> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.acelabusa.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Material Hub 101: A Beginner’s Guide
> All the resources you need to get started!
*Written by Armaan Shah · Updated February 10, 2026*
## About this guide
If you are getting started with Acelab's Material Hub, **we highly recommend looking through the resources organized in this guide.** It includes videos and links to articles covering the **main tasks** you are likely to complete in the Material Hub:
* [Set Up Your Profile and Join Your Company](#set-up-your-profile-and-join-your-company)
* [Navigate the Material Hub](#navigate-the-material-hub)
* [Build Your Firm Library](#build-your-firm-library)
* [Create a New Project](#organizing-schedules)
* [Find, Save, and Compare Products](#find-save-and-compare-products)
* [Setting Up Your Spec Overview](#setting-up-your-spec-overview)
* [Organize Schedules](#organizing-schedules)
* [Manage Conversations](#managing-conversations)
**Note:** The guide includes some practice suggestions in the "Now it's Your Turn to Practice" sections. Use them to follow along the instructions and put your knowledge into practice.
## Welcome to Acelab!
We’re thrilled you’re here! Let’s kick things off by introducing ourselves and telling you what you really want to know: What the Material Hub is and how it can help you.
**👉 Check out the full article [here](/help-center/getting-started/welcome-to-acelab)**
**📚 Keep learning about [Acelab's database](https://help.acelabusa.com/en/collections/10447944-our-product-database)**
***
## **Set Up Your Profile and Join Your Company**
We know\... you're excited to get started, but how to begin? First things first, if you have not yet created your account, let's do that now.
Go to [acelabusa.com](https://acelabusa.com) and click to **Join For Free**.
🎨 If you already have an account, add some finishing touches. It's like choosing the right façade for your digital presence.
🧑🏽 Upload a profile picture, fill in your details, join your company space, and make yourself at home.
Check out the full article
Need more help creating your account, joining your company, or creating a new company in Acelab? Check out the resources below:
✏️ **[Create Your Account](/help-center/getting-started/creating-your-account-in-acelab)**
💡 **[Join Your Company in Acelab](/help-center/getting-started/joining-your-company-in-acelab)**
📣 **[Create a New Company and Invite Your Team](/help-center/getting-started/creating-a-new-company-and-inviting-your-team)**
Now, it's your turn to practice:
* Go to [acelabusa.com](https://acelabusa.com)
* Create your account
* Join Your Company (or create a company, if you are an Admin)
* Set Up Your Profile
* Invite Your Team (if you are an Admin)
***
## **Navigate the Material Hub**
We've set things up and it's time to start playing around.
⁉️ "But... where do I go? Where do I click?" - you ask desperately.
🧘 Keep calm and watch the video below.
Consider it your site visit before breaking ground.
Check out the full article
#### Now, it's your turn **to practice**
* Sign in at [acelabusa.com](https://acelabusa.com)
* Click around to explore the platform
* Play scavenger hunt and see if you can find:
* The page where all your projects are displayed
* How to check which project you are in, and how to switch projects
* Your conversations with reps and Acelab experts
* The page where you'll find the resources to help you make better material decision (including product guides, construction details, recordings of our webinars, and building science courses)
***
## What's Next?
By now, you’re familiar with Acelab’s Material Hub, and you might be wondering: **where do I go from here?**
The answer is both simple and complex.
**The simple answer is:** you can do whatever you want, there is no right way and no linear order.
**The better answer is:** where you go next depends on what you are looking to achieve. Your workflow in the Material Hub will evolve as your needs change, just like a project site after the first concrete pour.
To get you started, here are some ideas:
The next sections show you how to get started with these tasks.
**Watch them all or pick what you need!**
***
## Build Your Firm Library
Every firm needs a well-organized digital material library. The Material Hub provides the structure to do just that!
**But here’s the best part:** You might not have to do it alone.
✅ **Check if your firm is eligible for the Material Hub Concierge.** If so, we’ll do the heavy lifting. [Learn more and check eligibility here.](/help-center/building-your-firm-library/getting-started-with-your-library)
🛠 **If not, don’t worry.** Just follow the steps [here](/help-center/building-your-firm-library/self-implementation-setting-up-your-library-at-your-own-pace) to self-implement your firm library and start organizing your materials like a pro.
#### **Now, it's your turn to practice**
* Sign in at [acelabusa.com](https://acelabusa.com)
* If your firm already has a Firm Library in Acelab, take a look at it to become familiar with its structure.
