2003 Technology's Hottest
As any software developer will tell you, creating new and exciting products every year that appeal to a wide range of customers can be extremely difficult. Technology vendors must be deeply in tune with their customer base in order to know what is regarded as important software features, and as a result, have a creative mind that can turn those needs and desires into innovative and effective products.
Construction companies have been keeping a steady pace of spending on software, dedicating 16.7% of their information-technology operating budget toward software last year, according to a recent study by Gartner, Stamford, Conn. That percentage is expected to increase this year by about 1%. However, due to the sluggish economy, companies have become more cautious and selective when it comes to evaluating the software they do purchase.
Because of this attitude vendors have had to buckle down and go back to the drawing board to develop software packages that will not only be stable for years to come, but also bring more productivity, efficiency, and cost savings to the construction process. At the same time, they have had to be more innovative with new technological ideas, and still bring a useful and deliverable product to the table.
Luckily, there are a select few construction software vendors that have been able to be very successful in delivering solutions and technology that hits the mark for customers. What is even more impressive is that the vendors Constructech recognizes on the pages that follow have introduced new technology despite the unrelenting economy.
The Constructech Technology’s Hottest award highlights the best of the best among vendors today that have not only demonstrated solid revenue growth, but have also landed some very impressive customers along the way. Chosen by a majority vote of the Constructech editors, it is clear that these companies have accomplished everything it takes to meet their customers’ needs and wants with regard to technology and innovation. Alongside the 14 hottest companies, the editors also identified five up and coming companies, (these are companies less than two years old) and three companies to watch.
Without question, these “hot” technology vendors are setting the standard for what is to be the software norm now and in the future. Understanding the needs of construction professionals has helped these companies forge new strategies that are resulting in increased profits. In fact, it is this knowledge that has enabled these select few to prosper in a very challenging and highly competitive marketplace. It is clear that the companies on the following pages are already well ahead of the competition, leaving nothing but smoke in their paths.
The Bare Essentials
It is not surprising then that all of the companies honored in this issue have been able to take the most basic needs of the construction industry and turn them into something that is technologically advanced, yet easy to use and efficient at the same time. The companies that have been selected have developed effective tools in the areas of project management, estimating, bidding, scheduling, mobile devices, home automation, and accounting, just to name a few.
These vendors recognize what it takes to meet and exceed customers’ expectations, even in a tight economy. Project-management software, for example, rates extremely high on a construction company’s priority list when it comes to investing in technology. Of the slightly more than 100 construction firms polled in Constructech’s 2003 National Construction Technology Survey, a resounding 86% consider project-management software as significantly important. Meridian was rated as the best vendor in the survey for project management (25.3%), while Primavera came in second (13.8%). In relation to this, almost half of the respondents, 48.2%, say that electronic document management is also highly important to them.
Not surprisingly, estimating, scheduling, and bidding software were also rated as products that are very important, with 71.3%, 78.7%, and 83.4% responding, respectively. Timberline was chosen as the best software package for estimating and bidding (29.5%), while more than half chose Primavera as the best for scheduling (58.1%). Survey respondents rated all of the software based on ease-of-use, documentation, price, service and support, features and functions, vendors’ reputation, compatibility with other software, scalability, and training.
Although there are plenty of software packages in the market that perform these tasks, only these particular hot companies have developed them from the ground up by customizing them for specific customer needs. Not only that, but many of these hot companies are using Web-based services to deliver this information in realtime so everyone on the project, including clients, know what is happening during the lifecycle of a job.
Knowledgebase
One of the newest trends to develop today is knowledgebase software, and a couple of the hot companies featured here have been able to grasp this technology and make it work for their customers. A knowledgebase is a smart database that captures data and learns about projects and processes as it is used. In addition to storing and retrieving information, a knowledgebase learns the conditions and attributes that apply to information.
Knowledgebase software is especially useful in program management, which differs from project management in that it coordinates the management of standards and methods applied across a portfolio of projects, as opposed to a specific project where each project is a self-contained island of information.
Although only a small portion of these companies made our Technology’s Hottest list, the benefits of knowledgebase software are clear to many construction professionals, especially facility managers. Companies like Cyntergy Technology, Tulsa, Okla., and Corrigo, Redwood City, Calif., have experienced revenues that have doubled over the past two years, clearly demonstrating the demand for this innovative software that learns as it builds.
