Client Overview: Shannon Ponciano, CEO of House of Ponce, is an accomplished interior designer with 18 years of experience in high-end custom design. Starting from small-scale staging, Shannon has built her business into a recognized design firm specializing in luxury homes, renovations, and new construction. Her team collaborates closely with builders, contractors, and clients, known for pushing the boundaries in design to create uniquely modern and curated interiors. “We gently push our clients beyond their comfort zones with custom designs and innovative materials, ensuring every project feels fresh—never looking like just another Pinterest board,” Shannon says, describing her approach.
Challenges: As Shannon's team took on more complex, large-scale projects, managing communications and documentation across various teams (contractors, architects, vendors) posed increasing challenges:
- Inconsistent Communication: Coordinating updates and ensuring all team members had access to current project details became a persistent problem, resulting in miscommunication and delays.
- Fragmented Documentation: With documentation scattered across platforms like Google Docs and Dropbox, tracking the most updated files required additional time and effort.
- Excessive Time Spent on Follow-Ups: Retrieving specs, materials, and other critical details often took days of follow-up and redundant communication, impacting project efficiency.
- Difficulty Redirecting Stakeholders to Updated Documents: Builders and subcontractors sometimes unknowingly worked with outdated specs or files, leading to costly rework and misunderstandings.
How Digs Helped: Implementing Digs brought transformational benefits to Shannon’s team by centralizing information, streamlining communication, and improving project management. Key improvements include:
- Single Source of Truth
Digs provided one comprehensive platform for all documentation, from floor plans and blueprints to product specs and design details. "It’s a relief not having to resend documents or chase builders for confirmation," Shannon shared. "Everyone knows where to go—Digs becomes the project’s source of truth.” By having all files in one place, all team members, including subcontractors, can access the latest updates at any time, minimizing errors and maintaining alignment. According to Shannon, having subcontractors refer back to Digs to reference current documentation has reduced, on average, 3-5 errors per project.
- Faster Access to Information with AI-Powered Search
Digs’ AI tool, AskDigs, allowed Shannon’s team to find specs and information instantly by simply typing in queries—saving hours of searching and avoiding miscommunication. "Before Digs, we’d waste hours hunting down specific model numbers or confirming which tile we chose. Now, we just AskDigs, and the answer's there in seconds," Shannon noted. This feature particularly helped with frequently used details like faucet or sink specs, enabling quick responses even on the job site. “AskDigs has saved us 5-10 hours a week by eliminating time spent searching for documents,” says Shannon.
- Encouraging Vendor Accountability and Reducing Redundant Communication
Digs empowered Shannon’s team to direct contractors and vendors to check the platform themselves for answers. “We’ve shifted the dynamic with vendors. Instead of endless emails, we tell them to check Digs. It’s cut down on unnecessary back-and-forth and mistakes,” Shannon said. This self-service model not only reduces time spent answering repetitive questions but also ensures that vendors work from the most current information.
- Efficient Collaboration and Smooth Hand-Offs
Digs allows seamless collaboration across homeowners, electricians, cabinet designers, and others. "Clients especially love having access to all the selections and specs in one place. It makes them feel involved and eases the handoff at the end," Shannon shared. This streamlined workflow minimizes bottlenecks, enhances project transparency, and leads to higher client satisfaction.
Outcome: Since adopting Digs, House of Ponce has reported higher productivity, better project coordination, and fewer delays. The centralized platform and AI tools have had the following measurable impacts:
- Time Savings: With AskDigs and centralized documentation, the team saves 5-10 hours per week previously spent searching for documents and specifications.
- Cost Efficiency: By saving time with Digs, the team is trending toward saving about 1/4 of a single designer’s salary per month. They estimate on larger teams with 4-6 designers using Digs efficiently, the savings could increase - freeing up resources to improve profit margins or expand the team.
- Error Prevention: By ensuring subcontractors refer back to updated documents, House of Ponce has prevented 3-5 errors per project, significantly minimizing costly rework.
- Improved Communication: Stakeholders now access the latest updates independently, reducing delays and miscommunication.
Key Takeaways for Interior Designers:
- Save Time: Use Digs AI-powered search to quickly find specs and project details, reducing time wasted on follow-ups.
- Enhance Collaboration: Offer clients, contractors, and vendors a unified platform with up-to-date documentation for better project cohesion.
- Increase Accountability: Shift responsibility to builders and vendors by encouraging them to independently self-serve by accessing the latest files in Digs.
- Future-Proof Projects: Use Digs not only for current project management but also as a handoff tool, ensuring a smooth client transition with all necessary product information and maintenance instructions.
Conclusion: With Digs, interior designers can simplify complex projects, streamline communication, and improve collaboration. These benefits contribute to time savings, reduced errors, and ultimately, a more profitable design business.
