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Computer Guidance Corporation

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Computer Guidance Corporation’s Parent Company Acquires EPAC Software Technologies…

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We are pleased to share that our parent company, JDM Technology Group, is growing again through the acquisition of EPAC Software Technologies, a leading provider of Computerized Maintenance Management (CMMS) and Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) software in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Founded in 1999, EPAC has been helping businesses operate their maintenance and facility management operations through their award-winning CMMS and EAM software solutions. The acquisition continues the JDM Group’s global ‘Buy and Build’ strategy to acquire software companies and build and grow their businesses as part of the JDM Group. For more information on EPAC, please visit http://www.epacst.com/

Computer Guidance Corporation Strengthens Partnership with Comdata

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Computer Guidance Corporation Strengthens Partnership with Comdata

Scottsdale, AZ – May 7, 2019: Computer Guidance Corporation (CGC) has partnered with Comdata, North America’s leading commercial Mastercard issuers, to integrate Comdata’s corporate card and virtual card into eCMS Construction Cloud-Based ERP. This integrated solution will allow CGC customers to use their mobile device to easily import receipts and assign cost centers for each transaction. Additionally, customers will be able to request and reconcile their virtual credit card payments entirely from within eCMS. The user can automatically create and send to Comdata the appropriate payment files. eCMS will then accept files from Comdata to automate the reconciliation process.

“Integrating Comdata’s unique payment technology directly into our eCMS allows our customers to enjoy new efficiencies and save money. With virtual credit cards, businesses significantly reduce the cost and inefficiencies associated with the printing, mailing, and reconciliation of traditional paper checks,” said Mike Bihlmeier, President of CGC.

“Additionally, by using the virtual Mastercard and other Comdata corporate credit card products, businesses get access to a new and potentially lucrative revenue stream. The virtual Mastercard pays monthly rebates on spending that directly improves the bottom line,” said Bihlmeier.

As a technology company that is focused on payments, Comdata built corporate card and virtual card solutions that deliver results for clients that dramatically exceed market averages. The result is a greater cost reduction by eliminating time-consuming manual processes and paper checks. This translates into a greater rebate revenue because more transactions are converted to card payments.

“We’re excited about partnering with CGC to help provide their customers with incremental value by streamlining their overall expense management and accounts payable processes,” said Chris Shanahan, SVP of Strategic Partnerships at Comdata. “We’re focused on helping businesses build world-class financial operations and payment programs and I know CGC will be a great partner to make this happen.”

About Computer Guidance Corporation

Computer Guidance Corporation has been the trusted provider of construction management software for architecture, engineering and construction companies since its foundation in 1981. Computer Guidance Corporation has been committed to setting industry standards in financial and project management software, #1 business intelligence, mobile and enterprise content management for North America’s leading construction companies. We solve commercial contractors’ business challenges day-in and day-out by improving productivity, operational efficiency, and overall profitability. We accomplish this by delivering integrated project data to all who need it, when and where they need it. We help our customers operate smarter construction. Computer Guidance Corporation is part of JDM Technology Group, a global construction-specific software conglomerate that serves more than 100,000 users in 40 countries and 6 continents. For more information visit https://computerguidance.com/

About Comdata

Since 1969, Comdata has been a leading provider of innovative B2B payment and financial technology. By combining its unique capabilities in technology development, credit card issuing, transaction processing, and network ownership, the company helps clients build electronic payment programs that positively impact their bottom line and operate their businesses more efficiently. Comdata is the largest commercial issuer of Mastercard, and the largest fuel card issuer, in North America. For more information visit https://www.comdata.com/

Computer Guidance Corporation Introduces eCMS Connect for Procore

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Computer Guidance Corporation Introduces eCMS Connect for Procore

Computer Guidance Corporation launches eCMS Connect for Procore, two best-in-class solutions—Procore Project Management/Financials and eCMS ERP—delivered as one.

Computer Guidance Corporation, the leading developer of Cloud-based ERP software solutions for the construction industry, today announced that Procore and Computer Guidance Corporation completed the integration of their respective construction-specific software solutions—Procore Construction Financials and eCMS ERP.

eCMS Connect for Procore is built on a flexible and efficient Web Services platform, enabling near real-time data exchange and standardized business processes across field project operations and corporate financial management disciplines. The integration of the two solutions allows for a single point of data entry, which can then be displayed and used across the enterprise resulting in consistent and accurate information and allowing for automated business processes across the organization.

