BIM megaprojects are expanding today all across the world. These
projects have huge data sets, complex objects, and several stakeholders.
The Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Facility Management
(AEC FM) industry is undertaking major responsibility for delivering
quality services to meet clients' expectations. Additionally, one of
the current research gaps with emerging trends in BIM is integrating
conventional methods with BIM. One of the main challenges is that the
product data is resistant to the digital transformation strategy that the
AEC FM industry is pursuing. This causes breakpoints in the digital
data workflow throughout the BIM project life cycle. The paper used a
questionnaire to solicit the opinion of AEC FM experts on using BIM
objects and delivery methods for product data and their impact on digital
data workflow. Then, the paper establishes a digital data repository
(DDR) for vital manufactured standard products. It digitalizes the
product data on graphical and non-graphical levels. The graphic level
is packed into formats that serve closed and open BIM directions. The
non-graphical level is loaded into Open Database Connectivity (ODBC)
using a SQL server to enable the AEC FM industry to restructure
product data digitally according to each project phase's needs. DDR
facilitates enhancing a digital workflow, reducing time, cost, and effort
to manage product data, improving decision-making, and accelerating
the performance of BIM projects. Furthermore, it enhances business
opportunities for manufacturers in AEC FM markets. Finally, DDR is
considered the digital identity of a product throughout the product life
cycle.