When we talk with Speckle users about digital platforms in their first discovery phase, they will often have heard or been upsold Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) as the go-to solution for project management and collaboration in the AEC industry.
But is it really Autodesk’s definitive cloud for construction, and how does it compare to alternative solutions like Speckle?
This comparison isn’t about which platform is better in absolute terms. Instead, we’ll explore Speckle's and ACC's different approaches to managing and sharing data, focusing on how they impact real-world workflows.
It’s also important to clarify that while many users tend to conflate ACC with Autodesk Platform Services (APS), they are separately managed and billed offerings. This comparison will focus exclusively on ACC and Speckle, and we’ll address how Speckle compares to APS in a future post. Stay tuned!
At the core of this comparison lies a crucial distinction: Speckle does not aim to be a comprehensive file storage solution like ACC. Instead, Speckle focuses on being a data hub designed explicitly for granular audit trails of decisions and actions at various levels—whether at the object, component, assembly, or whole model scale.
About Speckle
While Speckle can help facilitate data exchange between different platforms, it’s not a file conversion service. Speckle is designed as an AEC data hub, allowing object-based data management instead of working with entire files.
Unlike traditional file conversion workflows, where you export/import entire models, Speckle lets users share and collaborate on specific objects or elements within a project. This allows teams to work on what they need—individual objects, components, or assemblies—without being burdened by transferring or converting entire files.
The real power of Speckle lies in its treatment of data as project streams. This enables teams to share, manipulate, and track objects and their metadata effortlessly across different software tools.
Speckle’s approach fosters a more agile and efficient data management environment compared to the file-based workflows commonly associated with platforms like ACC.
About Autodesk Construction Cloud
Autodesk Construction Cloud is followed by a “what exactly is it?” type of mystery. We hope to unpack at least one bit of it today from our own perspective.
Autodesk Docs explain ACC is a cloud-based platform that unifies several construction management tools using Autodesk Docs as its central file management system.
The platform integrates multiple Autodesk offerings—Autodesk Build, BIM Collaborate, Takeoff, Docs, and AutoSpecs—allowing project collaboration and workflow navigation.
ACC centralises project data, intending to allow teams to share, review, and store documents in a unified (Autodesk) environment. It supports collaboration through file-based workflows, including versioning, document sharing, and integrated communication tools, though it relies on full-file transfers for updates.
ACC also features risk management and analytics through its Insight tool, leveraging AI to improve decision-making.
Feature Comparison: Speckle vs Autodesk Construction Cloud
| Feature | Speckle | ACC |
|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive project file storage | ❌ | ✅ |
| Document Version Control | ❌ | ✅ |
| Granular object-level data management | ✅ | ❌ |
| Interoperability across multiple tools | ✅ | ❌ |
| Real-time collaboration on objects | ✅ | ❌ |
| File-based workflows | ❌ | ✅ |
| Model-based workflows | ✅ | ❌ |
| Whole file federations | ✅ | ✅ |
| Dynamic model federations | ✅ | ❌ |
| Open-source | ✅ | ❌ |
| Cost-free core platform | ✅ | ❌ |
| Enterprise hosting/managed services | ✅ | ✅ |
| Automation and custom workflows | ✅(Full API Support and CI/CD Platform) | ✅(File-based) |
| Mobile-first field Tools | ❌ | ✅ |
| Issue Tracking and field management | ✅(Limited, offering comment bubbles) | ✅ |
| Flexibility of deployment sovereignty | ✅(9 Data centres by default including India and Singapore, but cloud vendor agnostic can work with any location) | ❌(US Centric, Some products EU, Fewer Australia) |
| Local hosting or on premises backup | ✅ | ❌ |
Speckle vs ACC: A Difference in Approaches
Let’s explore Data Management, the core overlap between Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) and Speckle. Both platforms claim to streamline project data handling but take fundamentally different approaches.
