Products, Engineering Tech, Construction

OpenSpace Welcomes QBS Software to Partner Network, Widening Access to 360° Construction Site Capture Across Europe

OpenSpace Welcomes News
OpenSpace, the global leader in 360° jobsite capture and AI-powered analytics, shared that European software procurement platform QBS Software is joining its Partner Network. With more than 10,000 software publishers on its platform and expert customer service, QBS's reseller network will widen access to OpenSpace throughout the EMEA construction, banking, insurance, facilities management, and retail industries, improving onsite visibility and efficiency.

With OpenSpace Capture, builders or site managers can fully document their jobsite while walking the site as they normally would with a mobile device or an off-the-shelf, consumer 360° camera that can be attached to their hardhat. Once the video is uploaded to the cloud, OpenSpace's computer vision technology stitches images together and pins all the images to the floor plan, creating a trusted visual record of site status. Powered by the company's Vision Engine, the site image map is typically ready to view in about 15 minutes after upload. In a survey of OpenSpace's community and customers, it was found that on average 67% of customers reported saving thousands of dollars on project costs, while 74% saved multiple hours per week. Through this partnership, QBS will be able to expand its portfolio and enable its enterprise customers to benefit from these cost and time savings.

"Our focus is on providing innovative and top-of-the-line software that creates opportunities for our customers and partners. With OpenSpace we are able to bring an industry-leading solution in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) space, With OpenSpace, we're able to bring an industry-leading and easy-to-use solution that improves coordination and efficiency of builders, project managers, owners, contractors, and sub-contractors throughout a wide variety of industries."

-Dave Stevinson,CEO QBS Technology Group.

OpenSpace is used today on projects in 86 different countries around the world, and has seen growing momentum in the EMEA region recently, with a 300% year-over-year increase on-platform in 360° imagery capture. Regional customers include JLL, Skanska, VINCI, and Unispace, among others. With QBS joining the OpenSpace Partner Network, even more builders, owners, and property managers will have easy access to OpenSpace's site capture and analysis technology.

"Having worked with QBS Software for 20 years, I've experienced firsthand the amazing support that they provide to technology resellers, We are thrilled to be partnering with QBS to bring OpenSpace to any project, regardless of the industry, and believe that with the breadth of the QBS partner base, we'll be able to bring this technology across all EMEA."

-Andrea Brown Head of Channel and Partnerships OpenSpace.

By having a historical visual record of the site, OpenSpace makes it easier for projects to stay on budget and on time, as well as enabling smoother remote collaboration among stakeholders. OpenSpace's technology can also mitigate risk, as the 360° image captures serve as a time machine that can be used to go back and view historical site status. In terms of project analysis, OpenSpace offers automated progress tracking technology, which measures the percent of work completed for key pathways like walls, mechanical, electrical, and more. Customers can also use the platform to create 3D scans of certain areas onsite, using LiDAR-powered iPhones and iPads.

About OpenSpace:
Founded in 2017, OpenSpace is an AI technology company on a mission to bring new levels of transparency and efficiency to construction and real estate. With our platform, builders automatically capture a complete visual record of the construction site, providing a single source of truth that increases coordination, drives accountability, and simplifies dispute resolution. To date, our customers have used OpenSpace to capture more than ten billion square feet of imagery from active construction projects across thousands of sites in over eighty-six countries.

About QBS Technology Group:
Established in 1987, QBS Technology Group (including QBS Software) provides a platform for software companies and channel partners to increase efficiency and achieve growth. With a focus on innovative software – covering the enterprise, cloud, and consumer markets – QBS Technology Group combines experience, specialist skills, local presence and trusted relationships.

