cobiereport vs filling COBie by hand
The manual baseline is a blank multi-tab template and a deadline. A browser tool removes the bulk transcription, but it cannot invent the data your model never held.
Last reviewed
- cobiereport
- browser · €0–29
- Manual Excel
- blank template
What filling COBie by hand in Excel is
Manual COBie means transcribing Facility, Floor, Space, Type and Component data into the spreadsheet template from drawings, schedules, cut-sheets and O&M documents, all by hand.
The workload depends on the asset count and required fields. Repeated transcription creates opportunities for omissions and errors, so the completed workbook still needs review.
Side by side
Time to a filled register
cobiereport · Automatic mapping; processing time depends on the model and device.
Manual Excel · Transcription and review time depend on the project scope.
Errors
cobiereport · Deterministic mapping with missing-value counts for selected fields.
Manual Excel · Manual entry needs checks for omissions and transcription errors.
Cost
cobiereport · Free for 3 workbook exports a month, €29/mo for unlimited workbook exports.
Manual Excel · Free software, expensive labour.
Data the model never held
cobiereport · Not captured. The output is only as complete as the IFC.
Manual Excel · Fully flexible: you can type warranty, spares and O&M data in.
Traceability
cobiereport · Workbook rows carry IFC references; the gap report summarizes field counts.
Manual Excel · No automatic link back to a model.
When Manual Excel is the better call
- The data you need lives in O&M documents, warranties or commissioning records that were never in any model. Those still have to be entered by hand.
- The scope is tiny, or you are correcting a handful of rows, where opening a tool is more ceremony than it is worth.
- You need total control over every cell and accept the time cost for it.
Common questions
- Does cobiereport replace filling COBie by hand?
- It drafts the model-derived sheets for review. Data absent from the IFC, such as warranty or O&M details, still needs to be supplied. The gap report checks selected fields, so review the full workbook against your project requirements.
- Why is manual COBie so slow?
- Each asset can require multiple fields to be copied and checked. The workload grows with the asset count and project requirements. Mapping available IFC data can reduce that transcription work.
Other comparisons
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