Social networking style construction software is here - BuilditLive.

Modeled in part after sites such as FaceBook, BuilditLive makes it easy for construction professionals to manage all their projects from a single website. BuilditLive is organized by project and users can easily access critical information about each project (i.e. drawings, schedules, contacts) in a very intuitive environment. Using an internet browser, users login to BuilditLive and see each of their projects completely and similarly organized. Inviting additional participants to a project is simple and monthly pay-as-you-go pricing makes it extremely affordable and flexible.

Typically a general contractor is the ‘subscriber’ to BuilditLive, that is, they are the ones paying the monthly fee ($35 currently). The rest of the users on a project are free. Within about an hour, all critical drawings, specifications, and schedules have been uploaded to BuilditLive. The GC then invites all the parties involved to access the project information on BuilditLive using BuilditLive’s simple invitation process. Each user has their own self-managed profile. Users involved with more than one BuilditLive project can very easily move between projects to access information such as drawings, and communicate with participants specifically on a given project. No more need to rely on Windows Explorer to create folders to organize project information, BuilditLive organizes all the project data in a very intuitive format. In fact, it is so easy to use that 99% of users successfully use it without any training. Much like FaceBook, you don’t need training to use it, BuilditLive has been carefully designed to be easy to use.

Another blog about BuilditLive

Seems we are getting increased attention these days. Here is a recent blog post about BuilditLive.

http://www.constructionknowledge.net/phone-apps-blog/?p=75

BuilditLive versus the rest of the industry

Interesting blog discussing BuilditLive.

http://www.extranetevolution.com/extranet_evolution/2010/12/builditlivecom-targets-ipad-collaborators.html

Here is my reply to the original post:

As the President of BuilditLive, I'd only take exception to the comment that BuilditLive 'replicates and repeats' what some other solutions offer. Part of what makes us different is what we DON'T offer. We don't offer estimating functionality, we don't schedule projects, we don't manage time cards -- we are not project management software. All we do is construction document management. For small-to-medium AECs, it is this last mile of communication that is so broken today and where their core need lies. Today most of the industry relies on email to communicate thousands of ever-changing documents on a single project. We greatly reduce the reliance on email by centralizing documents and making them accessible 24x7 from any computer.

BuilditLive requires no installation of software, requires no training, and you pay as you go. For $35 per month per project you get unlimited users and 2GB of storage (2,000+ documents). Unlike some 'free' solutions, we plan to be around a long time and aren't reliant on advertising to generate revenue. And unlike some generic solutions, BuilditLive is designed just for construction. Users don't have to develop their own file structures and document organization - we've done all that.

We've made BuilditLive super intuitive to use. In fact, 99%+ of users never receive any training but use it successfully.

We've got customers signing up all around the world (which is easy since you pay with a credit card). And once we close our current round of capital raising we'll be expanding into to some very exciting areas.

I'd be glad to arrange an online demo for anyone. Just send me an email: marcus@builditlive.com

iPad Case for Construction - product review

We recently received a clipboard like case for the iPad. At first glance, the case looks like a 1.5 inch thick clipboard, with a sturdy 'clip' on top for attaching papers. Opening the clasp at the bottom reveals two compartments. The upper compartment is about 1/2 inch thick with room for paper up to 8.5 by 12.5 inches. The lower compartment is padded on all sides with soft foam with a cut-out for the iPad to fit into. With the lid closed the iPad sits securely in place, there is no slippage or movement of the iPad in any direction. There is also a compartment for holding pens, pencils, and/or other items.

This is a great case for anyone needing to bring an iPad onto a construction site.

For more information, please visit:

www.HardCaseForiPad.com


-----------------------------------------------------------

About us:

BuilditLive is construction management software, construction software, management construction software, construction project management software, available in the US, Canada, United Kingdom, South Africa, India, Israel, Mexico, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and internationally anywhere there is internet access and construction projects. BuilditLive is easy to use, very affordable, web based, or otherwise referred to as SaaS which is software as a service, which means you pay as you go. It is the best Plan Room we have seen, and so much more. It is much better than an FTP site that requires a construction firm to host and manage it. Again, BuilditLive is web based, construction management software, management construction software, construction project management software, construction software, and a plan room for construction. We also have an Apple approved iPad App called Mobile PlanRoom. Because it is web based there is no software for anyone to install, it is cloud computing for the construction industry. We provide mobile access to drawings via the Mobile PlanRoom App on the iPad. You can use your iPhone or Droid phone to browse to BuilditLive and thereby access drawings from even smaller devices. BuilditLive hosts drawings, blue prints, specifications, pictures, change orders, RFIs request for information, schedules, punch lists, work orders, and much more. It is an unmatched construction communication tool for contractors, architects, and engineers, as well as building owners and their property managers.