Mobile Devices
People outside of the construction community may not realize how important mobile devices have become to the construction field, but more and more mobile and cellular developers, especially companies like Nextel, Reston, Va., are going beyond the cell phone and making devices that are more construction specific.
Two-ways, or walkie-talkie phones, are still rather popular among construction professionals, especially for those working in the field. But these hot mobile developers, like ThinkShare, Seattle, Wash., are taking their mobile devices a step further, allowing the devices to include applications that offer paperless time sheets, job completion updates, permit requirements, and much more to meet the demanding needs of the construction professional.
Mobile developers are also realizing the benefits of these added features. Analysts from Gartner Dataquest, Stamford, Conn., noted that in the fourth quarter 2002 mobile operator connection growth came in well above industry expectations in almost every region of the world, helping to drive fourth quarter sales up almost 15%.
“Consumers embraced a variety of innovative handsets, especially those with color screens, rather than delaying replacement purchases because of an ongoing lack of compelling mobile data services,” says Bryan Prohm, senior analyst with the Mobile Communications Worldwide research group for Gartner Dataquest. “This is an encouraging trend because as carriers and manufacturers determine how to better align devices with applications and services, the market may again prove stronger than expected in 2003.”
Home Automation
Not all of the companies showcased on these pages dabble in construction specific software. Two of Constructech’s hottest companies, ELAN Home Systems, Lexington, Ky., and Home Automation Inc. (HAI), New Orleans, La., deal in home automation products, the most popular features among homebuilders and homebuyers alike in the marketplace today.
A recent study put out by the Consumer Electronics Assn. (CEA), Arlington, Va., and the National Assn. of Home Builders Research Center (NAHBRC), Washington, D.C., entitled “The State of the Builder Technology Market,” confirms what many in the homebuilding industry already know—that consumer technologies for the home, such as high-definition television, broadband, home networking, and automated lighting, are a growing trend. In fact, builders say that home technologies are an impressive 71% more important now than they were just two years ago. There is little wonder why, as almost half of builders that offer home technologies report increased revenues.
Home technologies such as home theater, multiroom audio and video, and monitored security represent potential cash cows for builders that were surveyed for the study. More than half of the builders surveyed indicate that home theater increases their profit potential, while another 47% say the same about multiroom audio. Builders also realize that buyers’ concerns over home safety could be translated into dollars. More than 30% saw the profit possibilities of monitored home security systems and 62% already offer it in their new homes.
Both of the automation companies featured here not only offer state-of-the-art home theater and audio products for consumers, but also automated security and temperature controls. Several new and upgraded products are released from these companies every year, and their revenues have seen dramatic increases as well—proven evidence that home automation is the wave of the future.
More Technology to Come
The future continues to look bright, especially with some of the up-and-coming companies featured on the following pages. New and innovative technologies are constantly emerging, and will continue to do so just as long as vendors listen to their customers and understand what will make the industry easier and more efficient.
Many construction professionals are planning to increase their IT spending in 2003 as compared to what they spent in 2002, according to several respondents to last month’s Constructech 150 (+1) list, made up of the leading technology-spending construction companies. Due to this, construction software vendors must keep up with the heavy demand for new products. Since worldwide end-user spending on software is expected to reach
$76.1 billion this year, reports Gartner, a 3.5% increase from 2002 spending, keeping up may be difficult.
“Despite the backlog of pent-up demand, vendors will continue to deal with a new extended sales cycle, resulting in more pressure on margins,” says Joanne Corria, vice president for Gartner Dataquest’s Software Industry Research group.
The vendors that are highlighted on the pages that follow have already proven they are driven, creative, and effective. These are the companies that are coming up with creative solutions that meet and exceed customer demands. Read how only a handful of companies are leaving their competitors in the dust.
