operates at the data extraction level.

That means you can pull out model data - geometry, properties, quantities, and metadata - which is already powerful for automation and reporting. But you can't push changes back into Tekla or collaborate in real-time quite yet. But we're not stopping here. Based on your feedback, we're working towards enabling real collaboration features. Our immediate focus is expanding data extraction capabilities and receiving models from Speckle to Tekla.

Get To Connecting and Working Faster

Getting started is straightforward. Download the connector from https://releases.speckle.systems/v3 and install it alongside your existing Tekla setup. Start with a simple model share to test the waters.

Remember, this is just the beginning. We'd love to hear about your specific use cases and challenges. What problems do you need solved?

The Tekla Next-Gen connector is currently in beta, and we're actively developing it based on real user feedback. Yes, there will be bugs - but we're committed to fixing them quickly and building something that actually makes your life easier as a structural engineer.

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