Overview
What is BuildingConnected? BuildingConnected is Autodesk's preconstruction bid management platform.
For project teams running preconstruction, the work usually breaks down around bid intake, subcontractor qualification, and handoffs into downstream systems. BuildingConnected centralizes the bid lifecycle, and Datagrid reads that data for analysis and transformation across the rest of the operating stack.
As described on Autodesk Construction Cloud, it connects general contractors, subcontractors, and owners through a network of over 1,000,000 construction professionals to manage invitations, document distribution, proposal collection, bid leveling, and subcontractor qualification via TradeTapp. It sits within Autodesk Construction Cloud as the dedicated preconstruction layer and feeds awarded bids downstream into Autodesk Build for contract execution.
Datagrid's agentic AI platform ingests BuildingConnected data through the BuildingConnected REST API v2 and processes it alongside data from other built-world, ERP, and document management systems. AI agents read project records, bid packages, invites, bids, opportunities, contacts, users, and bid forms, then cross-reference that data against internal project history, vendor databases, and financial systems without manual intervention.
The primary data flow runs from BuildingConnected into Datagrid for analysis and transformation. Datagrid agents extract bid data, compare subcontractor proposals, flag qualification gaps using TradeTapp records, and route processed outputs to downstream systems like ERPs, accounting platforms, and reporting tools. This turns raw preconstruction data into scored bid comparisons, go/no-go recommendations, and populated contract templates, work that typically takes estimators hours of spreadsheet reconciliation.
How to integrate BuildingConnected with Datagrid
This integration brings BuildingConnected preconstruction data into Datagrid for agentic processing and cross-system analysis. Use the steps below to connect your account, authenticate with Autodesk, and configure the data sync Datagrid will read from BuildingConnected.
Connect your account
Open the Datagrid platform and go to Settings > Connectors > Add New.
Search for BuildingConnected in the integration library.
Select BuildingConnected and begin the authentication flow.
Sign in with your Autodesk account credentials when prompted. Your Autodesk account must be linked to a BuildingConnected subscription.
Grant the requested OAuth permissions (
data:create,data:read,data:writescopes).Select the data endpoints you want to sync: projects, bids, contacts, opportunities, and others.
Configure your sync schedule or event triggers, then save the connection.
Authenticate with Autodesk
BuildingConnected uses three-legged OAuth 2.0 (3LO) through Autodesk Platform Services (APS). No API keys or two-legged authentication are available. Datagrid handles token rotation automatically, and the authenticated user must hold the appropriate BuildingConnected subscription: BuildingConnected Pro for most endpoints and Bid Board Pro for Opportunity endpoints.
For headless server-to-server operations, Autodesk offers a Secure Service Account (SSA) flow that preserves user context while operating without interactive login. See the APS Field Guide on authentication for details.
Configure data sync
Once authenticated, Datagrid reads BuildingConnected data on a configured schedule or through triggered events.
Projects — Read, Includes location, schedule, and linked Forma project data
Bid Packages — Read, Trade assignments, estimated costs, award status
Invites — Read, Invited companies, invitees, and timestamps
Bids — Read, Immutable revisions with line items, plugs, and attachments
Opportunities — Read, Bid Board Pro view of invitations (requires Bid Board Pro license)
Contacts — Read, Company-office relationships, qualification status, engagement stats; updated once per 24 hours
Users — Read, Individual person records; no subscription required
Project Bid Forms — Read, Bid form templates and line items
Scope-Specific Bid Forms — Read, Trade-level bid form definitions
BuildingConnected also supports 6 webhook events for real-time triggers, including bid.created, opportunity.created, and opportunity.status.updated.
For full setup details and supported endpoints, use the Datagrid integration guide linked above.
Why use BuildingConnected with Datagrid
This integration fits teams that need answers and action across preconstruction workflows. Datagrid connects BuildingConnected data to the systems where bid decisions, qualification checks, and downstream handoffs happen.
Automated bid triage: Datagrid AI agents score and prioritize incoming bid invitations against company goals, resource availability, and historical win rates, replacing manual review of each opportunity.
Cross-system subcontractor intelligence: Agents ingest TradeTapp qualification data, including financial, safety, and insurance records, and cross-reference it against internal vendor databases and project history to flag risks automatically.
Unstructured bid document processing: Datagrid agents extract line items, scope inclusions, and exclusions from PDF bid proposals received through BuildingConnected, normalizing data for apples-to-apples comparison.
Preconstruction-to-execution data handoff: Awarded bid data flows from BuildingConnected through Datagrid into ERP, accounting, and contract management systems, eliminating manual re-entry of subcontract details.
Real-time coverage monitoring: Agents track subcontractor response rates by trade across active solicitations and flag packages at risk of insufficient bid coverage before deadlines hit.