Hottest Companies
Cheetah Advanced Technologies
Fort Collins, Colo.
www.cheetahware.com
Cheetah Advanced Technologies, Fort Collins, Colo., develops its software to specifically meet the needs of heavy/highway contractors. The StreetSmarts Advantage software modules, for example, make it possible to manage every aspect of a heavy construction business, like equipment and inventory tracking, unit cost information, and fleet management. To prove its success, the company was named one of Colorado’s Fastest Growing Technology Companies in the Deloitte and Touch “Technology Fast 50” program last year. With customers like McAninch Corp., West Des Moines, Iowa, Cheetah has been able to build a cumulative growth rate of 189% from 1997 to 2002.
Corrigo Inc.
Redwood City, Calif.
www.corrigo.com
Contractors make customer service a part of their business routine on a daily basis, and Corrigo, Redwood City, Calif., has created a way to help them manage this. It has developed a knowledgebase asset management system that is able to understand each contractor’s customers’ assets, asset histories, and resolutions to issues that arise with those assets. Corrigo has been able to grow its customer base from 35 to 101 in 2002, securing such clients as Centex Homes, Dallas, Texas, and J.A. Jones, Charlotte, N.C. Corrigo has also doubled its revenue over the past two years, and foresees the same for this year.
Deltek Systems Inc.
Herndon, Va.
www.deltek.com
Usually a flat economy causes businesses to rethink their strategies and cut back on new developments and costs. This is not the case, however, for Deltek Systems, Herndon, Va. In fact, the company’s investment in product development this past year exceeded 24% of its revenue for that year. Also, unlike many of its competitors, Deltek’s revenue increased $93.7 million, and product development expenditures increased by 14% to $22.5 million.
One of the latest accomplishments for Deltek is its CRM & Proposal software application, which is a client-relationship management application that integrates proposal generation automation with client-relationship management in a way that allows construction firms to produce high-quality proposals, thereby winning a greater number of contracts. Deltek also spent more than two years of R&D making this system Web-based so customers can access information any time and anywhere.
As most of the industry knows, construction is highly competitive, and the ability to win contracts is simply based on providing the lowest bid. Realizing this point, Deltek has been able to win such customers as Centex Construction, Dallas, Texas; Barton-Malow, Souhtfield, Mich.; and McCarthy Building Co., Tempe, Ariz. All of these clients insist the new application enables them to keep track of client information, which in turn allows them to generate better proposals. In fact, McCarthy Building Co. has actually used CRM & Proposals to replace 15 disparate systems that it had been using to track project, employee, opportunity, and client and contact information. Now its information is in Deltek’s centralized database, where McCarthy has full access to comprehensive knowledge about its clients, the clients’ contacts, and which offices have worked on what projects.
ELAN Home Systems
Lexington, Ky.
www.elanhomesystems.com
Studies have shown that homebuilders report increased profits when they incorporate home entertainment systems into their new homes and that means increased success for companies like ELAN Home Systems, Lexington, Ky. ELAN Home Systems integrates music, intercom, and television distribution features that use the homeowners’ stereos, televisions, and telephones to create whole-house entertainment automation. In 2001 and 2002, ELAN introduced more than 15 new products, including eight in the last four months. The company just saw a 15% growth year and is positioned well for 2003 with a large order backlog for the new products.
Geac AEC Business Solutions
Tampa, Fla.
www.aec.geac.com
Some contractors have had trouble finding a software package that is specifically tailored to the construction industry. However, this is not the case with Geac AEC Business Solutions, Tampa, Fla. The reason that this company is so hot is because of its ability to develop software applications that pertain to the construction process, while fully integrating contractors’ most important needs in software.
Last year, Geac focused much of its attention on its customers and the way they are using the integration features that Geac offers for job cost accounting, project management, and estimating. Geac’s systems are truly integrated, and Geac has always worked closely with customers to make sure they are getting the most out of these systems. For example, by working with Geac, one general contractor gained four productive days each month, trimmed its staff, tripled its volume, and reduced work hours required to answer field inquiries.
Customers such as VCC, Little Rock, Ark.; Miller Bonded, Albuquerque, N.M.; Construction Network Inc., Jonesboro, Ark.; and E.M. Rose Builders, Branford, Conn., have all been able to streamline their construction projects and save time and money by fully utilizing these integrated features. Due to this dedication to their client base, Geac was able to secure another recent customer win: Desarrollos Metropolis, San Juan, Puerto Rico, the second largest construction company in Puerto Rico, with $500 million in contracts that are in progress.