While Computer Guidance offers Project Collaborator (PC2), a project management and collaboration application within its eCMS ERP application suite, eCMS Connect for Procore is designed for mutual clients and Procore users achieving real-time collaboration and management of project costs, complete financial reporting, project submittals, RFIs, contracts, schedules, CORs, drawings and more. The eCMS Connect for Procore solution allows for on-demand and real-time collaboration everyone on the project team regardless of location and job responsibility, including owners, architects, project managers, contractors, and subcontractors.

“By developing bi-directional data exchange with Computer Guidance, we are able to provide our customers with access to accurate, business-critical information housed within two industry-leading solutions whenever and wherever it is needed,” said Doug Gibson, Business Development Manager, Procore. ”

“With the launch of eCMS Connect for Procore, Computer Guidance streamlines data flow between financial and project management solutions which saves time and ensures both field and office personnel are on the same page,” said Andrew Grasso, Director of Account Management, Computer Guidance Corporation

About Computer Guidance Corporation

With over 20% of their client-base represented on top ENR lists, Computer Guidance Corporation has long delivered the leading construction-specific enterprise resource planning solution including financial and project management applications, #1 business intelligence, mobile technologies, and enterprise content management. Scalable, custom configurable and available both cloud hosted and private cloud, eCMS serves the needs of thousands throughout North America and has been named as the ERP solution of choice by the AGC. Computer Guidance Corporation is part of JDM Technology Group, a global construction-specific software conglomerate that serves more than 45,000 users in 40 countries and 6 continents. For more information, visit http://www.computerguidance.com or call 888.361.4551.

About eCMS

Computer Guidance’s construction cloud-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution, eCMS, delivers a unified platform for the standardization and integration of business processes and data for architecture, engineering, and commercial contractors. eCMS provides fully integrated financial accounting, operations, project, equipment, human capital and service management applications supported by advanced business intelligence and analytics, and innovative productivity tools for increased productivity and intelligent decision-making.

About Procore

Procore is a leading provider of cloud-based applications for construction. Procore connects people, applications, and devices through a unified platform to help construction professionals manage risk and build quality projects—safely, on time, and within budget. Procore has a diversified business model with products for Project Management, Construction Financials, Quality & Safety, and Field Productivity. Headquartered in Carpinteria, California, with offices around the globe, Procore is used to manage billions of dollars in annual construction volume. For more information about Procore, visit procore.com.

Computer Guidance Corporation Successfully Passes SOC 2 Type II Audit For Its Cloud Hosting Systems, Services and Associated Processes

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Computer Guidance Corporation Successfully Passes SOC 2 Type II Audit For Its Cloud Hosting Systems, Services and Associated Processes Assurance provided by CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP in Accordance with Attestation Standards Established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

Computer Guidance Corporation, the leading developer of Cloud-based ERP software solutions for the construction industry, today announced receipt of its annual System and Organization Control (SOC) 2 Type II attestation engagement report (audit) for the eCMS Hosting Service system that was designed and implemented throughout the period October 01, 2017 to September 30, 2018. The trust services report provides independent validation that Computer Guidance Corporation’s security, availability and confidentiality controls operated in accordance with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountant (AICPA) applicable Trust Services Criteria (TSC) as a result of an examination of the description of a service organization’s system and the suitability of the design and operating effectiveness of controls involving a number of factors outlined in the audit report. SOC2 Audit DiagramThe audit reviewed several processes and procedures that have been implemented by Computer Guidance to proactively manage the cloud environments that host the eCMS system, associated Tier III data centers, including:
  • eCMS Hosting Services System based on the criteria set by the AICPA Guide Reporting on Controls at a Service Organization Relevant to Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, or Privacy (SOC 2®)
  • The suitability of the design and operating effectiveness of controls to meet the criteria for the Security, Availability, and Confidentiality Trust Principles set forth in TSP section 100, Trust Services Criteria, and Illustrations for Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy (AICPA, Technical Practice Aids) throughout the period.
“Computer Guidance Corporation’s commitment to strong internal controls supporting its service commitments and system requirements in regard to their cloud-based hosted system solutions and services is evident in this report,” stated Mark Eich, Partner In Charge of Information Security Services, CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP. “Computer Guidance Corporation’s successful completion of this audit for the past seven years demonstrates its integrity, accountability, and commitment to its clients, partners, and industry. Computer Guidance customers can be confident that controls described within the report are accurately depicted and were operating as represented during these engagement periods.” “The successful completion of our SOC 2® Type II examination audit provides Computer Guidance’s clients with the assurance that the controls and safeguards we employ to protect and secure their data, systems, and cloud hosting environments are in line with industry standards and best practices,” stated Bob Shantz, Director of Infrastructure and Cloud Services, Computer Guidance Corporation. “Computer Guidance strives for improvements in our controls and operating procedures year over year; ensuring a well-controlled and secured environment for our clients.”

