July 2004

Welcome to BuildSite Connections, our e-newsletter that presents news of our company, customer success stories and useful tips for getting the most out of BuildSite.

 

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National Firms Sign On to BuildSite

During the first half of 2004, BuildSite added enterprise customers from the US construction industry at a steady clip.  Two recent subscribers represent national firms who are using our fast, single-source solution to improve the productivity, efficiency and accuracy of their branch offices and to benefit from BuildSite’s knowledge-sharing capabilities.

• Three network dealers of USG  (United States Gypsum), the leading manufacturer of materials for interior construction, recently came on board as BuildSite users:  CalPly and Pinnacle in California, and Livonia Building Materials in Michigan.

• Tecta America, the nationwide roofing company formed by bringing together strong and progressive roofing companies across the nation, has subscribed to BuildSite for its member companies, which are recognized leaders in their markets. In aggregate, Tecta, which has 13 member companies, is the third largest roofing contractor in the US.

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Customers Build Success

Time and again, customers like you tell us how BuildSite has improved their day-to-day business operations.  One of the most consistent, enthusiastic messages we get is about how much time BuildSite saves during the submittal process.

 

• A concrete contractor in New York gave us an example of a technically challenging project.  “In the past, when we worked on a complex project, our project engineer would spend more than 10 hours preparing a submittal,” explains our customer.  “Now, with BuildSite, that same work only takes two hours. This is an great time saver and a big improvement in efficiency and productivity.”

 

• A roofing contractor in Phoenix uses our MSDS and our “Or Equal” finder on every project. “The fingertip availability of the stuff we need is fantastic,” he says. “I’m really impressed that even some of the oddball stuff we need for submittals is there.” This customer is also relieved that the information is always available; it’s never lost or misplaced. “I can’t tell you how frustrated I used to get when I’d go to a big binder for something and the page I needed was torn out. Someone else had obviously needed the information quickly and grabbed it, and that was the end of that.  Now, I just type and click and I’m done, sometimes in seconds!”

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BuildSite and Primavera Announce Partnership During the second quarter, one exciting development for us was the strategic partnership we formed with Primavera Systems, Inc. as part of the Primavera Authorized Partner Program. Primavera is the premier provider of project control and scheduling systems for the construction industry. This partnership will --- for the first time --- enable contractors to automate the construction submittal process within the larger context of project scheduling and control.

BuildSite provides a simple, fast way for contractors to generate comprehensive product submittals in electronic form and perfectly complements the document control and collaboration features offered in Primavera Expedition.

“Together, BuildSite and Primavera Expedition will offer an easy-to-use solution that reduces the labor-and-paper intensive submittal processes that contractors deal with daily,” said Ned Trainor, CEO and president of BuildSite.

Contractors using BuildSite with Primavera’s Expedition can easily generate electronic submittals and integrate those they receive from subcontractors and suppliers. The collaboration features in Expedition can then make submittals available to architects and engineers for review and approval, electronically.
 

 

 

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User Tips 

Substitutions

Did the architect specify a product that you don’t like or isn’t in stock?  Want to easily find an alternate product that will meet the specification and not take hours to find it?

 

Use BuildSite to quickly and easily find substitute products that meet the spec in minutes.  Here’s how:

 

1.  Find the specified product using BuildSite product or manufacturer search tools.

2.  Once the specified product is displayed, click on either the ASTM number or the MasterFormat link. (Both of these are in blue on the right side of your screen.)

3.  Alternate products will appear based on the specification information that you’ve chosen.

4.  Choose the product that best meets your needs and fits the spec; these products can now be emailed, faxed and/or added to a submittal!

 

With BuildSite, it’s easy and fast to sort through thousands of documents to pinpoint exactly what you’re looking for. In seconds, you’ll find the product and technical information you need to do your job.

 

• For Contractors, this means less time trying to track down substitute products in binders or stand-alone websites.  Now you can spend more time on the jobsite.

 

• For Distributors, this means increasing sales by selling what you have in stock.  No need to special order materials when you can make the sale and deliver what you have today.

New Staff Members

BuildSite’s continuing success is due to the talented people who work with us. During the first half of 2004, we added the following people to our team:

Jonathan Bay, our sales representative in Southern California, joined BuildSite from W.R. Grace.  He has 10 years of architectural specification sales experience, primarily in waterproofing. (jbay@buildsite.com)

Sharon Haney joined our Oakland office as Sales Support Manager, bringing with her 19 years of experience in the financial services industry, most recently as client service manager at Mellon Capital. (shaney@buildsite.com)

Barbara Barza has more than 20 years of experience in product management and marketing for technology-based companies.  She is working with us in our Oakland office to manage the rollout of BuildSite with Primavera Expedition.  (bbarza@buildsite.com)

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