Archive
Jay Merlan
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Sample Ephany API Calls in Python
This post contains a collection of code snippets and examples that demonstrate how to use the Ephany Framework API. As the project evolves, I’ll continue adding practical, copy-and-paste samples that show how to connect to your asset data, query your catalogs, integrate with your applications, and build on top of the framework. Whether you’re a…
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Consolidated Blog Posts: BIM Extension + OpenDefinery + Ephany
Over the years I’ve spun up a handful of blogs, each tied to its own project: Now that I’m focused on Triple Zero Labs full-time, it made sense to bring everything together in one place, so all posts from BIM Extension, OpenDefinery, and Ephany now live here under a single blog. I’m excited to get…
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Common Construction-Phase Issues in Retail FF&E (and How to Mitigate Them) – Part Two
Cost Overruns Budget overruns are a pervasive issue in construction, and retail store projects are no exception. Changes, delays, and misestimates during construction all compound to drive final costs above what was planned. Industry surveys consistently show a majority of projects go over budget. For example, one survey of real estate construction owners found 75%…
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Common Issues with Retail FF&E and How to Mitigate Them – Part One
Building out physical retail stores is a high-stakes game—one where a single misstep can cost thousands (or even millions). Have you ever had a store opening delayed because the wrong fixtures arrived? Or watched in horror as a brand-new display case was installed upside down? You’re not alone. Mistakes in procurement, installation, and project management…
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McDonaldization and Construction: How Owner-Furnished Items Unlock Scalability
McDonaldization describes how industries optimize for efficiency, predictability, uniformity, and control. This principle doesn’t just apply to burgers, it’s the secret sauce behind how companies like Walmart, Dollar General, and Wegmans scale their physical stores to thousands of locations worldwide.
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Decluttering Your Data: Why AI Alone Won’t Solve the Mess
Imagine your home is overflowing with clutter. You hire a professional organizer who tidies everything up—but without proper shelves and storage, the clean items just end up in a neat pile on the floor. That’s what happens when you rely solely on AI to clean up your asset data, especially when managing furniture, fixtures, and…
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Lean Out Your BIM Processes by Reducing Asset Information in Your Models
Let me tell you a little secret about working in BIM: the more data you cram into your model, the more of a nightmare it becomes to manage. Early in my career as a BIM Manager, I thought it was smart to add as much data as possible to Revit Families for owner-furnished items (OFI).
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Manual data entry is so 2024.
It’s 2025 and we’re still doing manual data entry? Check out this video demo of how Kit, our AI copilot in Ephany, is now able to solve this problem.
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Asset information does not belong in BIM. Change my mind.
I believe BIM is experiencing some growing pains, as with any new technology would. I’m starting to see that there is too much data in models, particularly regarding assets such as the furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E). I do agree that any data that is required for design and construction processes need to be included…
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Asset Identification is Key to Success in Repeatable Design and Construction
Imagine navigating a world where identification numbers didn’t exist. Without bank account numbers, driver’s license numbers, and social security numbers, it would be nearly impossible to look up information about a specific person with 100% certainty that you’re not mixing up people with the same name. Shouldn’t every piece of furniture, fixture, and equipment (FF&E)…
