SAN FRANCISCO--(Business Wire)--
Aconex, the world`s largest provider of project collaboration solutions to the
construction and engineering industries, has released a fully-featured set of
Web Services APIs to enable integration between its system and other software
products used by its clients. The APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) also
allow Aconex or third parties to build additional applications for desktops or
mobile devices such as iPhones.
Rob Phillpot, Aconex Product Director, said, "Life is much easier when the tools
we use can talk to one another. Opening up our system so that it can connect
with other products is a significant step for our business as we increasingly
become the hub for connecting people and information on construction projects.
Our clients will benefit by leveraging the industry-leading Aconex platform to
manage project information across multiple applications."
Aconex is a web-based collaboration system that allows the companies involved in
a project to access, distribute and track documents, correspondence and other
information in real time using a single, central platform.
"The core value proposition of Aconex is to help make projects a success by
streamlining the large, complex flow of information between participants," said
Phillpot. "In addition to Aconex, our clients often use other software products
for tasks such as scheduling, cost estimating and internal document management.
"Previously, transferring information between these products involved manual
entry or having to constantly download then upload data. As a result, clients
were spending a lot of time double-handling data.
"Web Services APIs eliminate this by allowing our users to seamlessly connect
Aconex with their other applications. For example, when an architectural drawing
is updated in Aconex, it can automatically be updated in an internal document
management system. As well as saving time, this ensures that project data is
comprehensively captured in an organization`s own systems."
The construction industry`s project-based structure - which can involve many
specialized businesses providing their services at various stages of a project -
creates the need for systems that support cross-company collaboration.
"The lack of integration with internal systems has held some firms back from
using Cloud Computing or Software as a Service (SaaS). Instead, they make do
with their internal document management and email systems," said Phillpot.
"The problem with this is that these tools were created for an organization and
the project environment has very different challenges and requirements. Even a
standard $100 million construction project might involve 500 people from 100
organizations, based across several locations. Trying to collaborate using each
firm`s internal tools is impractical and inefficient, which makes a web-based
platform the most logical solution. APIs mean that companies can now have the
best of both worlds - the scalability and flexibility of a SaaS solution, while
adhering to their company`s specific information management protocols."
Phillpot added: "The API toolkit also presents an exciting opportunity for
Aconex or third parties to build additional applications. We are already
developing one for the iPhone, which will enable Aconex users, whether online or
offline, to manage documents, mails and tasks. Someone on a flight, for example,
will be able to use the application to complete project-related work while
travelling, and then update the Aconex system when they land."
Aconex, www.aconex.com, services US$220 billion worth of projects in 65
countries. Its clients include leaders such as Las Vegas Sands, AECOM, Parsons
Brinckerhoff, ContourGlobal, IKEA and McDonald's Restaurants.
Aconex Marketing Communications
Will Turbet, +61 3 9240 0200
media@aconex.com
Copyright Business Wire 2009
