Congratulations to Procore’s client Finton Associates for their recent recognition in the Los Angeles Times (June 12, 2008).
The LA Times story outlines how Finton Associates is able to keep busy building multiple 20,000 square foot plus custom homes, even in a down market that is making it tough for many U.S. home builders to get by. In fact, Finton Associates President John Finton notes that business at the top-end is not letting up at all:
“Builder John Finton, who is overseeing construction of the 32,000 square-foot house on Sunset Boulevard for businessman C. Frederick Wehba Sr. and his wife, Susan, said he knows of at least 20 20,000-plus square-foot homes under construction or about to break ground in what he called the “platinum triangle” of wealthy areas in Los Angeles County: Beverly Hills, Bel-Air and Holmby Hills.”
Finton Associates is a long-time user of Procore, having brought its first projects onto the system in 2004. Now the company uses Procore on large custom home projects (including the Wehba Residence mentioned in the article) in both the United States and Mexico, and has standardized its operations around using Procore’s construction software for the information flow associated with building mega-mansions.
Finton Associates takes advantages of many of Procore’s features. Daily logs and communications for multiple jobs are all tracked through Procore’s construction project management software, and the document archive functionality of Procore has made it possible for Finton Associates to retrieve vital emails and RFIs on jobs where historical information was needed.
Procore’s ability to store and share digital photos makes it easier for Finton Associates to update home owners on job progress, particularly when the job site is in a location that is remote from members of the project team. Several of Finton Associates’ clients are having homes built in the Loreto Bay development in Mexico, and Procore usage is particularly important on those jobs.
Here at Procore, we’re always amazed to find out how many companies have trouble tracking their construction project information. If you have trouble keeping all of your project documents, photos, RFIs, change orders, daily logs and punch list items organized, you’re not alone.
You might say, “My company has a handle on all this document stuff. I’m sure everyone on the job site is doing just fine tracking all of our project information.”
Maybe.
As part of our plea for you to check on your company’s project document tracking process, we submit this recent story from the Associated Press.
It seems from this article that even the most high-profile projects are not immune to document mis-management:
Report: NYC Freedom Tower plans found in trash
(04-18) 14:52 PDT New York (Associated Press)—
The government agency building a 102-story skyscraper at the World Trade Center site is investigating the discovery of two sets of blueprints for the building that a homeless man says he found in the trash.
The schematic documents for the Freedom Tower, under construction at ground zero, were marked “Secure Document — Confidential,” the New York Post reported Friday.
The documents, dated Oct. 5, 2007, contain plans for each floor, the thickness of the concrete-core wall, and the location of air ducts, elevators, electrical systems and support columns, the Post reported.
Michael Fleming told the newspaper he found the documents on top of a public trash can in downtown Manhattan, with written warnings on it to “properly destroy if discarded.”
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which owned the World Trade Center and is building the 1,776-foot Freedom Tower, has protocols requiring contractors and architects with secure and nonsecure documents to shred them, spokeswoman Candace McAdams said.
The agency’s inspector general is investigating the disposal of the documents, which McAdams said are bidding documents given out to contractors, agency staff and selected companies bidding on work.
Mishandling the blueprints would be “cause for serious disciplinary action — up to termination for employees and breach of contract and legal action for contractors,” she said, although she added the plans have been updated many times since October.
City police weren’t investigating the disposal; Tishman Construction Corp., the main contractor building the tower, declined to comment Friday. A spokesman for the building’s architect, Skidmore Owings & Merrill, didn’t return a message seeking comment.
Interested in managing your project documents more effectively? Get started with Procore today and store an unlimited number of documents and photos in a single, secure online location.
Procore’s approach of providing a fully-functional, no-time limit version of our construction software is drawing the attention of the construction trade press.
Constructech Magazine, a leading construction industry publication, notes that Procore’s approach to providing construction software may convince some contractors to investigate how technology can be leveraged in their businesses:
“One of the biggest deterrents for some contractors when it comes to technology is cost—cost of the software, cost of the implementation, and cost of the support. (Procore) is taking cost out of the equation, hoping contractors will give technology a try on the vendor’s dime.”
Two key features of Procore’s construction software have made it possible for the company to offer a free version.
The first advantage is that all versions of Procore’s construction software (free or paid) are web-based applications that can be accessed from any computer with an Internet connection. This means that Procore does not have to charge users for software installation, servers, databases, or implementation costs. Because Procore is web-based, users can get up and running immediately, without the hassle of traditional software installation.