Hard Dollar
Tempe, Ariz.
www.harddollar.com
If there is one company that understands the needs of its customers, it’s Hard Dollar, Tempe, Ariz. Maybe that’s because the company’s management team has 200 years of collective experience in infrastructure construction, as well as the ability to design systems based on customers’ needs.
One of the most important needs among construction professionals is the ability to integrate such systems as estimating and construction management software. Hard Dollar has been able to meet this demand, especially with the release of its BID*BUILD software, which offers bidding, estimating, and construction management in one package. Ease of use coupled with feature-rich systems is also a high priority for contractors, which is why Hard Dollar has formed a strategic partnership with Microsoft to implement .Net technology into the BID*BUILD system. Now customers can quickly access information, as well as customize it to their particular needs in a flexible software environment.
Hard Dollar has secured such customers as Blois Construction, Oxnard, Calif., and Civil Constructors Inc., Franklin, Tenn., both of whom say that the BID*BUILD system has been one of the few software packages that allows them to bid and manage projects all at the same time. Hard Dollar’s revenues also echo this success. Although the company is private, it boasts increases of more than 28%.
Home Automation Inc. (HAI)
New Orleans, La.
www.homeauto.com
With more people staying home, homebuilders are trying to keep up with the customer demands for advanced home automation products. Home Automation Inc. (HAI), New Orleans, La., has developed its Omni line of touchscreens and Internet controlled security, HVAC, and lighting controls to meet this new trend. Homebuilders can now supply their new homes with communicating thermostats, consoles, water, temperature, and humidity sensors that can be installed in large, mid-range, and small homes and condos. Due in part to HAI’s impressive 38% growth in revenues from 2001 to 2002, Constructech judges unanimously chose HAI as one of this year’s hot technology companies.
IntuitMountain View, Calif.
www.intuit.com
Intuit, Mountain View, Calif., is one company that truly understands that you have to change your strategy if you want to continue to grow your customer base. With its QuickBooks Premier: Contractor Edition 2003, Intuit is able to help small contractors with 20 employees or less handle their accounting, job costing, and estimating. In order to meet an even larger customer base, Intuit acquired Master Builder in 2001 as part of its “Right for My Business” strategy. The new software helps larger construction firms manage their accounting. With this strategy, Intuit’s revenues for 2002 were $1.36 billion, up 18% from 2001.
Meridian Project Systems
Folsom, Calif.
www.mps.com
The use of project-management software is increasing across the construction industry, as building professionals demand more control over their projects. Meridian Project Systems, Folsom, Calif., has been standing ready with its vast family of project-management software that improves financial performance and reduces risk on large corporate real estate projects and other capital-intensive construction initiatives.
Marking its 10th anniversary, Meridian—which received a unanimous vote by the judges in the first annual Technology’s Hottest competition—continues to increase its revenues and its customer base even during a weakened economy. Over the past decade, Meridian has taken its Prolog system from a single product to a six-member product family. This year also marks the release of the company’s first enterprise business process management solution, Proliance, which is based on .NET and Web services targeting global enterprises procuring, constructing, and maintaining large real estate projects.
Over the years, Meridian has successfully moved from a single-market, single-product strategy to a multi-market, multi-product strategy. Its revenues are evidence of the success of this new approach. Meridian finished last year with a 10% increase over the previous year. ProjectTalk, the company’s project-management application service provider solution, increased revenues by 60%. In fact, Merdian has entered into an agreement with Turner Construction, New York, N.Y., to develop and operate a customized version of the project-management software, which will be called TurnerTalk.com.
Nextel Communications Inc.
Reston, Va.
www.nextel.com
If you thought that Nextel, Reston, Va., just produced cellular phones, then think again. This company has developed a new-found focus on the construction industry, developing ruggedized phones that do a lot more than just send voice communications.
