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System Aconex BidcomBuildOnline Business Collaborator CadwebCauseway Technologies Sarcophagus4Projects
Score 7.6 7.07.1 8.7 6.87.17.98.3
Number of users 5000 (Australia) 6000 (UK) 10,00015,000600015,000721913,000
Compagnia reviewAconex has recently followed a successful launch in its Australian home market with its first UK contract serving a “top 20 UK contractor”. The product is a process-based collaboration solution, meaning that users follow a business process template prescribed by the software provider. This means it is easy to set up and use if it happens to reflect the way an organisation works. Aconex also supports project management and procurement functionality.Bidcom’s collaboration product, ProjectNet, is used worldwide. It is a process-based collaboration system, and it incorporates procurement and project management functionality. The company has secured excellent clients throughout the world. ProjectNet’s client scoring was a disappointment, and indicates that there is a need to balance functionality with useability. Build Online’s success has much to do with its ability to acquire organisations as it does with its reliable technology.Business Collaborator can deliver a number of collaboration systems, including project management, procurement and knowledge management. The product is based on toolkits that enable users to configure the software to fit their own processes rather than following the prescriptive process model offered by competitors. Cadweb’s focus is on transmitting documents to ensure contractual integrity. Users of Cadweb’s system handed the product the wooden spoon. The company has, however, secured a number of clients. They therefore have the potential to build on these relationships to develop a sustainable proposition. Causeway’s products range from estimating software to a variety of e-business applications. Causeway collaboration is process driven and has in-built workflow; the application supports procurement and project management functionality. Causeway’s people combine construction and engineering with IT, and they do have a good understanding of the industry they serve. A small company, but has nevertheless been awarded contracts that its competitors would have liked. The company’s senior people are mostly from a construction background.The product’s processes cover project management and procurement. The company has a good mixture of construction and IT people, and has developed a product that fits in well with the industry’s processes and satisfies a range of blue-chip clients. 4Projects has offices in the UK, North America and the Middle East.
Main clientsMcDonald’s, Becton, Probuild, CPG, KSIG, Smorgon ARCGMPTE , Metrolink, Ikea, Transport for London, Wilson Bowden, EC Harris, Wates, Carillion, Exxon MobilBalfour Beatty, Kier Build, Bilfinger Berger, Stragbag, OFB, Transco, Thames Water, Metronet, Ballast, Mowlem, Carillion, National Grid, Highways AgencyCostain, Balfour Beatty, Royal Bank of Scotland, Chelsfield (White Cityproject), Atkins, Nationwide Building SocietyPrudential, Land Securities, P&O Developments, MoD, Usafe, CostainBio Gen (Denmark), New York City Transit, Hong Kong Schools, Babtie (Ireland), British Land (Plantation Place), HBG (Cheshire police PFI and Crawley schools PFI), Peterborough NHS TrustAsda Walmart, Audi Automotive, Miller Construction, Stadium DevelopmentsRoyal Bank of Scotland, Shepherd Construction, Arup, Intergulf, Pearce Group, Birse Build, Norwest Holst, Taylor Woodrow, Sir Robert McAlpine, John Lewis Partnership, Mott MacDonald, Six Continents
What customers saidUsers were positive about the system, and the level of support provided by Aconex. The data related only to Australian operations.The system has excellent functionality, but this did not quite provide the level of benefits that had been anticipated.Below what was expected, but this should improve as the company refines its product to suit clients’ needs.Business Collaborator scored the highest client satisfaction rating with users pleased that the system offers flexibility.Overall, not as positive as the brochure.Comments were less favourable than expected, which we believe is because the system relies on extensive business process migration to an environment that is insufficiently flexible.  
What the package is claimed to offer, and Compagnia’s opinion
  • Integrates document and correspondence control together with procurement applications. This allows companies to save money and increase control across the whole project cycle. This is a generic function of all collaboration systems.
  • Helps collaboration users transact and communicate with external users, by using automated email import and linking facility, fax import and saving documents from Microsoft Office. Although not unique to Aconex, this functionality streamlines the system’s use.
