Archetype - Case Studies:

Matt Parkins
Director - CSP Architects

Archetype has provided a universal solution to the document management needs of our practice. It replaced a diverse set of office protocols and procedures with just one; 'Use Archetype'.
We now have a consistency to our documentation that was hard to achieve before the implementation of this thoroughly integrated system.
The ability to access and manage project documents from a single location has been praised by all of our staff as it considerably reduces their administrative burden. We are now able to spend more time doing the things we are good at and enjoy.
We have embraced all of the functionality (modules) provided by Archetype to get the most from its integrated approach to document management. However, modules dealing with our core documents, including correspondence (especially e-mail) and drawings, are particularly impressive.
Archetype allows us to easily and robustly manage the transfer of electronic data, recording complex threads of communication and drawing revisions with minimal user intervention. The drawing management system encompasses data published from our BIM CAD system, allowing documents to be created, recorded and distributed seamlessly.
Architects practice in a constantly changing environment. Crucially, Archetype evolves to address the needs of the profession in response to feedback from the 'front line' of the Archetype community.
We would highly recommend it.

Kenneth Martin
Managing Director for Block Architects

It’s such a simple product to use. Our Architects require, at their fingertips, project specific information and when they want this information Archetype provides it at the click of a mouse. The project based filing which manages emails, letters, faxes, drawings and diary is excellent for daily use. Then there are the other features such as Architect’s Certificates, Health and Safety, Inspection Certificates and on and on. Archetype does everything it says on the tin and much more and has singularly streamlined our business such that for the last three years we have avoided administrative staff and expensive storage space. My archive is a small black box hooked into the back of the server. Yes we have with the assistance of Archetype created a 95% paper free environment. This alone has saved us a fortune.

Tim Morley
Director – AT Architects Limited

After long debating the viability of Archetype and its competitors, and watching its modular development over a number of years. We selected it as the most suitable software for the practice's office audit system, based on its ease of use and SQL format.

Since installing the package, the initial training, and subsequently cross-grading to the latest MSSQL platform, we are now using all of its many functions. Recent analysis of the practice procedures has revealed that we are now achieving 30-35% greater efficiency in administrative time for all members of the office.


Ashley Wyatt
Building design + Management

Although BD+M already had BS 9001 BSI accreditation back in 2003, the QA systems it used didn’t adequately deal with the exponential increase in the use of digital information. Director of BD+M, Ashley Wyatt explains, “As our workload increased then so did the amount of digital correspondence we received and transmitted. We desperately needed a way to combine both traditional and digital means of communications and documentation which were becoming more and more fragmented”. He goes on, “Archetype was the revelation we needed. It totally transformed all project documentation handled by the Company, whilst seamlessly integrating both traditional and digital methods. When our QA Accreditors first saw it, they were extremely impressed and delighted”. BD+M continue to feedback to the developer’s of the software, to continually evaluate and improve the product. Recently, BD+M have added the Archetype Finance module. Now all project and/or office costs can be logged, projected and evaluated along with fee proposals, fee scheduling and invoicing. Ashley Wyatt adds, “Now we have the Finance module, we have a complete system. I can’t honestly imagine our business without Archetype. Any architectural practice, whatever its size, should have it. It provides a superb platform for supporting any Quality Assurance system”.

" ..congratulations on a superb application. It has seriously improved our relevant procedures, has impressed BSI who provide our QA accreditation (our assessor had not seen such a system before and was over the moon with it) and everyone comments on how professional our documentation comes across. The tech boys in Scotland (Neil, Ian etc. have been speedy and efficient when we required them.."


Stephen Lamb
Partner for Anderson Bell Christie

The office has been using “Archetype” for almost 2 years now. It has become fully integrated into our method of working and it has positively contributed in changing the way in which we now work.

It has brought a number of advantages mainly with efficiency. More typing is now carried out directly by the technical staff and this has proved to be cost effective.

The quick and easy access to information using the filter tools is excellent; searching for letters or faxes and even drawings in our old system takes much more time and can be quite frustrating by comparison to “archetype”. I no longer have those irritating bits of yellow paper that stick to my monitor with Clerk of Works mobile phone numbers.

In the short time that we have used archetype we have seen significant development work by Alec James, in particular the e-mail system which now has the ability to file incoming e-mails and attachments.

“Archetype” provides a structured method of working and filing documents, the drawing files for all new projects are integrated with Archetype to take full advantage of the drawing register and automatic back up of drawings that are to be revised.

Alec James provides an excellent back up service to this product and we will continue to subscribe to the support and back up service.

(Alec James is the Senior Developer for Archetype Software Limited)