# Frequently Asked Questions
# Why should I trust DDB?
There is a false sense of security associated with using familiar tools like Excel as a place to store project information. However, this can lead to duplicated files with similar names being scattered throughout job folders and personal computers, meaning data is often lost or time is spent ensure everyone is using up-to-date sheets.
Information in DDB is stored in the cloud with excellent quality assurance measures. This means that data can be restored if it is lost and all data about the inputs is stored, including who changed it, when it was changed, the source of the information, and full version history. We can ensure that only those with appropriate permissions are able to make changes, everyone can access the data at once, and these updates are to a core model, so there are no concerns of working with outdated information.
# Can I use DDB for my project?
If your legal contract allows for it (consider data storage, for example) and the Project Manager/Project Director agree, you will be able to use DDB. It is also important to consider whether your processes allow you to consume and feed DDB data back, and if all the necessary parameters are defined. Additionally, it may be necessary to check if onboarding resources are available should you require aid.
# How can I use Digital Design Brief?
At the moment, we are looking for teams and individuals who are interested in being early adopters. We want to focus on several core integrations that we expect will allow DDB to serve common project telling, including Grasshopper, Arup Compute, Automated Reporting, and Speckle. If you have an existing process that uses these tools you may want to consider being an early adopter and trialling Digital Design Brief as the data store for the parameters within your process.
# What skills do I need?
No additional skills are required. DDB does not require any coding experience, although deep familiarity with the workflow you want to automate would be recommended.
# What software do I need?
No additional software is required to use DDB, although an application to assist in mapping your workflow may be helpful. We recommend Miro, but others such as Draw.io or even pen and paper can be an effective way to map out your workflow.
# How much does it cost?
Arup funds DDB internally, and there is no additional cost for Arup staff to use DDB on their projects. For non-Arup users, please reach out to the team at [email protected] to inquire about project access.