Here’s the rundown on new apps for streamlined reporting and printing plans; new fleet tracking technology; the latest software updates for integrated estimating and project cost tracking, workforce management solutions and design; and partnership announcements. Check out the BIM report and guide to CM software.

Apps

Raken’s Summary Reports Provide Snapshot of Construction Progress

The Raken App with Summary Reports features improvements in compiling, configuring and optimizing Weekly/Monthly Summary Reports. A snapshot page provides a progress report showing number of workers, hours worked, safety incidents, delays, missed dailies and open tasks. A manager’s projects can be seen on one screen and sorted and viewed by category and progress can be viewed by week, month or lifetime of a project.

Procore Teams with Plans4Less to print plans faster for less

Procore software users can get construction documents printed and delivered from their Procore dashboard with Plans4Less.com app --available as a “print plans” option. Plans4Less prints any full-sized black and white plans for a flat rate of $1 per sheet and delivers them by the next business day. Half-sized B&W plans and full color plans are also available.

FLEETIO Drive Smartphone-based GPS Tracking

Fleetio Drive helps fleets track GPS location and driver behavior via smartphones. Without on-board hardware to install, Fleetio Drive uses the built-in sensors in drivers’ smartphones to track trip distance, location and the duration of driving events such as phone usage, speeding, aggressive acceleration and hard braking. Fleetio Drive scores and ranks drivers based on driving performance. Driver leaderboards and detailed reports give fleet managers insight into their fleet’s overall safety and show where individual drivers may need to improve.

Products

Honeywell Headset With Bluetooth Helps Workers Stay Connected, Protects Hearing

With Honeywell Howard Leight™ Sync® Wireless protective earmuffs with Bluetooth wireless technology, workers can talk on the phone, connect with co-workers, get instructions and perform tasks without sacrificing hearing protection in noisy environments. The headset features ergonomic design for simple operation, with volume control buttons and flashing colored lights to indicate different settings; a boom microphone for crystal-clear communication in noisy environments that rotates out of the way when not in use; and steel headband construction and padded earcups.

Xplore Upgrades two Rugged Tablets

Xplore Technologies Android rugged tablet, the XSLATE D10, has an upgraded Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow operating system and extended battery life, including a hot-swappable second battery option for more than 22 hours of power. The XSLATE D10 can be remotely deployed, configured, secured and upgraded using a number of enterprise mobility management (EMM) platforms. Xplore also expanded the pricing and performance options for its XSLATE R12 rugged tablet PC platform to include two new Intel® 7th generation Kaby Lake CPU configurations.

Software & In the Cloud

Cree SmartCast Intelligence Platform Transforms Data into Insights

Cree’s SmartCast Intelligence Platform™ intuitive lighting system leverages the Internet of Things (IoT) to deliver smart building solutions. The platform combines Cree's SmartCast® Power over Ethernet (PoE) LED lighting network with the company’s analytics software to transform lighting and sensor data into actionable insights and provide immediate energy and space utilization recommendations that lower maintenance costs. SmartCast Advisor™analytics application (available on the SmartCast Intelligence Platform) monitors buildings via the SmartCast PoE lighting network, collecting data so building operators can identify underutilized space within their buildings.

Autodesk Enhances Revit 2018

Autodesk Revit 2018 includes and builds on new features and functionality in Revit 2017.1 and 2017.2 point releases, with the goal of helping designers and engineers provide accurate design intent models and the ability to develop models to a higher level of fidelity for fabrication and installation purposes.

InEight® Simple Bundle Offers Integrated Estimating and Project Control

InEight Simple Bundle features three technology options that make it easier to achieve integrated, simplified and accurate estimating and project control. Options include InEight Estimate Bundle, InEight Estimate and Control Bundle, and InEight Custom Bundle.

Acquisitions & Partnerships

Timesheet Mobile Partners With GenieBelt

Timesheet Mobile, which provides geofencing-enabled time tracking/scheduling software, and GenieBelt, a project management software provider, have partnered to provide a holistic view to businesses of projects, schedules and employee hours. The partnership provides mutual customers with a complete workforce and project management solution by giving businesses full visibility of construction projects and matching these against employee hours and availability.

zlien and eSub Ink Partnership

zlien, provider of cloud-based lien rights management solutions for the construction industry, and eSUB Construction Software (eSUB), provider of mobile and cloud-based project management and document control solutions for subcontractors, have partnered to offer cloud-based solutions to help subcontractors to manage their projects and grow their businesses. Watch for future announcements on integrations that will improve the way subcontractors manage lien rights, lien waivers and their projects ultimately clearing the way for a collaborative and smooth construction payment process.

Video & Cool Stuff

BIM market to reach $7.6B by 2022

According to a new market research report, "Building Information Modeling (BIM) Market by Type (Software, Services), Project life cycle (Pre-construction, Construction, Operation), Application (Buildings, Civil Infrastructure, Oil & Gas, Industrial, Utilities), Geography - Global Forecast to 2022," published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is expected to grow from $3.56 billion in 2017 to $7.64 billion by 2022.

Aconex Infographic: A Contractor’s Guide to Construction Management Software

Aconex’s infographic, A Contractor’s Guide to Construction Management Software, summarizes the benefits of aligning technology, processes and standards across projects. Findings indicate that 66 percent of construction professionals haven’t maintained secure, undisputed records among project team members; 96 percent believe new technology tools should be flexible enough to support their own internal processes; and nine out of 10 contractors believe that managing a portfolio of projects is critical to success. Solutions include connected teams to improve project performance; big data to make project processes more efficient; mobile access to project data and documents; BIM to model assets for better design, construction and handover; and a single, secure, cloud-based platform.