Evidence-based go/no-go decisions: Historical bid data, including won/lost projects, bid amounts, sub coverage, and geographic patterns, feeds Datagrid analysis agents to generate data-backed pursuit recommendations.
What you can build with BuildingConnected and Datagrid
These workflows show how project teams can use BuildingConnected data inside Datagrid to execute repeatable preconstruction work with less manual reconciliation.
Bid leveling automation for multi-trade projects: When 10–30 subcontractor bids arrive per trade package, Datagrid agents extract line items from unstructured PDF proposals, normalize pricing across bidders, and flag missing scope or exclusions. The output is a structured comparison matrix routed to your estimating software or spreadsheet, cutting hours of manual reconciliation per bid package. Agents pull data from the Bids and Bid Package endpoints.
RFP-to-bid-package assembly planning: When a GC receives an owner RFP, Datagrid agents parse the scope documents, including PDFs, specs, and drawings, extract requirements by trade, and prepare the structured data needed for bid package creation in BuildingConnected. This connects to BuildingConnected's recommendation engine, which suggests bidders based on location, trade, and past performance. BuildingConnected's broader API supports write operations, but Datagrid's current integration reads data from BuildingConnected rather than writing bid packages back directly.
Subcontractor qualification cross-referencing: Datagrid agents pull structured financial, safety, and insurance data from TradeTapp's qualification endpoints and compare it against internal approved vendor lists, past project performance records, and insurance tracking systems. Datagrid flags subcontractors who fall below qualification thresholds automatically, without spreadsheet reconciliation.
Go/no-go decision intelligence from historical bid data: Datagrid agents ingest historical project records, including won/lost bid outcomes, project types, bid amounts, and sub response rates, from BuildingConnected's Projects and Opportunities endpoints. Cross-referenced against current backlog and resource data from your ERP, agents generate scored pursuit recommendations for preconstruction leadership.
Together, these workflows turn BuildingConnected into a reliable upstream system for Datagrid agents that compare bids, evaluate subcontractors, and route preconstruction outputs into the rest of your operating stack.
Resources and documentation
The links below cover setup, authentication, endpoint coverage, and related workflow guidance.
BuildingConnected API v2 reference - complete HTTP endpoint documentation
APS Field Guide on authentication - authentication, data model hierarchy, and documented limitations
Getting started tutorial with Postman - step-by-step first API call walkthrough
BuildingConnected and TradeTapp APIs developer overview - covers both bid management and subcontractor qualification APIs
APS OAuth authentication basics - three-legged OAuth flow documentation
BuildingConnected help center — API access - how to request API access as a general contractor
Datagrid bid management guide - agentic-AI bid triage workflows for estimating directors
Frequently asked questions
What data objects does the BuildingConnected integration sync into Datagrid?
The integration reads data from nine endpoint groups: Users, Projects, Bid Packages, Invites, Bids, Opportunities, Contacts, Project Bid Forms, and Scope-Specific Bid Forms. These cover the full bid lifecycle from project creation through proposal submission. The complete list is documented on the Datagrid BuildingConnected connector page.
How does authentication work for the BuildingConnected integration?
BuildingConnected requires three-legged OAuth 2.0 (3LO) through Autodesk Platform Services. No API keys or machine-to-machine, two-legged, authentication are supported. Access tokens expire after 60 minutes and refresh tokens after 14 days. For automated pipelines, Autodesk recommends the Secure Service Account (SSA) flow, which operates without interactive login while preserving user context. Full authentication details are in the BuildingConnected field guide.
Does the integration support writing data back to BuildingConnected?
Datagrid currently supports read-only operations from BuildingConnected. The BuildingConnected API also supports write operations, with the Write API reaching general availability in March 2024 and 47 endpoints. In this integration, Datagrid routes processed outputs to downstream systems rather than writing back into BuildingConnected directly.
What is TradeTapp, and can Datagrid access its data?
TradeTapp is a separate companion API under the same Autodesk Platform Services category. It covers subcontractor prequalification and risk data, including financial, safety, insurance, demographic, and project history records. TradeTapp data is read-only except for Risk Flags, which support full read-write operations. TradeTapp's structured qualification output is a key input for Datagrid agents running subcontractor risk analysis workflows.
Can BuildingConnected data trigger automated workflows in Datagrid?
Yes. BuildingConnected supports webhook events, including bid.created, opportunity.created, and opportunity.status.updated. These can trigger Datagrid workflows when new bids arrive or opportunity statuses change. For data not covered by webhooks, including projects, bid packages, and invites, Datagrid supports scheduled sync intervals to keep data current.
Similar integrations
These related integrations cover adjacent Autodesk workflows connected to preconstruction and project execution.
Autodesk Build - Post-award project execution platform within Autodesk Construction Cloud, where winning bids from BuildingConnected convert into contracts.
Autodesk Docs - Centralized document management for construction project files, integrated natively with BuildingConnected for plan room document distribution.