Spotlight

Other News
Engineering Tech

Atwell expands to Utah with acquisition of Summit Engineering Group

Business Wire | October 10, 2023

Atwell has acquired the operations of Summit Engineering Group, a civil engineering and land surveying firm headquartered in Heber City, Utah. This is Atwell’s first permanent office in Utah, adding to the company’s recent expansion in the western United States. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 2001 by Brian Balls and Michael Johnston, Summit offers a wide variety of professional and technical services throughout Utah. Their employees have a broad range of construction experience, utilizing design software and data reporting methods that help ensure accuracy, construction feasibility, efficiency, and low construction costs. “Atwell and Summit place a priority on getting it right the first time, which makes our services and company cultures an ideal fit,” said Brian Balls, Principal at Summit. “Similarly, both companies have strong reputations for expertise, experience, and responsiveness to their clients’ needs. The breadth of Atwell’s services will expand into Utah, providing greater opportunity for our clients.” “The team at Summit is focused on providing clients with the highest standards of quality, value, and service,” said Jeff French, Vice President of Real Estate and Land Development for Atwell. “We look forward to working with the Summit team and leveraging their decades of experience within their community. We’re very excited to expand our national reach by bringing Atwell into Utah to provide greater service options for our clients.” Atwell continues to expand its geographic footprint, service offerings, and capabilities through organic growth and strategic acquisitions. Summit is Atwell’s eighth acquisition over the past year. In the last two months, Atwell acquired Mead Gilman & Associates, a land surveying firm located in Woodinville, Washington, and Bay Engineering, a civil engineering, land surveying, and environmental services firm headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland. About Atwell Atwell, LLC is a national consulting, engineering, and construction services firm with more than 1,500 professionals located across the country. Creating innovative solutions for clients in industries such as real estate and land development, power and energy, oil and gas, and infrastructure and transportation, Atwell provides comprehensive turnkey services including land and right-of-way support, planning, landscape architecture, engineering, land surveying, environmental compliance and permitting, and project and program management.

Read More

Construction

HED Announces Strategic Partnership with Denver-based Larson Incitti Architects

PR Newswire | October 05, 2023

HED, a leading national architecture and engineering firm, is proud to announce a new strategic partnership with Denver-based Larson Incitti Architects. This formal partnership combines Larson Incitti Architects' staff with HED's national, award-winning integrated architecture and engineering team, significantly expanding Larson Incitti Architects' capabilities in education, religious and community design. Together, the firms will leverage community relationships to create new opportunities across multiple market sectors. Marking its 25-year anniversary of experience in the greater Denver area, the Larson Incitti Architects team has established trust among clients in the community and Pre-K-12 education sectors by consistently delivering excellence through collaborative design innovation and dedication to client service. HED is well positioned to build upon that tradition of excellence with expanded market sector expertise in housing, science, mission critical, workplace, healthcare, higher education, manufacturing and product development. HED offers the support of a national team of architects, planners, MEP and structural engineers, and design specialists in laboratory planning, experiential graphic design, and landscape architecture. "Our strategic partnership with Larson Incitti Architects is a great fit because of our shared commitment to create a positive impact for clients and the greater community," said Enrique Suarez, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, CO-CEO of HED. "We are pleased to formally announce our partnership and look forward to using our combined strength to explore new opportunities in the Denver area and deliver long-term success for our clients." HED is known for its aspirational company culture and innovative professional services, and collaborative approach to project teaming. As an inclusive and integrated practice, HED values diversity in perspectives, experiences, abilities, and expertise, and this reputation and culture fits neatly with Larson Incitti Architects values. An award-winning integrated firm of architects and engineers, HED has recently been honored with national recognition for its collaborative, innovative solutions and project leadership by the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) and the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC). "Larson Incitti Architects has always been dedicated to client service and committed to the Denver community, and since our founding, we've emphasized learning and collaboration in our company culture — values we share with HED," said Bruce Larson, AIA, Principal of Larson Incitti Architects. "Those shared values and commitments are strengthened by joining forces with a national team, and we look forward to working with HED to continue creating positive impact for our clients in Denver and the surrounding area." About HED At HED, great design is about thinking creatively to overcome challenges and improve real world outcomes. Our firm has a long history and reputation for excellence because we believe that all the facets of our design, from architecture, engineering, consulting, and planning, must create a positive impact for our clients, the community, and the world through responsive, innovative, and sustainable design solutions. This belief has allowed our firm to become one of the 200 largest design firms in the US, serving clients nationally in a broad range of market sectors including Healthcare, Higher Education, Mission Critical, Housing and Mixed-Use, Pre-K 12, Science, Manufacturing and New Product Development, Workplace, Community and Government

Read More

Markets

Construction Partners, Inc. Completes South Carolina Acquisition.