* If your firm does not yet have a Firm Library in Acelab, check your eligibility and schedule a meeting with us to get started.
[Schedule a Meeting Now](https://meetings.hubspot.com/armaan-shah/materials-hub-concierge?uuid=7473f426-bef3-4b0c-967d-08bcb0a0c519)
***
## **Create a New Project**
In the Material Hub, Projects function as **folders where you can track the material selection process.**
When you create a Project, you will also be creating **a workspace where your product research, comparisons, schedules, specifications, and conversations will be organized**.
🚧 It's time to break ground: create a project and invite collaborators.
**👉 Check out the full article [here](/help-center/working-on-projects/project-setup-overview)**
**📚 Keep learning about [Projects](https://help.acelabusa.com/en/collections/11661646-creating-a-new-project)**
Now, it's your turn to practice:
* Sign in at [acelabusa.com](https://acelabusa.com)
* Create a new project (it can be a test project, if you prefer)
* Edit project information
* Invite your collaborators
***
## **Find, Save, and Compare Products**
🔎 Do you want to look around and get a feel for what’s out there (like walking through a showroom with no need for small talk)?
🛒 Or, are you ready to start adding products to your project?
Either way, it's time to begin a search, save, and compare products.
Oh, and you can easily get in touch with reps whenever you need additional product information.
Check out the full article
#### **Now, it's your turn to practice**
* Sign in at [acelabusa.com](https://acelabusa.com)
* Begin a search using the Search Bar
* Begin a search using the Products Visual Search
* Change the filters to explore your options
* Start a conversation with Ace, our AI Co-Pilot, and ask for the products you are looking for
* Check the Manufacturer's page and try to find specific brands
* Save a few products to your new project
* Navigate to the Comparisons page and check the products you saved
* If you have questions, get in touch with a product rep
***
## **Setting Up Your Spec Overview**
📋 Use SpecPlanner to **create checklists** of the materials you'll need.
As products are approved, you can **keep track of what's still missing**.
🏗️ Detecting and filling gaps has never been this easy!
**👉 Check out the full article [here](/help-center/working-on-projects/getting-started-with-specplanner)**
**📚 Keep learning about [SpecPlanner](https://help.acelabusa.com/en/collections/10716649-specplanner-beta)**
#### **Now, it's your turn to practice**
* Sign in at [acelabusa.com](https://acelabusa.com)
* Go to your new project
* Navigate to the SpecPlanner
* Create a new Spec (try using an Acelab template)
* Add and remove sections as needed
* Add a product from your Firm Library or a Manufacturer page
* Navigate to Schedules and note that the product has a green check mark indicating it has been added to the SpecPlanner
***
## **Organizing Schedules**
At some point, all those product discoveries need to get organized (because sending a random list of materials to a client and hoping for the best isn’t exactly best practice)*.*
Think of Schedules as a smart table where you can:
📌 **Keep track of materials** across different projects.
📑 **Coordinate approvals** so no one specs the *wrong* type of flooring.
🔄 **Make updates easily,** instead of dealing with 37 confusing versions of a spreadsheet.
➕ And much more!
**👉 Check out the full article [here](/help-center/working-on-projects/working-with-schedules)**
**📚 Keep learning about [Schedules](https://help.acelabusa.com/en/collections/9682797-schedules-beta)**
#### **Now, it's your turn to practice**
* Sign in at [acelabusa.com](https://acelabusa.com)
* Go to your new project
* Navigate to Schedules
* Note that the products you saved already appear in the All Products view
* Explore adding a custom and a default field
* Create a new private view
* Use the Filter, Sort, and Hide functions to customize the view you created products
***
## Managing Conversations
The Material Hub keeps all your conversations with product reps and Acelab experts organized. No more digging through old emails trying to remember who said what about which product.
In the Material Hub you can:
🧑 **Find product reps**
💬 **Send questions and requests directly**
📖 **Keep all responses in one place**
Having conversations organized and accessible to your team means no one needs to ask the same question twice\*.\*
Check out the full article
Now, it's your turn to practice:
* Sign in at [acelabusa.com](https://acelabusa.com)
* Go to your new project
* Go to the Conversations page
* If you sent a message to a rep, find the message and check if you've got a reply
***
#### 🎉 **Congratulations** 🎉
You've completed the Material Hub 101 Guide.
Go ahead and put your knowledge into practice.
Your journey with us is only starting!