Computer Guidance Corporation Invests Over $1.3 Million In Its Phoenix Cloud Data Center

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Computer Guidance Corporation Invests Over $1.3 Million In Its Phoenix Cloud Data Center – Cloud Investment Due To Rapid Growth

Scottsdale, Arizona – February 19, 2019 – Computer Guidance Corporation, the leading developer of ERP software solutions for the construction industry, today announced the additional investment of $1.3 Million in cloud infrastructure to support their rapidly growing managed hosting services offerings. This marks their third cloud hosting data center investment of this size in the last five years. Computer Guidance has two Tier III Service Organization Control (SOC) compliant cloud data centers, one located in Phoenix, Arizona and the other in Atlanta, Georgia, providing cloud-based, feature-rich and fully integrated construction management solutions to more than 50,000 users. This new investment will provide for a 50% growth in cloud infrastructure capacity in order to support their rapid growth trajectory. “Our success in supporting our clients who are leveraging our cloud software platform to transform their businesses continues to grow at a rapid pace,” said Bob Shantz, Director of Infrastructure and Cloud Services at Computer Guidance Corporation. “The continued investments of our cloud infrastructure ensure many more thousands of users can be brought on without sacrificing the speed, performance, and experience of existing users.” About Computer Guidance Corporation With over 20% of their clients represented on top ENR lists, Computer Guidance Corporation delivers the leading construction enterprise resource planning solution including financial and project management, #1 business intelligence, mobile and enterprise content management.  Scalable, customizable and cloud-hosted, CGC serves thousands throughout North America and has been named the solution of choice by the AGC. Computer Guidance Corporation is part of JDM Technology Group, a global construction-specific software conglomerate that serves more than 100,000 users in 40 countries and 6 continents.

[Thought Leadership Article] – Smart Tech, Smarter Construction by Constructech Magazine

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Smart Tech, Smarter Construction

smart tech

Data-driven insights from AI (artificial intelligence) and BI (business intelligence) is enabling construction workers to design and execute their skills more precisely, quickly, and accurately on-site. The technologies have replaced old-fashioned measuring tape, best estimates, and after-the-fact readjustments.

Indeed, the emerging technologies used will soon be ubiquitous on construction sites, says Vicki Satran, vice president of marketing for Computer Guidance Corp., www.computerguidance.com, Scottsdale, Ariz., developer of construction-site cloud-based ERP (enterprise-resource planning) solutions.

The construction industry will start seeing even more robots, AR (augmented reality)—the ability to visualize the real world through a camera lens—BIM (building information modeling), cloud and mobile technology, wearables such as Fitbits and 3D glasses, and increased prefabrication and modularization using prebuilt and off-site components, Satran says.

That’s because cloud, mobile, and Web-based technologies outmaneuver traditional client-based and on-premises systems. They’re less costly, and open the opportunity that the future demands with accessibility to data, information, and collaboration anytime and anywhere. Also, they are flexible, scalable, and ubiquitous, and that drives automation and intelligence, Satran adds.

Likewise, during on-site execution, being able to predict bottlenecks and slowdowns based on performance is incredibly powerful. Construction planners can use AI to see trends in historical performance and productivity rates, for example.

The biggest changes in the next few years will be around improving site efficiency, such as when to execute work, which work phase to give priority to, and how to enable as-late-as-possible material ordering and delivery, adds Daniel Patterson, chief design officer of InEight, www.ineight.com, Scottsdale, Ariz., which provides solutions that span projects from design to estimate and from field execution to turnover.

The upcoming efficiencies will be “responsive” to the ever-changing characteristics of the jobsite. “Today, project-execution planning is a very static process,” Patterson says. “The plans we develop don’t truly take into account the fluid, always-changing nature of the project. Being able to predict the impact of site changes and then plan accordingly will bring massive efficiency improvements to the construction industry.”