Keeping a job on schedule has more to do with the number of sunny days in a given month—contractors also have to make sure that orders are delivered on time, hours are billed quickly and correctly, and seamless communication between the jobsite and the main office occurs. Nextel’s Direct Connect two-way walkie talkie phones and the Nextel Blackberry devices not only offer contractors instant communication between team members, but also the ability to offer paperless time sheets, job completion updates, permit requirements, dispatch, and routing support to increase efficiency. Construction companies like Rion Homes, Cornelius, N.C., and KB Home, Los Angeles, Calif., have already realized the benefits of these features.
By all measures, 2002 was an extremely good year for the company. Not only did Nextel accomplish its goal to gain more than 1.9 million new subscribers, but it also generated at least $3.1 billion in operating cash flow and reduced capital expenditures by more than 20% the previous year to under $1.9 billion. In addition, Nextel has improved its balance sheet by reducing debt and achieved positive net income.
Primavera Systems
Bala Cynwyd, Pa.
www.primavera.com
During its 20-year history, Primavera Systems, Bala Cynwyd, Pa., has become an industry leader. In fact, Primavera’s technology has become a standard for hundreds of construction companies. This is not surprising since the company’s solutions are implemented in each of its customers’ business in a customized case-by-case basis, according to project-specific or company-specific needs.
One of Primavera’s biggest customer wins last year was the U.S. Navy’s Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), Washington, D.C. NAVFAC is standardizing on Primavera’s PrimeContract software for the planning, design, and construction of facilities worldwide. This Web-based project-collaboration application will be used on about 11,000 projects, with more than 10,000 users from 93 NAVFAC field offices. This will make NAVFAC the largest PrimeContract customer.
Alongside of securing an impressive list of customer wins last year, 2002 marked the unveiling of Primavera P3e/c for Construction, a scheduling tool for the construction industry. P3e/c simplifies integration, especially with its own Expedition project-management software, enhances collaboration, and can support teams on a single project or across a complex program.
Primavera has also been the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions last year, including the 2002 Omega NorthFace ScoreBoardSM Award for Excellence in Customer Service and Satisfaction, and the 2002 AACE Award of Merit given to Primavera’s CEO Joel Koppelman. Also, the Associated General Contractors (AGC), Washington, D.C., currently recommends PrimeContract as the best Web-based collaboration tool for general contractors. From 1999 to 2002, Primavera had a compound annual growth rate of 6%.
Shaker Computer & Management Services
Latham, N.Y.
www.shakercomputer.com
Apparently, experience does equal success. Shaker Computer & Management Services, Latham, N.Y, a 24-year-old company, is not only consistently coming up with new software ideas, like its latest, COINS Ti, an integrated, Internet-enabled accounting, job cost, procurement, human resources, equipment management, and service management application, but it also offers a client audit and consulting services for its customers. From the client audits, Shaker identifies and delivers system improvements. Some recent customer wins include New England Mechanical Services, Vernon, Conn., and SpawGlass Construction Corp., Austin, Texas.
Tririga LLC
Las Vegas, Nev.
www.tririga.com
Finding strategic and innovative ways to grow its business is one of the reasons that makes Tririga, Las Vegas, Nev., hot. The company spent most of 2002 working on the acquisition of Peregrine Systems’ FacilityCenter product suite, which helped Tririga extend its facility management initiative to add new capabilities to its existing Intelligent Business System (IBS) technology platform. Tririga signed the Environmental Protection Agency and the Archdiocese of Chicago as new customers, as well as experienced explosive growth since the launch of the new product with revenues increasing 796% in 2002.
WennSoft Inc.
New Berlin, Wis.
www.wennsoft.com
WennSoft, New Berlin, Wis., is a company that knows its customers. This is what makes the company and its technology so hot. What’s even more impressive is that all of its software is designed strictly based on customer feedback. In fact, making sure that it exceeds its customers’ needs is a critical aspect of the WennSoft mission.
Specializing in integrated software for job costing and service management, WennSoft has experienced a steady 15-20% growth during the past five years. Last year, WennSoft was busy concentrating on upgrading its two flagship products: the Job Cost software, which now features a master subcontractor function that defines the subcontractor relationship at a vendor level rather than a job level; and the Service Management Series to include an option to create a message to notify users of a recent service. WennSoft also came out with a new product last year, the MobileTEC mobile computing solution, which keeps contractors in touch with their field service staff.