While both Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) and Speckle provide tools for managing project data, their approaches diverge significantly:
| Aspect | Speckle | ACC |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Object-based data management focusing on components, objects, and metadata rather than entire files. | File-based management of project files, including drawings, models, and documents. |
| Version Control | Tracks versions of individual objects and data streams, allowing for fine-grained control over specific elements. | Tracks versions of entire project files, including models and documents. |
| Data Exchange | Shares specific objects or datasets, enabling selective updates without needing full file transfers. | Transfers large project files, requiring full file downloads for edits or reviews. |
| Collaboration | Real-time collaboration on data streams across multiple platforms and tools. | Collaboration happens through file uploads, reviews, and shared access. |
| Auditability | Granular audit trails for individual objects, components, and assemblies, offering greater transparency and accountability. | Full project file history but lacks granular tracking of specific design decisions or actions. |
Data Management: Single Source of Truth vs Object-Based Truth
ACC and Speckle both act as shared repositories for project data, but they differ in how they achieve this:
- ACC: Claims to be a file-centric SSOT, storing versions of project files making sure the most current documents are accessible to all stakeholders. However, because it's file-based, it often involves significant file transfers, and collaborators must update entire models or files even for small changes.
- Speckle: We have previously stated that we see a project owning many sources of truth and that these sources are a great deal more important than the decisions made on a project and their outcomes in design.
To that end, Speckle offers a more dynamic object-based “truth”, focusing on data that allow stakeholders to collaborate on specific objects or parts of the project. This approach gives more precise control over what data is shared and edited, ensuring agility and accuracy in real-time collaboration without transferring entire models or datasets.
Interoperability: Autodesk-Centric vs AEC-Centric
Interoperability is critical to modern AEC workflows, especially with the various tools in use. Here’s how the two platforms approach it:
- ACC: While highly integrated within the Autodesk ecosystem, its interoperability is limited when dealing with non-Autodesk tools. Sharing data outside this ecosystem can be cumbersome or require additional steps, making it harder for teams working with diverse software environments.
- Speckle: Emphasises true interoperability across the AEC industry, supporting various tools (Revit, Rhino, Blender, Grasshopper, etc.). Speckle streams facilitate cross-platform collaboration, ensuring data flows smoothly between software and disciplines.
Speckle also believes that full interoperability is a myth roughly defined by the ability to author anything anywhere and be equal everywhere else. Many workflows and project outcomes are immeasurably improved by the ability to consume each other’s authoritative input in our tools of choice.
It doesn’t make sense for Revit walls to be authored in ETABS, but the analytical components of each are a valuable source of collaboration. Speckle allows two modes of collaboration, among others: frictionless side-by-side working or data sharing on a publisher-subscriber basis.
Flexibility: Autodesk-Centric vs Open-Source
ACC offers predefined workflows and integrates deeply with Autodesk products, but this can limit flexibility for teams needing custom solutions or working outside the Autodesk ecosystem.
- ACC: Designed to work best within Autodesk’s range of tools. While robust, this can limit flexibility when teams collaborate using other non-Autodesk tools. Customisation is possible, but usually within the bounds of Autodesk’s products. There are powerful automation workflow triggers that relate to the file as an artefact and can directly provide value to project managers needing oversight in producing deliverables. That knowledge is bound to the subscription and the interfaces available in each separately subscribable product that consumes that project data.
- Speckle: Prioritises flexibility with its open-source nature. Users can customise their workflows, build on Speckle’s open APIs, and tailor data streams to meet specific needs. Whether working within the Autodesk ecosystem or using non-Autodesk tools, Speckle enables users to define their own workflows and data-sharing practices.
In-house tools, 3rd-party specialist software, and tier-A software data all sit equally in the Speckle Cloud, which can simultaneously be hosted in locations under your control.
Web-First Approach: Speckle vs. BIM Collaborate
A notable example of Autodesk Construction Cloud’s web-based offering is BIM Collaborate, which allows teams to review, interact with, and coordinate models online.
