Glossary

Welcome to the Bimbal® Glossary! This section is dedicated to providing clear and concise definitions of the key terms and concepts used within the Bimbal software. Whether you are a new user seeking to understand the basics or an experienced user looking to clarify specific terminology, this glossary is here to assist you.

Each term is explained in a straightforward manner to help you navigate and utilize Bimbal effectively. We hope this resource enhances your experience and helps you get the most out of our software.

To master Bimbal®, we recommend that you first fully understand the concepts of BIM and Variant. These concepts are the basis for Bimbal's exceptional performance.

Happy exploring! 
The Bimbal® Team

Bimbal: Bimbal® is software dedicated to managing complex projects spread out over time. It features a unique concept for coordinating all variations of the same project, making it particularly well suited to the construction industry. Bimbal is developed using the latest technologies such as Python and JavaScript and works seamlessly with the open-source Odoo framework, allowing it to offer all the features of this exceptional ERP system in a fully integrated way.

BIM: BIM stands for "Building Information Model". In Bimbal, a BIM containing all the information relating to a job. Each BIM can belong to a project, each project can have multiple BIMs. BIM lines contain all confirmed BIM data, which is fed by the models associated with a BIM (Variant, Progress Report, Price Adjustment, Sale, Order, Invoice, Purchase Order, Documents,...).

BIM Product: A BIM product is a product specific to a BIM (BIM-specific item), created freely from a Variant by any user, even those with restricted rights. These products, created on the fly, are traceable for control purposes and isolated from the company’s main product catalog to preserve its integrity. 

BOQ (Bill of Quantities): A Bill of Quantities (BOQ) is a pure quantity calculation without any financial notion. Each BOQ can be composed of several lines and call upon other BOQs used as variables.

BoM (Build of materials): A Bill of Materials (BOM) is a comprehensive list of raw materials, components, assemblies, and subassemblies required to manufacture a product. It includes detailed descriptions and quantities of each item, providing a clear and organized breakdown of everything needed for the production process.

Contract Method: A contractual method defines the contractual approach agreed upon with a client for a position.

Company: a company is an individual business entity that operates independently, with its own legal identity, financial records, and specific operational settings.

RFQ (Request for quotation): A Request for Quotation (RFQ) is a formal document issued by a company to one or more suppliers or service providers, soliciting detailed pricing and availability information for specific products or services. The RFQ typically includes detailed specifications, quantities, and any other requirements that suppliers need to meet. This process helps the issuing company compare offers and select the most suitable supplier based on price, quality, and delivery terms.

PO (Purchase Order): A Purchase Order (PO) is a legally binding document issued by a buyer to a seller, indicating the types, quantities, and agreed prices for products or services the seller will provide. The PO serves as an official offer to buy and, once accepted by the seller, forms the basis of a contract between the buyer and seller. It outlines terms and conditions of the purchase, including delivery dates, payment terms, and other relevant details, ensuring both parties have a clear understanding of the transaction.

Price adjustment: A Price Adjustment is a contractual mechanism that allows prices to be recalculated after the contract has been signed, based on measurable factors such as material costs changes, labor cost variations, fuel or energy indexation, or currency fluctuations. It ensures that the final project price remains fair and aligned with real market conditions throughout the process.

Progress Report: A Progress Report is a periodic document that records the quantities of work (SOW: state of work) actually executed during a specific time period. It allows contractors to review, validate, and agree on the delivered quantities before any invoicing takes place. This ensures transparent measurement, avoids disputes, and forms the basis for accurate progress billing

Variant: A Variant is a variation of the main data of a BIM (a variant can only belong to only one BIM. A BIM can have several variants). A variant is used whenever you want to propose an amendment and send an offer to a customer.  A variant consists of Variant line that the user uses to define all the information needed to calculate a job to be performed (products, quantity, cost, comments, price,..). When a variant is confirmed, its data is included in the BIM to which it belongs.