Watch the video above for a walkthrough of the Scope module and how it compares to managing everything in Excel.
The guide below covers the key concepts so you have a reference as you start using Scope on your own projects.

Why Scope Is a Better Fit Than Excel for Managing BIM Requirements and Deliverables

Excel is brilliant for many things, but it was never designed to be a database for managing BIM project scope. If you’ve tried it, you know what happens – you keep adding columns for every new piece of information, the spreadsheet becomes unwieldy, printing is a nightmare, and assigning tasks or tracking status turns into a colour-coded guessing game. The more data you add, the harder everything gets.

Plannerly’s Scope module is purpose-built for the problem. It’s a dedicated database designed specifically for the AEC industry, giving teams a structured way to manage project requirements, deliverables, tasks, and responsibilities without forcing everything into rows and columns of a spreadsheet. The more data you add to Scope, the interface stays exactly the same – it doesn’t become more complex.

The module is organised around three main areas. On the left is the scope list – this holds all of your project requirements, from elements that need to be created to tasks that need to be completed, your master information delivery plan, and all of your deliverables. Across the top are milestones, which represent key objectives in your project – these might be phases, stages, data drops, BIM uses, or deliverable deadlines, and they can be grouped into tabs for organisation. In the middle is the task grid, where each cell represents a task or set of tasks at the intersection of a scope item and a milestone.

Click on any task cell and you’ll see its full container of information. Each task holds a description, detailed requirements, a code, a direct link you can share, responsibility assignments (who’s responsible, which team is accountable), a checklist of items to complete, specific information requirements, specifications, attachments, the full activity thread with comments and mentions, and tracking details including status and dates. All of this lives inside one cell – try fitting that into an Excel column.

The scope grid is driven by project standards configured in your project dashboard settings. You can choose from ISO 19650, Level of Information Need, US BIM Forum, AIA, and others – they’re all mapped together, and you can switch between them at any point during the project. You can also connect to the buildingSMART Data Dictionary (bSDD) to drive naming conventions and codes within your scope, linking your project to international classification standards.

For teams managing ISO 19650 requirements, Scope provides the plug-and-play framework that Excel simply can’t. Clear requirements, assigned responsibilities, tracked deliverables, and structured milestones – all in one place, all without building a custom database from scratch every time.

Key areas of the Scope module

1. Scope list (left panel) – contains all of your project items: elements to be created, tasks to be done, deliverables, and master information. This is your complete inventory of what needs to happen on the project.
2. Milestones (top row) – represent key project objectives like phases, stages, data drops, or BIM uses. Group them into tabs to keep different milestone types organised.
3. Task grid (centre) – each cell sits at the intersection of a scope item and a milestone. Click a cell to open the full task container with all its requirements and details.
4. Task container – inside each cell, find the description, code, responsibility assignments, accountability, checklists, information requirements, specifications, attachments, comments, and tracking details.
5. Project standards – go to your project dashboard settings to choose which standard drives the grid structure. Switch between ISO 19650, Level of Information Need, US BIM Forum, AIA, and more at any point.
6. buildingSMART Data Dictionary – connect to bSDD to apply international classification standards that drive naming conventions and codes in your scope.

What you’ll learn

• Why spreadsheets fall short – how Excel’s structure works against you as BIM project complexity grows
• Scope list, milestones, and task grid – the three main areas that organise your entire project’s requirements and deliverables
• Task containers – how each cell holds a rich set of requirements, assignments, checklists, and tracking data in one place
• Switchable project standards – how to change between ISO 19650, Level of Information Need, US BIM Forum, and other frameworks at any point
• bSDD integration – how connecting to the buildingSMART Data Dictionary drives naming conventions and codes across your scope

Common questions

Explore further

• Understanding the Plannerly Scope user interface – a detailed guide to navigating the Scope module’s layout and features
• Defining your information requirements database – the hands-on lesson on setting up your scope items and requirements
• Setting information requirements – building clarity and reducing risk – the advanced course lesson on taking requirements management further
• BIM Boot Camp – the intensive programme covering end-to-end BIM and ISO 19650 workflows