Crafting an Effective Specification Strategy: Aligning with Market Demand

Developing an effective specification strategy for our construction projects requires careful consideration of various factors.

By prioritising market demand, we aim to diminish the emphasis on price and shift influence towards the general public, ensuring their needs are met.

To begin, gaining insight into the marketplace is crucial. This involves going beyond industry forecasts and actively seeking feedback from our customers and potential customers. By collecting this valuable information, we can shape our strategy based on the realities of the market, addressing genuine questions about market demand and fulfilling the needs of real people.

By incorporating market insights and customer feedback, we can align our specification strategy with the actual requirements of the target audience. This approach empowers us to create construction projects that resonate with the market, driving customer satisfaction, catering for the sustainability of our eco-system and overall project success.

Empowering our Specification Strategy through Customer Understanding

At Dornet, we recognise the significance of understanding our customers and the challenges they face. This understanding forms the bedrock of our specification strategy, enabling us to deliver tailored solutions that truly meet their needs.

The construction process involves a collaborative effort of various professionals, including our customers, architects, designers, engineers, contractors, regulators and sub-contractors. Together, they work harmoniously to ensure that our clients' requirements are met. We bring together this talented team of likeminded people, driven investors and construction professionals, uniting them under the Dornet brand, to drive the development of all our projects which are target specific to our valued customers.

By conducting thorough research on our customer base, we gain valuable insights that allow us to target our marketing efforts strategically. This approach empowers us to influence key decision-makers at critical stages within the government, real estate development and supply chain. By understanding their preferences, pain points, and aspirations, we can tailor our marketing initiatives to effectively communicate the value we offer and engage with our customers on a deeper leve

Through a customer-centric approach, we strive to create lasting relationships and deliver exceptional outcomes that exceed expectations.

01
Client

Customers: As central stakeholders, our members provide the business focus and project requirements, objectives, and vision. Their satisfaction is a primary focus throughout the project lifecycle
02
Consultant

Consultants bring specialised expertise, guiding Dornet in various areas such as design, engineering, legal matters, environmental considerations, and project management, ensuring successful project outcomes.
03
Architect

Architects design the project, translating client requirements into functional and aesthetic designs. They collaborate with clients and stakeholders, develop blueprints, and ensure design compliance with project goals and regulations
04
Contractor

Contractors are responsible for the physical construction and implementation of the project. They manage the construction site, coordinate the workforce, procure materials, and oversee day-to-day operations, ensuring adherence to specifications, timeline, and budget.
05
Sub - Contractor

Contractors are responsible for the physical construction and implementation of the project. They manage the construction site, coordinate the workforce, procure materials, and oversee day-to-day operations, ensuring adherence to specifications, timeline, and budget.
06
Regulators

Government department or agencies act as regulators, enforcing compliance with building codes, regulations, and other legal requirements which includes but not limited to protecting our customers funds, protecting our investors capitals, ensure completeness of due diligence and management eligibilities. They ensure projects meet safety standards, environmental regulations, zoning laws, and other guidelines, safeguarding public interests and maintaining quality standards. Dornet is committed on adhering to the legal responsibility, protecting our reputation and protecting our customer’s interest.

Our customers

Dornet customers are members of our platform who actively engage with our services and offerings, using the platform for real estate development opportunities and investment purposes. Private investors, who invest their own capital into Dornet projects, become stakeholders and have the potential to earn interest on their investment with us, contributing to funding and growth. Financial institutions, such as banks or investment firms, also participate as institutional investors, improving their reputation, contributing to the development of our communities, earning and providing additional financial backing and support.

Our solution aims to be readily available and cost-justifiable, ensuring efficient decision-making and cost-effectiveness throughout our customers and project life cycle. Bearing this in mind at all time we recognise the significant influence of the initial stages of our project, where 70% to 80% of the project's cost is decided, it is crucial to consider the selection of products at this point. As the most primary objective is development and providing premium affordable properties, our project team strives to select only the best manufacturers. Therefore, the manufacturer needs to demonstrate that their products: throughout the customers lifecycle.

