Technology Across the Globe
April 07, 2009
While the United States hopes to see a boost in nonresidential construction activity from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, construction markets in other countries are also doing what they can to withstand the global economic decline. Just across the border, for example, the Canadian construction market is seeing a slight upturn.
According to Statistics Canada, www.statcan.gc.ca, Ottawa, Ont., the total nonresidential building construction investment in Canada rose 1.3% from the third quarter of 2008 to the fourth quarter of 2008. It also increased 7.8% from the fourth quarter of 2007 to the fourth quarter of 2008.
While the Canadian construction market is still feeling the effects of the global downturn, the investment in nonresidential construction might prompt some contractors to consider technology to integrate business processes. And with vendors releasing software with new features for the Canadian market, it might be a good time to look to technology.
Near the end of last year, Viewpoint Construction Software, www.viewpointcs.com, Portland, Ore., announced it was releasing its Viewpoint V6 Software with full Canadian functionality. Specific features for the Canadian market include calculation for goods and services tax and provincial sales tax, payroll tax calculations, international date formatting, and cultural labeling.
Boszko and Verity, www.boszkoandverity.com, Toronto, Ont., a high-end commercial interiors contractor, is the latest contractor to implement Viewpoint V6 Software for accounting and operations in this market.
The construction firm was looking to integrate these processes to improve productivity and track revenue and expenses. With the Viewpoint V6 Software—construction enterprise software that provides a balance of Web and Windows applications on the Microsoft .NET platform—Boszko and Verity is able to share information across all departments.
“We found that Viewpoint software provides the efficiency necessary for our growing company,” says Mike Verity, principal and cofounder, Boszko and Verity. “Viewpoint delivers company-wide cost-accounting and project-management integration to streamline our operations and increase profitability.”
This is a growing trend among many technology providers—offering expanded features for construction markets across the globe.
Bentley Systems, www.bentley.com, Exton, Pa., recently announced the release of its Energy Performance Series—with versions available for both the U.S. and Canadian markets. This technology has been used in the U.K. market for the design and construction of “green” buildings, and now the technology has been tailored to meet North America’s needs. For example, Bentley’s Energy Performance Series maximizes point accumulation for the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) program, which is led by the U.S. Green Building Council, www.usgbc.org, Washington, D.C. Also, the series uses a simulation engine based on the standard developed by the U.S. Dept. of Energy, www.doe.gov, Washington, D.C., as well as an independently developed engine.