Yet Satran points out that workers’ tech skills need continuous upgrading, given the rapid change in technological applications. The future of work and the digital transformation will likely require more advanced skills, and workers must be prepared to meet the demand.

To get there, Satran says some employers will need to team up with outside parties, including their ERP trainers and consultants, universities, cities, and nonprofits to educate their workers.

The result will be huge improvements in efficiencies. Yet as AI becomes more prevalent, it generates massive data volumes.

“We will soon need to make a decision as to whether we archive these huge volumes of data or focus more on capturing and storing the patterns that AI can deduce and make inferences from,” Patterson says. “It is my belief that the real value from an AI perspective here is in the inferred patterns. Think of it as knowledge versus data. As AI gets smarter, knowledge will become more of a valuable asset.”

Still care is needed in what happens with that information, Patterson continues.

“We need to provide meaningful information to the relevant people at the right time,” he says. “Inundating a project team with fancy dashboards and statistics doesn’t help a project. In simple terms, does the nugget of information in question help a project stakeholder make a better decision or not?”

It’s also important to avoid just swallowing the data whole.

“The only word of warning would be that we should continue to question and challenge data just as we always have—before computers started making the suggestions,” Patterson says.

Data from the Site

A more informed and connected jobsite may well keep construction office managers and on-site workers from drowning in data transfers.

“The old-fashioned way, you’d do your best to lay out a point correctly,” Tim Jones, product manager for advanced layout at Hilti North America, www.hilti.com, Plano, Texas, says. “But you might not find out whether it’s accurate until you put up a steel column.”

Advanced sensors, such as those resulting from Hilti’s partnership with German-based Seuffer GmbH, www.seuffer.de, BadenWürttemberg, Germany, let contractors track variables by collecting data on how workers are using tools and vehicles.

“We can ensure construction partners that we’ve measured usage times, calculated torqueing, and taken into account other critical factors,” says Henrik Zetterqvist, business unit manager for direct fastening at Hilti North America. “We record the information and send it back to the user.”

One of the challenges on the jobsite is making sure the information is transmitted into the cloud, since some sensors have no beacon function or must have the function activated.

The tools also must have enough battery power to transmit the data.

Yet the goal is that the computer understands the context of a project’s location, type, and order of magnitude so it can make more informed suggestions about expected costs, durations, and productivity rates. This is a huge leap forward from simply doing a lookup in a database and pulling standard rates.

Taking it a step further, Lisa Duncan, director of vertical construction for Topcon Positioning Systems, www.topconpositioning.com, Livermore, Calif., adds construction companies are already using AI (artificial intelligence) on-site to visually tag data and analyze it for safety violations, potential hazards, and to mitigate many risks.

Other applications may include sorting notifications, identifying potential issues such as conflicts or missing materials, tagging, and organizing documents—and even piloting drones, running machinery, and helping in design.

“As you can see, the possibilities are wide-ranging for a construction firm to mitigate risk before it impacts that company’s project margins and performance factors,” she says.

Another way to use data efficiently is through 3D modeling, Duncan says. In vertical construction, companies use a 3D model to store or catalog data, whether that’s gathering data on a jobsite using a data collector with a robotic total station or inspecting photographs or point clouds from a terrestrial or drone scan.

“The key is to link the data from the field to the office and vice versa as quickly as possible, and with the highest amount of precision and accuracy,” Duncan says.

The cloud plays an essential role, too. Data sent to the cloud for processing lets both the field and office staff access it immediately, Duncan notes.

“The data gathered is based on the needs at the time of collection such as dashboard layout, notifications, parameters, and units of measure,” she says.

For the contractor, owners, and managers, analytics make it possible to compare what has been installed on a jobsite and if it is the correct location or to evaluate existing conditions on a jobsite to determine if the project is on schedule, Duncan says.

Even more, connected solutions let contractors get comprehensive monitoring of conditions, operations, and the work site through sensors and data.

“This means monitoring knows no boundaries,” Duncan says. “Assets can be monitored from everywhere, wherever the contractor happens to physically be. It enables realtime communication and task management with machines and crews on the work site. Additionally, the entire fleet of machines working at the site can be connected.”

Ultimately, construction companies can see “enormous productivity gains and start outpacing the industry” by adopting the latest digital tools, Jones says. If they fall behind, they won’t be able to bid competitively on future jobs. Once they get behind, the learning curve is steep.

Instead, construction companies and workers can use technology to interpret patterns from large volumes of data, rather than being content to simply generate large amounts of data.

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