Silos (both company and IT) have long inhibited collaboration in construction. Newforma’s ‘Connector’ strategy seeks to break them down. I recently wrote (16 August: Newforma now playing cloud catch-up?) about Newforma’s Cloud Services initiative, which has seen the vendor expand its extranet-type capabilities, complementing its original core on-premise, behind-the-firewall application. I spoke last Thursday to Newforma CEO …
Tag: construction collaboration technology
Permanent link to this article: https://extranetevolution.com/2016/09/newforma-gets-connected/
Aug 05 2016
Oracle building its construction offering
A Construction Index news story today about the Bank of England’s decision yesterday to reduce the central bank interest rate to 0.25% highlighted once again the UK construction industry’s poor record on prompt payment. It quotes the National Federation of Builders’s chief executive Richard Beresford: “The construction industry has the worst payment record of any …
Permanent link to this article: https://extranetevolution.com/2016/08/oracle-building-its-construction-offering/
Jul 28 2016
Secure SaaS without passwords, via Secure Cloudlink
UK-based startup Secure Cloudlink (headquartered in Leatherhead, Surrey) has a unique and US-patented product that eliminates the use of passwords and is designed to secure cloud / SaaS applications. With Secure Cloudlink, each user is uniquely identified and authenticated, but as no user credentials are stored or replicated behind the scenes the risks of security breaches due …
Permanent link to this article: https://extranetevolution.com/2016/07/secure-saas-without-passwords-via-secure-cloudlink/
Jul 21 2016
Union Square acquired by Deltek
In an echo of an earlier US/UK acquisition in the construction IT space, ERP vendor Deltek has acquired UK project management software vendor Union Square. Mostly, ExtranetEvolution focuses on Software-as-a-Service solutions and related applications in the architecture, engineering and construction sector. However, I do keep an eye on vendors whose software solutions occasionally either compete …
Permanent link to this article: https://extranetevolution.com/2016/07/union-square-acquired-by-deltek/
Jul 15 2016
Collaboration, BIM and FM
Last week’s ThinkBIM conference focused on the transition of data from construction to facilities management. FM is getting more involved with BIM from the earliest stages of a project, and will collaborate more frequently during project delivery. The latest ThinkBIM half-day conference (on 6 July at Squire Patton Boggs’ new offices in Leeds, and sponsored …
Permanent link to this article: https://extranetevolution.com/2016/07/collaboration-bim-and-fm/
Jun 21 2016
TIM: The Inspection Manager
Almost since we first started to use mobile phones on construction sites, we have sought to use them to manage defects and conduct inspections (I was at BIW, later Conject, when it launched its Windows app in 2006). As a result, over the past 10 years, and particularly since the 2007 advent of the iPhone and …
Permanent link to this article: https://extranetevolution.com/2016/06/tim-the-inspection-manager/
Jun 20 2016
think project! acquires Austrian sales partner
Almost exactly three months after Aconex acquired the Germany-based Conject business (post), the latter’s near-neighbour in Munich, think project!, has acquired 70% of its Austrian sales partner i-pm GmbH. Founded in 2004 and solely marketing think project!’s SaaS-based construction collaboration across Austria, i-pm will shortly rebrand to become think project! Österreich (Austria). MD Michael Jug …
Permanent link to this article: https://extranetevolution.com/2016/06/think-project-acquires-austrian-sales-partner/
May 26 2016
Viewpoint 2016 UK customer summit
Viewpoint Construction Software‘s 2016 UK customer summit reconvened at London’s Grange Tower Bridge Hotel again this week, and, with more delegates (c. 150) from more companies (55) than last year, now looks to be outgrowing the venue. For many of those attending the two-day event, it was a first opportunity to hear from Manolis Kotzabasakis …
Permanent link to this article: https://extranetevolution.com/2016/05/viewpoint-2016-uk-customer-summit/
May 19 2016
GamePlan’s aim: ‘lean’ collaboration
Nothing to do with computer gaming, GamePlan is a US start-up exploring both lean construction and BIM-based collaboration. In devising its product, US-based startup GamePlan (headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware) has consciously tried not to copy existing SaaS construction software providers’ approach to collaboration. While its core platform offers many of the same features, its philosophy has been strongly guided …
Permanent link to this article: https://extranetevolution.com/2016/05/gameplans-aim-lean-collaboration/
May 04 2016
Viewpoint restructured and growing
Viewpoint CEO Manolis Kotzabasakis says construction needs to change, and believes his company is well-placed to lead industry adoption of SaaS-based ‘field to back office information on the go’. Following Aconex’s recent acquisition of SaaS construction collaboration rival Conject, there was – as usual – some debate about the implications of the deal for other vendors …
Permanent link to this article: https://extranetevolution.com/2016/05/viewpoint-restructured-and-growing/