WennSoft prides itself on the fact that all of its products are designed to integrate together without any customizations or delays. Also, the WennSoft family of products helps its clients keep track of their own customers. Due to this ability, WennSoft has been able to win over such visionaries as the Culliton Brothers, Stratford, Ont.; Dual Temp, Allentown, Pa.; and Egan Service, Minneapolis, Minn.
Up and coming
ProjectVillage
Maumee, Ohio
www.projectvillage.com
Usually when construction companies develop their own in-house systems to help run and manage their business and projects, they tend to keep it a secret. That certainly wasn’t the case for Bostleman Corp., Maumee, Ohio, a commercial construction company and real estate developer. Bostleman took the bold step and decided to share its in-house system, called ProjectVillage, with the entire construction community. Now ProjectVillage, also of Maumee, Ohio, has branched off as a separate software entity.
The Web-based project-management application allows a variety of project team members to store, organize, share, and analyze project information. To enhance this system, ProjectVillage released its plan-room product last year, which features complete integration with the project-management system. Unlike standalone plan rooms, the company is not introducing yet another departmental, niche application to organizations. Instead, the project-management and plan room products are designed to allow project information to flow seamlessly from the pre-bid phase to the construction phase.
With the help of some new customer wins last year, ProjectVillage was able to increase its revenues from 17% in the last quarter of 2002 to 35% in the first quarter of this year. Tuttle Construction, Lima, Ohio, was the biggest customer win for the company, since it is the leading general contractor in that region.
Starta Development Inc.
Raleigh, N.C.
www.startadevelopment.com
Starta Development, Raleigh, N.C., has developed a suite of hosted Internet services that help to boost productivity, lower costs, and enhance collaboration specifically targeting affordable housing developments. With Starta’s document management, bidding, and development-management solutions, the company has remained stable in its first year, and plans to increase revenue this year. Starta hopes to unveil some new products this year to improve communications between developers and contractors.
ThinkShare Corp.
Seattle, Wash.
www.thinkshare.com
Wireless is becoming more popular in the construction industry, and ThinkShare, Seattle, Wash., is on its way to meeting this growing demand. The company’s Field Data Manager is a rugged handheld device specifically designed to help construction supervisors gather information in the field and automatically transfer that data to their company’s back-end office systems. Customers like Builders Group, New York, N.Y., and Staker and Parson Cos., Ogden, Utah, have helped the company explode its revenues with a 2,600% growth in 2002, and a 680% projected growth for 2003.
Time Saver Technologies
Pflugerville, Texas
www.timesavertech.com
Project scheduling software is mainly used as an historical reference of where a project has been, as opposed to where the project is heading. Time Saver Technologies, Pflugerville, Texas, an up and coming company, realizes this issue and has centered its entire family of products on it.
Time Saver has developed a schedule-management program that transforms a construction project’s computerized schedule into a planning tool used by the entire project team to manage the project’s completion date. Most construction companies that utilize computerized project scheduling have not implemented a way to use the schedule to take control of when the project will be finished. Time Saver’s Project Assistant application has a weekly schedule and a daily schedule program. Superintendents can use the weekly schedule to plan and communicate the project activities for the next two weeks, whereas the daily schedule provides a link between the project schedule and the activities coordinated on the project site each day. Time Saver has made its application even easier, since the daily schedule application can be downloaded to a Pocket PC for easy handling on the jobsite.
Time Saver has also developed a training program that is focused on teaching its customers, no matter what their current scheduling or computer skills are, to utilize their project schedule to become more efficient and productive project team leaders.
Trelligence
Houston, Texas
www.trelligence.com
It’s not very common to see a project-management tool that is strictly targeted for the residential community. However, Trelligence, based in Houston, Texas, has realized the significance of such a software package, and more importantly, the need for communication between clients, builders, and the design team during a residential building project, taking the process to a whole new level.
The first product from the company, Affinity for Residential, intelligently captures project/client requirements and details, tracks modifications, and reports real time discrepancies between project specifications and actual design. The original version of Affinity was initially released in October 2002, and by January 2003 Trelligence already released a second version. In addition, the company teamed up with Cadsoft, Guelph, Ont., to produce the latest product called Cadsoft Affinity for Residential. This software product reduces the conceptual design stage of a project by capturing client requirements, tracking project details and modifications, and validating the design process prior to CAD output.