Can help meet the buildings aesthetic and functional objectives

Meets or exceeds regulations

Can help with safety and performance standards

Is sustainable and can provide long-term benefits to our eco-system during the operation of the building, as well as being easy to maintain.

Our Architect

Our architects prioritise understanding our customer’s needs and how the building will be utilised and perceived. They then develop the design to meet building regulations and performance aspirations, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and green house carbon reduction.

The decision to specify a product involves considering various factors, often with conflicting requirements. The primary concern is ensuring that the product is fit for its intended purpose and can effectively perform throughout the building's design life.

Given the importance of accurate specifications, especially in the aftermath of incidents like Grenfell, our architects greatly value tools provided by product manufacturers. These tools may include BIM objects, technical literature, or specification documents. By offering such resources, manufacturers make it easier for the design team to understand how their product can be incorporated into the design and the benefits it can provide.

Our architects dedicate their attention to our projects and prioritise reassuring our management team that the chosen product meets all the requirements. Functionality, reliability, sustainability, availability, aesthetics, and value are just some of the aspects they consider to fulfil our customers’ expectations.

Our Engineer

Our contracted civil engineers play a crucial role in constructing the foundations and overall structures of buildings. Our contracted structural engineers are responsible for designing the building's framework. Our contracted engineering team also includes specialists in civil, M&E (mechanical and electrical), fire safety, acoustics, eco-system sustainability consultants and other specialised areas. Their primary objective is to ensure that their designs meet specific criteria, prioritising safety, functionality, performance, and reliability.

Our contracted engineers are dedicated to creating designs that are sturdy, resilient, and durable. They meticulously ensure that structures do not bend, twist, collapse, or experience excessive vibrations, remaining strong and secure throughout their lifespan. They leverage their knowledge and expertise to assess how our construction products meet the required performance standards.

During a project's progression, our engineers closely monitor the work's development. Once construction has begun, they inspect the work and provide guidance to contractors. They hold the responsibility of signing off on the installations completed by subcontractors, assuming accountability for any potential failures. Therefore, they maintain a vigilant approach when selecting and approving products, prioritising thorough assessment to mitigate risks.

Our Quantity Surveyor

Our Quantity Surveyor or QS has significant influence on the selection of building products. Early in the construction project they will give advice on costs, helping establish total spend for project completion. Often, they will guide the Architect and/or back-office management when it comes to product specification, yet it would be wrong to consider that they are only interested in achieving the lowest price. They too will be looking for value, either in capital cost or operational cost as well as issues like good availability.

Our Quantity Surveyor faces various challenges in their role, including quantity and stock monitoring, on-site efficiencies, and ensuring product availability. It is crucial to understand how the use of premium products can assist the Quantity Surveyor in overcoming these challenges.

When manufacturer is marketing to the quantity surveyors, it is essential for them to emphasise the value benefits of their products. Our quantity surveyor often serves as the starting point for our project, conducting feasibility studies and defining budgets. Since 70% to 80% of a project's costs are determined at the concept stage, it becomes more challenging to justify a price premium later if all the required product has not been included from the beginning, even if we can demonstrate superior value. Therefore, it is imperative to establish the value proposition of the proposed product early on to secure its inclusion and support the quantity surveyor's decision-making process.

Our Interior Designer

Our Interior Designers play a crucial role in designing or renovating internal spaces, encompassing structural alterations, furnishings, fixtures and fittings, lighting, and colour schemes. Their expertise lies in combining efficient and functional use of space with a deep understanding of aesthetics. While architects may also undertake this role, our dedicated designers are busy individuals with a unique blend of creativity and technical interpretation skills.

Working closely with architects, engineers, and builders, our designers determine how interior spaces will function, appear, and be furnished. Since selected building product significantly contributes to the aesthetics and spatial design of our real estate, it is imperative to actively engage with our interior designers as part of our primary focus team.

