As BIM and computational design reshape how buildings are conceived and delivered, the AEC industry is confronting a new definition of professional literacy. Vipanchi Handa, Chief Product Officer and Co-Founder of Novatr, sits at this intersection of design, technology, and learning. In this interview with Asma Rafat, Senior Correspondent, Realty+, Handa reflects on why digital workflows have become unavoidable, how young professionals should think beyond software, and why adaptability, systems thinking, and confidence now matter more than tools alone today.
BIM and computational design have moved from being niche tools to core industry requirements. What do you think finally pushed the AEC sector to take these technologies seriously?
Vipanchi Handa: What really pushed the AEC sector to take BIM and computational design seriously is the sheer scale and speed at which we are building today, especially in India. We’re executing over 9,000 projects under the National Infrastructure Pipeline, with close to US$1.9 trillion in planned investment, while urban populations continue to grow rapidly. At this scale, traditional, drawing-centric workflows simply cannot manage coordination, risk, or timelines effectively.
At the same time, cost and predictability pressures have intensified. When construction contributes 8–9% of India’s GDP and employs millions, even small inefficiencies translate into massive economic impact. BIM offered something the industry desperately needed: data-backed decision-making and visibility.
I have also seen a clear shift in talent and client expectations. Firms working on global projects now need teams fluent in digital workflows, not just design intent. BIM and computational thinking have moved from being optional tools to becoming the language of modern project delivery.
From a product and learning design perspective, which digital skills are now non-negotiable for young architects and engineers entering the profession?
Vipanchi Handa: From what I see, the most critical shift is that digital skills are no longer about software proficiency alone, they’re about thinking in systems. Young professionals must understand BIM as a process: how information flows across disciplines, stages, and stakeholders. Data awareness is equally non-negotiable-early design decisions today influence the majority of lifecycle cost and constructability outcomes. Basic computational logic is becoming essential, not so everyone codes, but so they can work with rules, constraints, and parameters. Collaboration skills are also critical, knowing how to coordinate digitally across architecture, structure, MEP, and construction teams. Finally, digital communication matters deeply: being able to explain intent, trade-offs, and impact through models and visuals is now as important as producing drawings.
Many professionals feel overwhelmed by the speed at which tools and workflows change. How can learning platforms help them build confidence without constantly chasing the next software update?
Vipanchi Handa: This overwhelm is real, and I think it comes from learning being too tool-centric instead of outcome-centric. From a learning design perspective, the answer isn’t teaching more tools,it’s teaching how to think through change. When learners understand underlying frameworks, workflows, and decision logic, adapting to new software becomes far less intimidating. We’ve seen that confidence builds fastest when learning is anchored in real project scenarios, not isolated features. Progressive skill layering also helps, starting simple and adding complexity deliberately. Most importantly, mentorship plays a huge role. When experienced professionals contextualise why a workflow exists, learners stop feeling like they’re constantly behind and start feeling capable of navigating whatever comes next.
Computational design is often seen as technical and intimidating. How do you make it accessible to designers who may not come from a coding background?
Vipanchi Handa: I strongly believe computational design is often misunderstood. Most designers already think parametrically; they work with grids, modules, constraints, and rules every day. The key is reframing computation as design logic, not coding. We start with visual, node-based tools that let designers see cause and effect clearly, before introducing any code. Accessibility also comes from context, using real problems like layout logic, quantity automation, or facade rationalisation instead of abstract exercises. Once designers experience how computation saves time or expands creative possibilities, the fear disappears quickly. The goal isn’t to turn everyone into programmers, but to help designers see computation as a creative amplifier, not a technical barrier.
You have worked closely with learners and hiring firms. How do employers actually assess digital proficiency today, beyond certificates and portfolios?
Vipanchi Handa: What employers really look for is how someone thinks and behaves in a digital environment. Portfolios matter, but they’re no longer enough. Firms increasingly assess candidates through live problem-solving, how quickly they understand a workflow challenge, how they respond to coordination issues, and how they use models to make decisions. Employers notice adaptability very quickly: can a candidate switch tools or workflows without freezing? Collaboration is another major signal. Does this person reduce friction across teams or create more of it? Ultimately, digital proficiency today is measured less by what tools you know and more by whether you can add clarity, speed, and reliability to the project.
Looking ahead, do you see BIM and computational thinking becoming basic literacy for AEC professionals, much like drawing once was, or will they remain specialist skill sets?
Vipanchi Handa: I am convinced that BIM and computational thinking will become basic literacy for AEC professionals, much like drawing once was. Not everyone specialised in drafting, but everyone had to understand drawings. We’re at a similar inflection point now. Model-based thinking is rapidly becoming the default language of project delivery. Specialisation will still exist, there will always be advanced BIM managers and computational experts, but baseline digital fluency will be expected across roles. The real differentiation going forward won’t be who knows the tools, but who uses digital thinking to make better decisions, reduce risk, and create real project impact.