Since Trelligence released its latest version of Affinity earlier this year, the company’s revenues have increased 300% between the first and second quarter of 2003. Recent customer wins like Design Tech Homes, Houston, Texas, and Louis Green Construction, Winthrop, Wash., have been fueling this success.
Companies to watch
Corecon Technologies Inc.
Huntington Beach, Calif.
www.corecon.com
In order to reflect its main focus on its flagship product, the Corecon Application Suite, Corecon Technologies, Huntington Beach, Calif., went so far as actually changing its name from WendlWare in mid-2002. The result has been better sales and product integrations for this company, and one to definitely watch in the coming months.
With the third release of the Corecon Application Suite, which integrates project management with the estimating process, the company’s annual growth immediately grew by 200%. In 2002, Corecon grew to an installed base of 750, with a concentration of customers in California and Florida. Some of these wins include the California Dept. of Transportation, Friedrich Watkins Co., Orlando, Fla. (the general contractor for Disney and Sea World), and the Armed Forces Reserve Center, Los Alamitos, Calif. In the beginning of this year, Corecon added 20 more resellers to its national network, and it forecasts sales of more than a $1 million.
The newest release of the Corecon product allows the project-management feature to distribute the estimating information into contracts, change orders, and purchase orders. It also has the ability to integrate with QuickBooks, Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Project. Corecon has been able to extend the sales of this product to all 50 states in the U.S., as well as in Europe, Canada, South America, the Middle East, and Australia.
Cyntergy Technology LLC
Tulsa, Okla.
www.thumbprintcpm.com
Even though Cyntergy Technology, Tulsa, Okla., has developed a brand new product that centers on an entirely new concept, this company has had little difficulty in getting noticed. The company experienced 700% revenue growth last year, as well as secured some major influential customers, making it a company to watch.
Thumbprint CPM, from Cyntergy Technology, is one of the first collaborative program-management software packages with the power of a learning knowledgebase. Cyntergy Technology has had to teach customers that this knowledgebase “learns as it builds,” which means it captures project and process information and then shares that information across a program. Corporate owners, construction-related companies, and contractors have used Thumbprint CPM to learn about each individual project within a construction program as the job progresses, so that the knowledge can be applied across that entire program.
Wal-Mart, Bentonville, Ark., is one of Cyntergy Technology’s most significant customer wins this past year. Cyntergy Technology has also won various awards from its home state of Oklahoma, including the Oklahoma Invention Forum Most Promising New Business Award in 2002. Also, the Oklahoma Technology Development Corp., Oklahoma City, Okla., as part of the Technology Business Finance Program, presented the company with an award for technology growth initiatives.
WinEstimator
Kent, Wash.
www.winest.com
Finding the right estimating package that can track your day-to-day costs can be difficult; however, WinEstimator, Kent. Wash., has made the selection process a littler easier. For nearly a decade, WinEstimator has exceeded customer expectations by introducing and developing a family of estimating products that help customers reduce costs and increase profits.
Last year saw some busy activity for WinEstimator. The company released its WinEst Virtual Takeoff, a tightly integrated collaborative estimating software, which lets multiple estimators work on the same estimate simultaneously over a local area network or the Internet. The company had another significant product release in 2002 called the ConstructCALC, which offers contractors working in the field the ability to perform quick unit conversions and formula calculations from a handheld device.
In addition to WinEstimator’s numerous upgrades and product releases, the company’s partnerships also helped boost sales in 2002. The company recently partnered with Toshiba to offer a turnkey Toshiba Magnia Z310 network server preloaded with WinEst project estimating software. In addition, WinEstimator became a Certified Microsoft Business Partner to offer numerous Microsoft integrated business solutions into its product line.
Revenues for WinEstimtor continue to climb, increasing more than 13% from the previous year. The company has also been involved in some aggressive initiatives to grow its customer base and its customer satisfaction, by offering training, support, as well as investing in extensive research and development. Some recent customers that have joined the WinEstimator family are PMA Consultants, Ann Arbor, Mich., and Hatch Consulting and Engineering, Mississauga, Can.