Driving Billions in Value: Key Takeaways from BIM Forum Conference Brazil 2026

The momentum behind openBIM® is no longer just about software compatibility, it is a multi-billion-dollar business imperative.

At the recent BIM Forum Conference Brazil 2026, hosted by BIM Fórum Brasil, nearly 2,000 industry leaders gathered to discuss the next generation of global mandates, the integration of AI, and the undeniable financial impact of open standards.

SBI was proud to be at the center of these critical conversations. If you missed the event, here is a breakdown of the major highlights and data-driven insights that are reshaping the built environment.

The Hard Metrics: The Business Value of openBIM®

Data from Brazilian energy, infrastructure, and public sector organizations showcased exactly why vendor-neutral, open standards are essential for modern asset management:

• Accelerated Time-to-Revenue: Processes that previously took 36 days were slashed to just 14 days, unlocking billions in revenue for energy production (shared by Nathália Turnes, Fundação CERTI).

• The Massive Cost of Inaction: Failing to utilize openBIM can carry a staggering $20 million penalty on a $5 billion project (shared by Lucas Gonçalves).

• Scalable Public Standardization: A total of 400 municipalities have now aligned under one non-negotiable openBIM standard, proving that macro-level digital transformation is achievable at scale (shared by Lucimara Lima, Secretaria de Infraestrutura e Logística do Paraná).

Keynote Insights: 25 Years of openBIM and the AI Frontier

SBI’s own Calvin Kam took the main stage as a keynote speaker, reflecting on a 25-year journey of openBIM evolution. The presentation focused on where the industry is heading next—specifically regarding global mandates and how Artificial Intelligence will fundamentally change how we deliver and utilize built asset information.

A core theme of the discussion echoed the wisdom shared by Erik Poirier:

"Standardize and normalize before you mandate."

Without a foundation of clean, standardized data, advanced tech integration like AI cannot deliver its full potential.

By the Numbers: SBI’s Impact at the Forum

Our team was deeply engaged across every level of the conference, driving the initiative for openBIM business value:

• 1 Keynote presentation delivered to ~2,000 attendees.

• 2 In-depth strategic sessions focused on the energy and infrastructure sectors.

• 3 Hours dedicated to an interactive workshop articulating real-world business impacts.

• 4 Interviews conducted by leading professional associations.

• 5 Crucial corporate sponsors backing the openBIM business value initiative.

Looking Ahead

A huge thank you to BIM Fórum Brasil for hosting an incredible conference, and to our exceptional partners at buildingSMART International, buildingSMART USA, buildingSMART Brasil, and buildingSMART Portugal.