Procore’s second significant feature is simplicity. Procore’s construction software is designed to be easy-to-use, and easy to learn. Every feature of Procore has its own video tutorial that users can view at any time. With Procore, there’s no need for classroom training, or taking people away from work in order to learn how to use the construction software. This simplicity means that Procore can afford to deliver a construction software package for no charge, because users can teach themselves, without consuming customer support resources.
Click here to go to Constructech Magazine’s story on Procore’s Free Version.
Procore congratulates our client Loreto Bay on the article about their project which appeared in the New York Times Travel section.
Loreto Bay is a planned community located in Loreto, Mexico, that will be built out over the next decade. More than 800 homes have been sold to-date in the development, and the first residents have already moved into their new homes. Loreto Bay makes extensive use of green building principles, and is designed to fit harmoniously with its surroundings.
Procore’s construction software is being used by Loreto Bay to manage the construction progress on more than a dozen homes in the development. Architects, homeowners and trade partners located in the US have the ability to log into Loreto Bay’s project sites and monitor job progress in real time.
Because Procore’s construction software is web-based, Loreto Bay’s Mexican staff did not need to wait for software to be installed on their local computers—they simply accessed the projects over the Internet. This meant that the entire international team was able to get on the same page without any delay. Procore allows Loreto Bay’s project team to easily share important documents, archive digital photos for each home, and organize project emails.
Click here to read the New York Times article on Loreto Bay (March 7, 2008).
For the second year in a row, Procore has been recognized as a “Hot Product” by Construction Executive magazine in their December 2007 edition.
Construction Executive was particularly impressed with Procore’s newer features, such as the Job Cost integration with Sage Timberline Office, and our Phone In Your Daily Job Log capability. The article also notes that Procore offers a “try before you buy” option that is unique in the industry:
“Even the way we sell Procore is a new approach in construction software,” notes (Procore CEO) Courtemanche. “Because Procore is web-based, we’re able to provide it at no charge for 30 days on the first project. Contractors can see for themselves if we’re a fit before they spend money – and I’m glad to report that most people who try Procore, buy Procore.”
Click here to download a PDF of the Construction Executive article.
Procore client Sweaney Custom Homes is opening a new office in San Diego, CA in an effort to help victims of this year’s Witch fire. Sweaney, with its main office located in Bakersfield, CA, is a nationally recognized custom home builder whose work has been featured on ABC Television’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition. The firm will be using Procore to manage construction projects that will help get San Diego home owners get back into newly-constructed homes as quickly as possible.
Sweaney Custom Homes knows how to build quality custom homes in a hurry. The company completed a new home for a deserving family for an episode of Extreme Makeover Home Edition, with Sweaney’s team using its project management know-how to go from start to finish on the project in only four days. Sweaney has also been recognized for the quality of its homes, winning the 2006 Pacesetter Award from Custom Home Magazine.
For San Diego residents displaced by the fire storms of 2007, Sweaney’s unique combination of project management skills and construction excellence could provide a faster way to get their homes re-built. Whenever Sweaney’s San Diego office builds a project, Procore will be among the tools the team uses to get homeowners back into their homes.
For more information, visit the Sweaney Custom Home website or call (858) 829-7501.
 Web 2.0 technology blog KillerStartups.com has reviewed Procore and found that “Project managers will find this program to be worthwhile.” We’re proud to be recognized for our web-based offering, but we’re probably not going to take the reviewer’s advice to expand our sales efforts to include projects run by everyone from artists to archaeologists. Rest assured—Procore’s expertise is in the construction project management industry, and that’s where we’re going to maintain our focus. Unless, that is, we are contacted by artists who need something built… Click here to read the review of Procore on KillerStartups.com |
Procore sends congratulations to our clients I-Grace Co. and Wright & Co. Construction Inc. for their recognition in the Wall Street Journal (October 26, 2007, Page W1). Both companies are highlighted as examples of high-end custom home builders that use superior project management in order to construct mega-mansion projects in record time. The Journal provides background on I-Grace’s work on a Malibu, CA 10,000 square foot remodel. Wright & Co. Construction Inc.’s management of a 12,000 square foot project in the Hamptons is also noted. As with all custom home projects, attention to project management is the key to completing these homes in a compressed timeframe. Using Procore is just one part of how custom-home builders can keep their projects on schedule. Expert builders like those profiled in this article also have to have great employees, talented crews and a high degree of professionalism. Click Here to download a copy of the Wall Street Journal story in PDF format. |
 Procore is pleased to announce that we have been accepted into Sage’s Development Partner Program for Sage Timberline Office. Upon this quarter’s release of the Procore integration, field workers and job-site staff will be able to view financial data from Sage Timberline Office on any Internet-connected computer. Procore will make it possible for all Sage Timberline Office users in a company to be on the same page, with up-to-date project information. Being located at the job site will no longer mean being “out-of-the-loop” when it comes to vital information. Many Procore clients have requested integration with Sage Timberline Office, so this is an exciting development for Procore. Working with this best-in-class construction software vendor will make Procore more useful for our customers, and we’re excited to team up with a company as strong and experienced as Sage. |
Word is getting out about Procore—even to sectors of the construction industry that we don’t generally think of at first as being primary users of our application.
