Modernizing Government Development Plan Reviews

How Digital Tools Transform Project Management 

The landscape of government project management for permitting is evolving, and electronic plan review software is a key player in this transformation. By digitizing the review process governments are not only saving time and resources but fundamentally improving how they serve their communities.

The traditional paper plan review process has long been a source of frustration for government staff, citizens, and general contractors, requiring multiple copies of large-format drawings that must be physically distributed and stored. When it's time for review, comments are scattered across different marked-up versions, making consolidation and communication a nightmare. For agencies that have digitalized their processes but lack a dedicated ePlan review software, the process isn't much better. Staff are required to toggle between PDF readers, email, and construction management software to download, upload, convert, and attach. This makes for cumbersome processes, delays, and the need for institutional knowledge, all of which prevent efficient, scalable government project management when it comes to plan review.  

ePlan review software eliminates these challenges with a dedicated solution to optimize government project management, centralize plan review, and create smooth workflows for agency staff and applicants.  

How ePlan review solutions improve government plan review and streamlines the process  

1. Efficient review. Modern electronic plan review enables a more efficient process by allowing multiple departments to review plans concurrently.  Reviewers can simultaneously examine plans and provide real-time feedback. This parallel processing dramatically reduces review times and what once took weeks can now be accomplished in days. For example, after implementing DigEplan, Chesterfield County, VA cut their review time in half, from 7-10 days to 3-5. In addition to concurrent markup, electronic plan review automatically routes workflows to the next stakeholder, ensuring plans move efficiently between reviewers and providing built-in notifications to keep all parties informed of progress and required actions. 

2. Compliance and transparency. ePlan review boosts compliance and transparency across the application submission and review processes. Electronic plan review software standardizes applications and review to ensure consistency across all submissions. Every markup, comment, and decision are automatically documented and timestamped to create a comprehensive audit trail that can be easily accessed. This level of documentation not only improves accountability but also provides valuable insights for process improvement. 

3. Department-specific workflows. Each department has distinct needs when it comes to plan review, but too often the ePlan review solutions available don’t allow configuration. Avolve’s ePlan review products are fit for purpose for each department involved in the review process. Whether you are a reviewer in planning, building, fire, or public works, for example, you can have access to best practice flexible workflows, allowing departments to configure review sequences, create routing rules, and integrate with local government-specific tech and tools. The Chicago Department of Transportation, which saved $24 million in 2022 after implementing ProjectDox and adding their Project Coordination Office as a reviewer, reported the ability to customize workflows was a one of their favorite features of ProjectDox.  

As local agencies continue to modernize their operations, electronic plan review software stands out as a crucial tool for effective government permitting processes. By streamlining reviews, ensuring compliance, and fostering collaboration, these solutions are helping government agencies deliver better service while making more efficient use of public resources. The future of government project management is digital, and those embracing this transformation are leading the way toward more efficient, sustainable, and responsive government services.