05-Nov-09
Aconex opens up its collaboration platform with release of APIs
Aconex 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.”
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