Collaborating with interior designers allows us to align the products that are offered to us with their vision and requirements. By understanding their design goals and preferences, we can tailor our building design to seamlessly integrate with their creative concepts. This collaboration ensures that our development enhances the overall aesthetic appeal and functionality of the interior spaces, creating an impactful and satisfying experience for occupants and end-users.

Our Interior Designers play a crucial role in advising and creating designs for the layout and configuration of internal spaces within buildings or structures. They take on the responsibility of first fix installations, including kitchens, bathrooms, and surfaces. By considering space requirements and selecting appropriate decorative items such as colours, lighting, and materials, our designers ensure that interior spaces are not only functional and safe but also aesthetically pleasing.

For our selected building product to be successful in the realm of interior design, it is essential for manufacturers to demonstrate how their product enhances various aspects. This includes showcasing how the product contributes to building productivity, improves spatial design, enhances interior performance, safety, eco-system sustainability and elevates the overall occupier experience. Additionally, manufacturers must highlight how their product aligns with sustainability standards such as the WELL Building Standard or BREEAM , emphasising its positive impact on occupant health, well-being and the community at large.

If the product is decorative in nature, it is crucial for manufacturers to provide adequate resources such as colour charts and samples. This enables interior designers to effectively match materials, ensuring seamless integration and cohesive design aesthetics throughout the space

By effectively collaborating with interior designers and addressing their specific needs and considerations, we can ensure that our buildings do not only meets functional requirements but also enhances the overall interior design, elevating the experience of occupants and creating visually appealing and harmonious spaces.

Our Contractor

Our Contractors play a crucial role in overseeing and managing the construction of our buildings. They work closely with the architects and engineers, ensuring that the construction aligns with the designs provided. The Contractors are selected as our approved partners and operate under a contractual agreement.

In addition to their responsibilities, our main approved Contractors are also involved in selecting specialist sub-contractors for specific aspects of the project. They consider factors such as the sub-contractors' capabilities, availability, and pricing to make informed decisions.

When it comes to design and build projects, the Contractors take on a more direct role in product selection. They collaborate with the engineers and architects, providing input on our specific requirements and briefing the specifiers. It is crucial for them to ensure that the availability of products does not cause delays in the construction process. They also strive to keep the product costs within the estimated budget, allowing them to maintain profitability.

By working closely with our Contractors, we can ensure smooth project execution, adherence to design specifications, and timely completion. It is essential for Contractors to have the confidence that the chosen products will be readily available and within the estimated cost, enabling them to deliver projects efficiently and achieve profitability.

Conclusion

In our pursuit of affordable housing solutions, we are fortunate to have a team of dedicated professionals who bring their expertise and understanding of our products and real estate development. Each team member plays a vital role in ensuring the successful delivery of our projects. Our team members possess a deep understanding of our strategy and their application in the affordable housing sector. They are aware of the unique challenges and requirements of this market, allowing us to tailor our solutions to meet the needs of our target audience effectively.

Furthermore, our team members have a comprehensive understanding of the competitive landscape. They continuously evaluate our position in the marketplace, measuring ourselves against the competition and identifying areas where we can excel. Importantly, our team members recognise the significance of different contract types and how they impact the project specifications. This understanding enables us to develop comprehensive plans that target the relevant stages of the construction process, ensuring seamless coordination and successful project outcomes.

By harnessing the collective knowledge and expertise of our team, we can confidently navigate the complexities of affordable housing development. Together, we are committed to delivering projects that not only meet the needs of our clients but also contribute to the well-being and progress of communities. Through collaboration, innovation, and a shared vision, we strive for excellence in every project we undertake, knowing that our success is measured by the positive impact we make in the lives of individual member of our community and the larger communities we serve.

Our Team Structures

Crafting an Effective Specification Strategy: Aligning with Market Demand

Client

Consultant

Architect

Contractor

Sub - Contractor