We were pleased to see this recent mention of Procore in the newsletter sent out by Restoration & Remediation magazine. If you’re a contractor specializing in this field, check out their publication!
The Orlando, FL Sentinel newspaper ran a story about Procore in their September 8, 2007 issue.
The author of the article emphasized the fact that with Procore, builders’ clients can get an around-the-clock ability to stay on top of work as it progresses. Procore provides project owners with the latest information on what’s going on at the construction site, which in turn tends to reduce anxiety. When there’s more information provided to property owners, those owners may feel that they’re having a better experience with their contractor.
If you’re a builder or contractor who’s looking to differentiate your firm from others in your market, consider Procore. The information that Procore allows you to share with your clients may be the difference between providing a superior customer service experience and an experience that’s simply “run of the mill.”
Click here to view the story on the Orlando Sentinel’s website
The editors of Constructech Residential magazine have named Procore one of the construction industry’s Hottest Companies for 2007. We’re particularly pleased to see that the Constructech editors recognized the importance we place on customer service. As the article notes:
“While Procore is still relatively new to the market—it just recently started making a bigger push into the commercial space—the company already has many satisfied custom homebuilders as customers. Part of this is due to its knack for listening to customer demands. (One user) says it is never hard to get in touch with a member of the Procore staff and they are always eager to listen to suggestions.“
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Thanks, Constructech!
Click here to read the full article online.
Click here to download a PDF file of the article, suitable for print and email.
What do homeowners think about using Procore to monitor progress on their projects? As the Los Angeles Times noted in an article in the August 5th Real Estate section, using Procore on a job can really set a contractor apart from the competition. Homeowners appreciate the ability to know exactly what’s going on with their project. One homeowner interviewed for the Times story had this to say:
“Lippman has appreciated being able to stay on top of the details for her second-home project in Santa Barbara. ‘One thing that’s really good is the impeccable record-keeping. Everything’s documented in a single communications file that’s available to everyone.’”
If you’re a contractor, how do you make sure your customers’ experience is a positive one? Procore’s clients are finding that in a world where everyone from executives to soccer moms carries a Blackberry or smart phone with email, you can’t communicate with customers too much.
Click here to download a PDF of the Los Angeles Times article, suitable for print or email.
Procore CEO Tooey Courtemanche authored an article for the August, 2007 issue of Construction Business Owner magazine that lists some of the important considerations to keep in mind when selecting construction project management software.
Tooey relates several tips on what to look for during your software search, including:
- Limit your search to solutions that are easy to learn and use. Use an impartial source such as www.softwareadvice.com to compare features and functionality.
- Explore time-saving solutions that leverage e-mail and cell phones as data entry devices.
- Choose an application that enables you and your team to access project photos, images and documents in one online location.
- Go with a product that sends out RFIs automatically until they’re closed.
The article contains much more detail, and should help you find the construction project management software that’s right for your business.
Click here to read the full article on the Construction Business Owner website.
Procore is proud to be recognized by the editors of Constructech Commercial magazine as a “hot company” for 2007. We’re even more pleased to receive this accolade because of our focus on customer service and making a product that has the features users are looking for. As the Constructech article points out:
“Customer satisfaction across both commercial and residential construction definitely speaks volumes about why the editors of Constructech selected Procore “hot.” Its Web-based technology integrates with leading scheduling software applications, making it possible for all project team members, regardless of what solution they are using, to view schedules via the Web. Procore provides its users with the ability to track daily log information, as well as change order-tracking, RFI (request-for-information) management, document archiving, submittals, and more.”
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves – at Procore, we view our mission as providing our customers with useful software that’s easy to learn and simple to use. After all, as an Internet-based service that charges by the month, we have to earn our customers’ business every 30 days in order to keep Procore on the job.
Getting recognized for our product features is great, but we’re particularly pleased that our customers like Procore as much as we do.
Click here to read the Constructech article online.
Click here to download a copy of the Constructech article as a PDF file suitable for print or email.