When it comes to making contacts on the Internet, many people tend to think of dating portals and leisure forums rather than building projects. Our Building Companion platform proves it: These days, it's easy to meet the perfect partner for your construction project online. After five years on the market, the platform continues to grow: around 100 to 150 investors now find a contractor every month in Poland alone.
And here's how it works: a search engine that presents construction managers with a selection from more than 2,000 vetted construction companies - needs-oriented and free of charge - helps in the procurement of construction projects. "In this way, we significantly simplify the acquisition process between construction managers and construction companies," explains Radu Mâcâială, Head of Building Companion. This is also shown by the response: more than one million customers have already registered, and 2,000 construction projects have been realized thanks to the mediation via Building Companion. "Many of these companies had no online presence at all before they appeared on the platform, didn't even have a web store or a website. Building Companion gives them online visibility, opening up a whole new market for them," Mâcâială sums up. "We're boosting the entire industry with this!"
 
Starter pack for newcomers to the construction industry

In particular, the platform supports newcomers to the construction industry in eliminating not only the real but also the numerous mental construction sites as quickly as possible. Especially the search for suitable construction companies usually costs a lot of time, nerves and patience. With Building Companion, the ideal construction partner is just a few clicks away - whether architect, investor or builder:

- A search mask narrows down the construction projects considerably: Is it a new construction or an adaptation? Should something be insulated - or an alarm system installed? The construction area and the desired construction period also concretize the search.

- As search results, construction managers receive detailed company profiles with all important selection criteria - from experience on the market to company size to photos of implemented projects. The ratings of other customers - even with a star system and comment function - provide support in the selection process.

- Once the person responsible for the construction has found a potential partner, contact is only a click away - a "match" is created.

- For the realization of the construction project, construction managers receive a database with expert knowledge explained in an understandable way and a planning tool for construction. A wide range of discounts for building materials is also available.

From the voucher platform to the expert network

While the platform was limited to Xella coupons at the very beginning, Building Companion developed into a digital community for professionals in the construction industry, not least due to the Corona pandemic: The contact restrictions during the 2020 pandemic inspired many professionals and construction people to rethink. Radu Mâcâială, Head of Building Companion since June 2022, was part of the project at the time: "The industry needed a place where construction stakeholders could connect. So we expanded this function - and have been focusing on just that in both Poland and Romania ever since." Meanwhile, Building Companion offers perks for Xella products more as a byproduct.
 
High security and big plans for the future

All responsible construction companies are scrutinized by Xella as the operator during registration: "The construction managers are pre-screened by Xella to guarantee that there really are real and feasible projects behind them," says Radu Mâcâială.
Following the response in Poland and Romania, the platform will be rolled out in other countries - the German market is also in the starting blocks. "This is the Xella strategy: We work on new ways and when something works, we roll it out," orders Michael Leicht, Chief Digitalization Officer and Chief HR Officer at Xella. Other companies have also long since recognized the potential of platforms like Building Companion: While it was launched in Romania in 2020 as the first platform of its kind, there are now around a dozen there alone. By no means all of them have been able to survive to this day; only a few, like Xella, offer the service free of charge.
For Radu Mâcâială, it is precisely this constant development that gives Building Companion its lively character: "In each country, we make a point of taking cultural characteristics into account. In Poland, prefabricated house plans are very common, while in Romania architects play a decisive role. Other countries will also bring their peculiarities. That's why we're thinking about also offering webinars and similar tools that users can use to further intensify contact with their partners."

This is the campaign for Building Companion in Poland. The Text roughly translates to "holy peace of mind when looking for new customers".