However, BIM Collaborate is just a subset of ACC and comes with several limitations:
- Paid Service: BIM Collaborate is not included by default in all ACC plans. It’s an add-on service that may require a separate subscription, meaning teams must pay extra to access this functionality. For many, this creates a cost barrier for web-based model interaction.
- Partial Web Functionality: While BIM Collaborate allows for web-based model viewing and interaction, the full functionality often depends on the user’s subscription tier and regional availability. This can limit smaller or international teams' access to core collaboration features.
- Geographic Restrictions: Not all web features of BIM Collaborate may be available in every country, depending on Autodesk's service offerings in specific territories. This further complicates access for global teams working on the same project.
On the other hand, Speckle offers full web-based collaboration by design:
- Tier-free access: Because the Speckle web applications are built from the ground up as consumers of Speckle data like our desktop connectors, model and data interaction as part of its core platform, with no extra cost or geographic limitations. Users can view, interact with, and comment on models and objects directly from the web without needing to install heavy desktop software.
- Unrestricted Functionality: Speckle’s web platform offers real-time model interaction, object-level data manipulation, and the ability to share specific data streams—all accessible to anyone, regardless of location or subscription level. This makes Speckle a much more inclusive platform for distributed or budget-conscious teams.
- No Paywalls: Unlike BIM Collaborate, Speckle’s web-first tools are part of its open-source model, meaning there’s no paywall to access critical collaboration features. This ensures that all users, whether working on a small project or a large enterprise, have equal access to the full suite of web-based tools.
Collaboration: File Transfers vs. Real-Time Data Sharing
ACC and Speckle take very different approaches to collaboration. ACC relies on file-based workflows, meaning users share and review entire project files, even when only small changes are needed.
In contrast, Speckle uses object-level, real-time collaboration, letting users share only relevant data without transferring full files. Speckle also supports side-by-side work and a publisher-subscriber model, offering more flexibility.
While ACC mainly focuses on Autodesk tools, Speckle works across different platforms, allowing for faster updates without the bottlenecks caused by large file transfers.
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Key benefits of Speckle's collaborative approach:
- Agility: More frequent and responsive collaboration without full file transfers
- Fit-for-Purpose Data: Only necessary data is shared, reducing noise
- Real-Time Updates: Immediate access to current data
- Side-by-Side Working: Parallel work across disciplines
Speckle's approach is more flexible for modern AEC workflows. It's particularly effective in multi-disciplinary projects using various tools.
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Conclusion
Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) and Speckle both offer robust solutions for managing and collaborating on AEC projects, but they cater to different needs and workflows.
ACC is ideal for those deeply embedded in Autodesk’s ecosystem, offering comprehensive project file storage, version control, and integration with Autodesk tools. However, its reliance on file-based workflows can create inefficiencies, especially when collaboration needs to be more dynamic and responsive.
Another major drawback of Autodesk Construction Cloud can be the price. User reviews of ACC mention that the cost is exceptionally high for what it offers, with many not being able to afford the whole package.
Speckle, by contrast, has a cost-free core platform and a more agile, flexible, and open-source solution tailored for object-level collaboration and real-time data sharing.
It can support multiple tools outside Autodesk’s environment and focuses on granular data management, allowing for more efficient workflows and faster decision-making, especially when working across disciplines.
For teams looking for greater flexibility, interoperability, and cost-effective solutions, Speckle stands out as a more adaptive and future-proof platform. Its real-time collaboration capabilities and open-source nature make it a strong contender for modern AEC workflows that need to break away from traditional file-based systems.
Ultimately, Speckle empowers teams to collaborate more efficiently, transparently, and adaptably, ensuring that data management keeps pace with the complexities of modern construction projects.
However, Speckle's philosophy isn't about replacing existing tools or forcing an "either-or" choice. Instead, it's about equipping users with the ability to operate many tools as they see fit for their needs. This approach allows teams to use ACC, Speckle, or any combination that best suits their workflow, maximising efficiency and collaboration across diverse project requirements.
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