PR Newswire | October 03, 2023

Construction Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ: ROAD) ("CPI" or the "Company"), a vertically integrated civil infrastructure company specializing in the construction and maintenance of roadways across six southeastern states, today announced that it has acquired Hubbard Paving & Grading, Inc., headquartered in Walhalla, South Carolina. The acquisition adds one hot-mix asphalt plant and related construction operations to CPI's South Carolina platform company, King Asphalt, Inc., and will expand its service market in the Upstate region. Fred J. (Jule) Smith, III, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "The Upstate area of South Carolina continues to be one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing areas in the United States. We welcome the skilled team of professionals from Hubbard and look forward to serving the infrastructure needs of the greater Greenville metro area as a combined organization." About Construction Partners, Inc. Construction Partners, Inc. is a vertically integrated civil infrastructure company operating across six southeastern states. Supported by its hot-mix asphalt plants, aggregate facilities and liquid asphalt terminal, the company focuses on the construction, repair and maintenance of surface infrastructure. Publicly funded projects make up the majority of its business and include local and state roadways, interstate highways, airport runways and bridges. The company also performs private sector projects that include paving and sitework for office and industrial parks, shopping centers, local businesses and residential developments.

Read More

Construction

Billd and STACK Construction Technologies Announce Powerful Integration That Helps Contractors to Secure Working Capital and Increase Bid Volume

Newswire | September 12, 2023

Billd, a leading construction payment provider for commercial trade contractors, and STACK Construction Technologies, a pioneering construction software platform, enhanced their strategic partnership today in a way that will allow subcontractors to accelerate their growth like never before. Billd's financing solutions are now embedded in STACK's Takeoff and Estimating platform, allowing subcontractors to instantly access working capital during preconstruction. The new integration will empower subcontractors to increase bid volume, secure working capital, and strengthen supplier relationships, accelerating business growth without the financial constraints of the industry's broken payment chain. "We encourage all of our customers to think about working capital availability, and if necessary, financing costs, as early as possible," said Billd CEO and Founder, Chris Doyle. "This integration equips subcontractors to be proactive about project finances and bid, plan, and make promises to customers confidently, knowing that financial backing is readily available." Supply chain finance has been historically unfair to subcontractors, leaving them footing the bill for materials and labor far before they're paid for their work. Subcontractors wait twice as long as industry peers to be paid, averaging 74 days (almost two and a half months) after starting a project. By leveraging Billd Connect, Billd's suite of embedded financing apps, STACK will provide access to working capital solutions to their customers while they estimate the cost of upcoming projects. STACK's best-in-class software empowers contractors with accurate and customizable estimates, reducing the risk of underestimating costs and overextending resources. Meanwhile, Billd's material and invoice financing bridge the gap in subcontractor cash flow, reducing the risk of overextending working capital. By providing subcontractors with hyper-accurate takeoffs and estimates along with upfront funds for materials, joint customers can mitigate the uncertainties of payment cycles and bid with confidence. "The integration of construction technology is no longer a luxury—it's a necessity," said STACK's CEO and Co-Founder, Phillip Ogilby. "The construction industry has been plagued by subcontractors not getting paid on time, leading to disruptions, delays, and stalled growth. Our streamlined takeoff, estimating, and proposal solutions paired with Billd's financing options mean subs can focus on what matters. Taking the guesswork out with accurate estimates and having predictable revenue is a huge win. I wish I had this growth opportunity when I was a roofing contractor." Subcontractors need financing and they need it early in the process. Billd offers 120-day terms on material purchases, enabling subcontractors to improve their cash flow to take on larger projects, get more estimates out the door, and focus on investing in their long-term plan. About STACK Construction Technologies From project evaluation to completion, contractors use STACK's cloud-based software to help run their business and maximize their profits. Our preconstruction solutions enable fast and accurate takeoff and estimating, as well as providing a centralized hub where plans, specs, and other construction documents can be stored, evaluated, measured, and shared. Our construction solutions power real-time field and project collaboration by allowing teams to quickly and easily review, annotate, compare, and share plans, anywhere, from any device. STACK's superior collaboration tools ultimately improve project outcomes and profitability for contractors. About Billd At Billd, we provide a payment solution that enables commercial construction contractors to free up cash for material purchases while enjoying the flexibility of 120-day payment terms. You get financing for commercial materials upfront with the freedom to pay it back at your own pace. Learn more about how we can help eliminate your company's cash-flow problems so you can win more bids and grow your business.

Read More