Computer Guidance Updates Construction Management System

October 18, 2011 Alex Woodie

Computer Guidance Corp. (CGC) recently launched version 4 of its Construction Management System, eCMS. Major new features in eCMS 4.0 include a new GUI, an updated business intelligence module, and an updated content management system.

CGC’s flagship application provides mid- to large-size contractors and other companies in the construction industry with an integrated platform for a range of activities, including financial accounting, project management, bidding, and human resources. The software, which runs exclusively on the IBM i platform, is available as an IBM i Solution Edition and as a hosted application.

CGC says eCMS 4.0 contains hundreds of new features. Operations and project management teams will use the new order control and inventory management systems, which bring new functionality in the areas of plant sales, bill of materials, and purchasing. Version 4 also includes an updated business intelligence module, based on IBM Cognos, that delivers new dashboards, reports, and analytics.

The suite’s content management system has also been enhanced to provider better handling of documents. CGC says this release brings a new tool for capturing documents and making them part of the existing workflow, as well as new archiving and indexing.

CGC has also enhanced the application’s GUI and menu system to be easier to use and navigate, while a new role-based security feature restricts employee access to certain data. It has also expanded certain data fields to make it easier to keep eCMS in compliance with industry regulations.

eCMS 4.0 features out-of-the-box integration with several other commonly used applications in the commercial building space, including the Prolog construction management app from Meridian Systems; the VisionLink fleet management app from Trimble, and Comdata‘s payment processing solutions.

CGC had to “considerably transform” eCMS to remain competitive, according to CGC president and CEO Roger Kirk. “Visibility into all aspects of the operation, convenient access and dynamic presentation of business-critical information, enterprise-wide collaboration and communication, and business process efficiencies were some the key drivers of our product development efforts,” he states in a press release.

In other news, CGC recently announced changes in executive positions, including the appointment of Mike Bihlmeier as the new chief operating officer and Tom Niccoli as the new executive vice president of customer services.

In August and September, Scottsdale, Arizona-based CGC announced several new hosted customers, including E.E. Reed Construction, which designs and builds in 14 states; Cold Spring Construction Co., which will use eCMS to manage its heavy highway and civil engineering projects in western New York and northern Pennsylvania; Motor City Electric Co., a 30-year CGC customer that recently moved from an on-premise to a hosted version of eCMS; Owen-Ames-Kimball Co., which provides general contracting, construction management, and design-build services; and The Rudolph/Libbe Companies, which has adopted eCMS 4.0 for the management of its general contracting business.