Tens of Thousands of Specs Later: ASI Group’s ROI from a Smarter Spec Tool

“What we really liked was how the tool would leverage the content we’d already built and turn it into something dynamic that met architects where they were.” Mark Schiller, VP of Sales and Marketing at ASI Group.

The Customer

The ASI Group, headquartered in Yonkers, NY, is a global leader in commercial building products. The company specializes in Division 10 products like Washroom Accessories, Toilet Partitions, Visual Display Products, and Lockers. With operating units and offices in the United States, Canada, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, Mexico, and China, and sales in more than 50 countries, the ASI Group serves Architects, Building Owners, and Contractors all over the world.

The ASI Group is known for innovative products, quality, speed to market, and the widest offering of materials and products.

Overview

The ASI Group, a global leader in commercial building products, partnered with RIB Software to develop and launch RIB’s SpecLive Assist—a first of its kind digital tool designed to streamline the specification process for design professionals. With lightning-fast output, reliable accuracy, and a frictionless user experience, SpecLive Assist is helping architects and specifiers work smarter while increasing ASI’s reach and impact across the industry.

Mission

Architects and designers often face tight deadlines and rely on outdated specifications because it’s the path of least resistance. ASI recognized that if they wanted the architectural and design community to adopt and trust their products, they needed to make the specification process faster, easier, and more accurate.

Mark Schiller, VP of Sales and Marketing at ASI Group, describes the beginning of the journey from the point of identification of a need: “We treat the architecture and design community like we would any customer,” says Schiller, “we knew we had to deliver a tool that adds real value—and eliminates the typical pain points of writing or updating specs.”

Solution

After evaluating several options, ASI partnered with RIB SpecLink to co-develop SpecLive Assist—the first of its kind digital configuration tool that allows users to generate tailored, three-part specifications in less than a minute, directly from ASI’s website.

Why RIB? ASI already had a longstanding relationship with RIB and had its proprietary content in the SpecLink platform. That synergy made RIB the natural choice for ASI.

“What we really liked was how the tool would leverage the content we’d already built and turn it into something dynamic that met architects where they were,” says Schiller.

Results

Since launching in late 2024, SpecLive Assist’s integration on ASI’s website has generated tens of thousands of specs—and the industry response has been overwhelmingly positive.

“We’ve had architects reach out to us saying, ‘We love this tool—it’s efficient, it’s accurate, and it makes our job easier’. That kind of feedback is critical to the success of any new tool for a mature industry,” says Schiller.

Even internally, ASI’s sales reps and product managers are seeing the benefits. Many now feel more confident engaging with specifiers, using the tool as a conversation starter and value-added resource.

Execution: True Collaboration Across Teams

Building SpecLive Assist wasn’t an overnight process. It was a many-months journey involving ASI, RIB’s development and product teams, and ASI’s external marketing agency.

“There were many moving parts—backend programming, integration with our site, user experience,” Schiller recalls. “But the communication was seamless. Every challenge we faced was met with collaboration and flexibility.”

Unexpected nuances emerged—like the need to fine-tune the tool to reflect product-level differentiators across ASI’s portfolio. But the teams adapted quickly and creatively to make it work.

Unexpected Wins

One surprise benefit? Increased confidence among ASI’s own team. The tool empowered them to knock on more doors and open more conversations. “It’s created a sense of pride and assurance—our team knows they’re offering something truly helpful,” Schiller says.

Another bonus: a noticeable uptick in ASI’s spec share rate since launch. While Schiller won’t credit the tool 100%, he’s confident it’s playing a major role.

Lessons Learned and Advice for Others

Would ASI do anything differently? Only a few small tweaks, says Schiller—like involving product managers earlier or breaking reviews into smaller phases. But overall, the approach and outcome exceeded expectations.

His advice for other manufacturers considering a similar move?

“Make sure your website is accurate and well-maintained. That’s your foundation. If your site isn’t solid, the best tool in the world won’t help.”

Conclusion: The Future is Digital—and Fast

SpecLive Assist isn’t just a product—it’s a mindset shift. By investing in better tools and closer collaboration, ASI is making life easier for specifiers and winning more business in the process.

As Schiller puts it: “Time is the most precious commodity we have. If we’re asking for someone’s time, we better give them something that works. And SpecLive Assist does just that.”