  • Has an extremely intuitive and easy-to-use interface and claims to have significant levels of positive feedback regarding this compared with its competitors. Works well; but not an advantage.
  • It has a simple Microsoft Outlook user interface minimising training requirements.A good user interface is important to ensure fast adoption, although users of other systems were generally satisfied with their interfaces.
  • Multiple-file upload and auto-packaging of CAD drawings. This functionality (particularly multiple-file upload) is now considered essential.
  • Integrated reprographic capabilities allows easier bulk printing and distribution. This is a great addition to the service, but it is not unique.
  • Forms status, storage and access reporting allows quick and effective project reporting. These results can be exported to screen or a spreadsheet. Excellent functionality as this enables the collaborative processes to extend further than procurement and project management.
  • Integrated online tendering. A benefit because the more processes that are integrated, the more effective the product. Collaboration applies as much to procurement as it does to project management.
  • Integrated workflow management. Workflow can be a benefit as it provides business process automation. However migrating too much work to a virtual environment has its dangers. Workflow can become very difficult when it encompasses processes from a number of organisations.
  • External referencing functionality. Not unique to Build Online, but an excellent feature.
  • Document mark-ups saved as information in the database. We consider this a major benefit over the alternatives.
  • Integrated viewer that handles more than 300 file types.
    Not unique.
  • The package’s architecture is based on XML, an open standard for transferring data over the web. This enables users to customise the interface to suit their requirements. It can be accessed from a range of devices including PDA’s and WAP mobile phones. We applaud the development of a truly open architecture.
  • Users can easily manage and view data without having to buy a separate database. Data can be interrogated in a number of ways. For example it can form a contacts list, a drawings register or request for information list. This is at the heart of the collaboration system: the ability to centralise and align business processes.
  • It can access third-party databases. Authorised users can interrogate and edit this data from their web browser. For example, Costain staff use it to update their CVs online. Aside from flexibility, this is BC’s other main advantage.
  • Faster than other software. We were unable to find any evidence to support this.
  • Simpler than other software. The user interfaces and functionality provided by other systems was considered satisfactory to most users, so again we cannot support this statement.
  • More robust that other software. No proof to support this.
  • Certified to ISO 17799 – an international IT security standard. We do not consider this a major advantage – potential disputes due to failures in the project collaboration system can be covered in the contract. All IT systems include an element of operational risk.
  • All files are digitally signed. The threat of litigation caused by system failure should compel suppliers to address this issue. Cadweb is leading the thinking.
  • Customisable workflow. Workflow is useful where there is an easily controlled process flow; it can run into problems where it tries to align business processes down a supply chain.
  • Advanced search capabilities. We could not see how Causeway’s search capability was better than those of its competitors.
  • Flexibility – the system can be configured to meet requirements. The system has flexibility, but not as much (according to responses from users) as other systems.
  • Aggressive development programme. Causeway has a strong development team and has backing from Open Text, the company that supplies the software behind the product. The business has a relationship with the academic world, so is well poised to develop its product.
  • One of the fastest UK construction collaboration systems. We did not get the chance to measure this, although speed is crucial where there is a poor internet connection.
  • Intuitive and easy to use. Endorsed by clients, but not unique to Sarcophagus.
  • Reliable and resilient; unplanned down time of two minutes and eight seconds in five years.Claim not assessed.
  • Contains eTenderer, an online integrated tendering and procurement system. This is a strength and, although not unique, does provide advantage over systems that do not provided such extended functionality.
  • Supports most file formats and many viewers. Standard.
  • Quick to set up extranet and establish protocols. We didn’t measure this.
  • Ease of use – the package automates work processes such as drawing issue sheets, photo thumbnails, files and folder views. These are all driven by the database. Good processes, but they do not provide a competitive advantage.
  • Fully auditable local area network archive for clients and consultants, providing entire knowledge base.Excellent development as it improves transparency and reduces hurdles to accessing information.
  • The package is available as a maintained solution on 4Project’s servers for a fixed fee, and supports an unlimited number of projects. Most other providers will supply their services on this basis. Our view is that the market will unilaterally move towards this revenue model.