Innovative Technology of the Week | Energy Dashboards

We love end-user focused technology; it's Software as a Service for not only clients but also their clients. A new customer engagement platform for the utility industry called Opower is redefining the way utility companies, not usually known for intuitive, graphic interface design, interact with their customers. And they've taken their industry's goal of energy efficiency to heart. 

"Opower is probably best known for pioneering the Home Energy Report. Think of it as a more interesting incarnation of your gas or electric bill. More than 4 million homes receive our reports today, and they’re on track to save hundreds of millions of dollars on their energy bills."

We like that utility companies are their clients, but their software design and development (and even language of their website) is driven by the end-user.  Maybe your utilities provider has or will be adopting such a platform soon. We always preach that demand starts with the end user - let your providers know what will make your experience with them most useful. If they are worth your business, like Opower, they will listen. 

In the meantime, check out why we like Opower's design and functionality here 

2012 Construction Technology Integration Report Reveals Lack of Cloud Adoption and Need for Integration in Construction Industry

Published in Construction Business Owner
September 13, 2012

Compiled from survey responses of over 450 construction professionals, the report shows a surprising number of companies still storing and transferring project data in spreadsheets. 

Bryan, Texas (September 13, 2012) - First presented at the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) IT Forum in Chicago, the results from the 2012 Construction Technology Integration (CTI) Survey have been released in a full report and accompanying infographic by JB Knowledge Technologies, Inc., developers of SmartBidNet construction bid software. The 2012 CTI Report compiles and analyzes responses from over 450 industry professionals who answered questions on their companies’ cloud construction software usage, mobile expectations, and application integrations.

“I recently stated in my keynote address at the 2012 AGC IT Forum, and still believe, that many firms in the construction industry are “just this side of pen and paper when it comes to technology.” Too many companies are not integrating data or seeking solutions that integrate data. I hope this report serves as a call to action to both construction software end-users andproviders to raise expectations and standards of data integration to the levels offered in other industries,” stated JBKnowledge President James Benham in the Foreword of the CTI Report.

The report holds a number of enlightening and concerning statistics on construction software and the integration capabilities available and in use. While more firms are considering mobilecapabilities in purchasing decisions, many firms are still afraid of accounting software “in the cloud.” In the end, a high percentage are still settling for the manual transfer of data via spreadsheets instead of adopting automated, integrated software. A glimmer of hope lies in the surprising number of firms adopting Building Information Modeling software, a technology previously viewed as a luxury only for larger scale design and build firms.

After exploring the different categories and brands of software in use, the report investigates how many applications each professional uses in a day and how those solutions transfer data internally, if at all. The numbers indicate a serious lack in cross-application integration between construction processes due to a lack of integration development between individual software providers. In the conclusion, the report evaluates the cause of slow adoption of integrations among industry software providers and how the Construction Open Software Alliance (COSA) hopes to overcome the obstacles. COSA is committed to developing standards in open APIs, based on of the 2007 AGC XML initiative, to facilitate integration between the industry’s various software providers.

To download a free copy of the 2012 Construction Technology Integration Report visit:http://www.smartbidnet.com/ctisurvey.
To view the 2012 Construction Technology Integration Report Infographic visit: http://www.smartbidnet.com/infographics

An information technology services and products provider, JBKnowledge specializes in enterprise applications and databases, electronic data interchange, strategy consulting, mobile solutions, and web design and development. Makers of SmartBidNet, construction bid software, thecompany is based in Bryan/College Station, TX, and serves construction clients on an international basis.

Click here to see the original article in Construction Business Owner 

Innovative Tech of the Week | That Cloud Thing

We'll let HP explain why the cloud is the latest and greatest technology in the best video spoof we've seen all month. Not as applicable as our usual Tech of the Week posts, but much more entertaining. 

Eight Questions to ask any Cloud Services Provider | Construction Today

Published on July 11, 2012 in the Construction Today Blog
By James Benham, President of JB Knowledge Technologies, Makers of SmartBidNet

Whether you have cloud technology or you’re shopping around for the right solution, there are several crucial questions to ask any cloud services provider before taking a leap into the cloud. We have developed this list through personal experience of working with prospective clients who weren’t afraid to ask us the hard questions. Below are eight questions and my recommended answers that will keep you informed and your cloud services provider on their toes.

1. How extensive is your experience in the construction industry specifically?
   It is important to look for someone that has at least five years of experience in your specific industry. Don’t be afraid to ask for specific client references to confirm their abilities.

Click here to read the full article

Tech of the Week | JBKnowledge | The Desktop/Smartphone

"Using virtualization tools like Citrix and VMWare, Canonical says that IT departments could issue a single device that covers both the desktop and mobile needs of employees."

A new system called Ubuntu for Android will allow devices to run the Android OS for smartphone purposes, and switch to Ubuntu when connected to a keyboard and monitor via a dock - essentially a mobile phone and desktop all--in-one. 

"The system reportedly lets you share your smartphone’s contacts, media, and apps among both Android and Ubuntu. The Ubuntu environment also supports MMS/SMS and phones calls: a pop-up window appears when you receive a call, and you can simply mouse over and click to answer."

The system is expected to eventually come already installed in devices, so no further installation or purchase is necessary. While others, like Motorola, offer similar systems, the Ubuntu/Android partnership is expected to be much more advanced. 

Our only concern for this type of technology is that losing your phone will become all the more terrifying when it is also your desktop...

Click here to learn more about this mobile technology 

Will cloud computing be your best option? Make sure you answer these questions first.

Cloud computing, cloud technology, cloud services, “in the cloud”, in whatever context, you’ve heard of it. And by now you could probably recognize it by this definition “a type of computing in which "massively scalable IT-enabled capabilities are delivered 'as a service' to external customers using Internet technologies" or by the services you’ve used personally for years that already employ the technology: Gmail, YouTube, Google Docs. Now that cloud technology is transforming corporate IT infrastructure, it’s being used in collaborative areas such as file storage and sharing, web and video conferencing, web-based project management software and online education and training. Many predictions are being thrown around involving billions of dollars saved as IT budgets expand the “Cloud services outsourcing” item, but the decision to use or not use cloud services has not come lightly, especially where sensitive monetary, employee, and client data are involved...

Click to read more ...