Understand how Buildend distinguishes between internal and external users and how each user type affects access, visibility, and collaboration across the platform.
Table of Contents
Overview
Buildend distinguishes between internal and external users to help manage access, collaboration, and visibility across projects and Workspaces.
User access is controlled by the General Contractor that owns the Workspace. They determine which users can access the system, which projects they can participate in, and what actions they can perform through roles and permissions.
While both user types can collaborate within the same Workspace, their relationship to the organization and the information they can access may differ.
Internal Users
Internal users are members of the organization that owns the Workspace.
These users typically:
Work across multiple projects
Have broader visibility within the Workspace
May have administrative or configuration permissions (depending on their role)
Are responsible for managing projects, workflows, and company operations
Examples of internal users include:
Project Manager
Project Coordinator
Construction Administrator
Site Superintendent
Executive or Company Administrator
External Users
External users are individuals who belong to a different company than the Workspace owner.
These users are typically invited into the Workspace to collaborate on specific projects or activities.
External users typically:
Have access only to information relevant to their work
Participate in specific projects they have been assigned to
Do not have access to company-wide settings or administrative functions
Collaborate with the General Contractor and other project stakeholders
Examples of external users include:
Finish Carpenter
Electrical Contractor
Plumbing Contractor
Consultant
Architect
Client Representative
Vendor or Supplier Contact
Access & Permissions
A user's classification as internal or external does not automatically determine what they can see or do in Buildend.
Access is controlled through roles and permissions configured by the General Contractor that owns the Workspace.
These permissions determine:
Which projects a user can access
What information they can view
What actions they can perform
Whether they can access administrative or configuration features
As a result, two users of the same type may have different levels of access depending on their assigned role and permissions.
Why This Separation Matters
Separating users into internal and external categories helps:
Maintain secure access to company and project information
Ensure users only see information relevant to their responsibilities
Support collaboration with external organizations while protecting internal data
Simplify user administration and permission management
Provide a clear distinction between company personnel and external project participants