Welcome to getting started with efficiently, your system of record for design intent!
Instead of relying on emails, spreadsheets, or disconnected PDFs, all scope, specifications, and clarifications live in one place and efficiently will be your single source of truth for all design decisions on your project.
How Efficiently will help you:
Understand what’s being built
Know where to find specs and install details
Communicate questions clearly using RFIs and comments
Stay aligned as selections and details evolve
This short training is designed to get you up to speed on locating and using project information, not creating it.
Let's start with a guided walk through of the platform in the video below
Project Summary View
After opening your project, you’re taken to the Project Summary View, your central hub for understanding the status of the entire project. This view brings together selections, deadlines, comments, and RFIs in one place for quick visibility.
Next, you reviewed the primary navigation tabs that support your day-to-day workflow:
The Plans tab is where construction and interior design plan sets are uploaded, organized, and versioned.
The Item Schedule serves as the core of the project, housing all location- and selection-related information. Filters and alternate views make it easy to access the details you need.
The Books tab contains all project books, including Design, Room-by-Room, and Item Schedule books.
The Documents tab stores all published files and allows you to share or download documents as needed.
The Efficiently Project Structure
In Efficiently Design, projects are organized using a consistent hierarchy that helps you manage every part of your floor plan with precision.
You’ll see this hierarchy throughout the platform:
In the Plans & Books Tabs: View or set Rooms, Spaces, Areas, and Locations using the left-hand panel.
In the Schedules Tab: Switch between Rooms View (organized by project hierarchy) and Item IDs View (organized by division) depending on your workflow.
Rooms
A Room represents a main section of the floor plan, such as Main Bathroom or Living Room.
Rooms act as the top-level containers that hold all related design information, including Spaces, Areas, and Locations.
Spaces
A Space is a smaller, functional zone within a Room.
For example, the Primary Bathroom may include Spaces such as the Shower (115), and W/C (116). Main Bath (118) is also a space inside the Main Bath (Room)
Spaces make it easier to organize and locate the design elements that belong to different functions within the same Room.
Locations
A Location is the exact measurable point where an item will be installed.
This could represent a physical surface, such as a floor, or a fixture placement like a faucet or light.
Every Location can be measured — whether by quantity or square footage — ensuring accurate planning and scheduling across the project.
Areas
An Area exists within a Space and serves as a grouping of Locations.
For instance, a Vanity Area might include multiple Locations such as two sinks, two faucets, and a mirror light.
Areas help you manage related Locations together for consistent documentation and easier updates.
By understanding this project structure, you can keep your designs organized, accurate, and easy to manage as your project evolves.