ENR reports on BuilditLive and advances in cloud computing for construction

There is an updated link to a story about BuilditLive in ENR magazine:



http://enr.construction.com/technology/information_technology/2010/0728-CloudsandiPads.asp


BuilditLive is construction management software, construction software, management construction software, construction project management software, available in the US, Canada, United Kingdom, South Africa, India, Israel, Mexico, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and internationally anywhere there is internet access and construction projects. BuilditLive is easy to use, very affordable, web based, or otherwise referred to as SaaS which is software as a service, which means you pay as you go. It is the best Plan Room we have seen, and so much more. It is much better than an FTP site that requires a construction firm to host and manage it. Again, BuilditLive is web based, construction management software, management construction software, construction project management software, construction software, and a plan room for construction. We also have an Apple approved iPad App called Mobile PlanRoom. Because it is web based there is no software for anyone to install, it is cloud computing for the construction industry. We provide mobile access to drawings via the Mobile PlanRoom App on the iPad. You can use your iPhone or Droid phone to browse to BuilditLive and thereby access drawings from even smaller devices. BuilditLive hosts drawings, blue prints, specifications, pictures, change orders, RFIs request for information, schedules, punch lists, work orders, and much more. It is an unmatched construction communication tool for contractors, architects, and engineers, as well as building owners and their property managers.

BuilditLive featured in ENR magazine

BuilditLive is featured today in ENR's online magazine with an article in print to follow shortly. Here is a link to the article.

http://enr.ecnext.com/coms2/article_teit100728CloudsandiPa

Below is some information about BuilditLive.

BuilditLive is construction management software, construction software, management construction software, construction project management software, available in the US, Canada, United Kingdom, South Africa, India, Israel, Mexico, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and internationally anywhere there is internet access and construction projects. BuilditLive is easy to use, very affordable, web based, or otherwise referred to as SaaS which is software as a service, which means you pay as you go. It is the best Plan Room we have seen, and so much more. It is much better than an FTP site that requires a construction firm to host and manage it. Again, BuilditLive is web based, construction management software, management construction software, construction project management software, construction software, and a plan room for construction. We also have an Apple approved iPad App called Mobile PlanRoom. Because it is web based there is no software for anyone to install, it is cloud computing for the construction industry. We provide mobile access to drawings via the Mobile PlanRoom App on the iPad. You can use your iPhone or Droid phone to browse to BuilditLive and thereby access drawings from even smaller devices. BuilditLive hosts drawings, blue prints, specifications, pictures, change orders, RFIs request for information, schedules, punch lists, work orders, and much more. It is an unmatched construction communication tool for contractors, architects, and engineers, as well as building owners and their property managers.

BuilditLive leading construction software move to the clouds

The Wall Street Journal today (7/13/10) had a big article about Microsoft and their partners and their initiatives to expand cloud computing.

"Cloud computing has grown in popularity because of the cost savings it offers companies, as well as the speed it promises to give them to develop applications and services." - Cheng and Borzo, WSJ.

BuilditLive.com is completely cloud based, with no software for users to install. BuilditLive makes it easy to contractors, architects, and engineers to collaborate on projects because all the participants, regardless of their operating system or hardware, can access BuilditLive from any internet browser. Any because BuilditLive relies on cloud infrastructure it can be offered for only $35 per month per project, not per user. That is an incredible savings over comparable but inferior applications costing $2000 per user per year.

BuilditLive is an effective communication tool, with much more to offer than construction industry FTP sites. Here is a link to the benefits over FTP sites: http://www.builditlive.com/Features/ReplacesFtpSites.aspx

Legacy software vendors are going to struggle mightily to compete with cloud based solution providers. BuilditLive is the future.