Technology : Software & I.T. News
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IT provider nominated for two prestigious building awards

OryxAlign’s leadership in cybersecurity and critical infrastructure recognised with two Building Innovation Awards shortlistings OryxAlign, a leading managed service provider (MSP) in the IT and cybersecurity sectors, has been shortlisted for two categories at the Building Innovation Awards 2024. The company has been nominated for the Resilient Infrastructure Innovation or

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How a FinOps strategy maximises cloud cost efficiency

How a FinOps strategy maximises cloud cost efficiency

How leveraging cloud service plans and auditing resources can significantly reduce cloud costs in the construction industry In 2024, the UK construction industry has seen a significant increase in financial distress. Begbies Traynor reports that construction remains the sector with the highest insolvency rates, with nearly one-fifth of all business

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TSG Boosts ESG and Digital Efficiency with Apogee's Innovative Solutions

TSG Boosts ESG and Digital Efficiency with Apogee’s Innovative Solutions

Partnership modernises TSG’s telephony and IT infrastructure for 200-strong employee base TSG Building Services Plc, a multi-disciplined building services and construction company, has successfully accelerated its digital innovation by partnering with managed workplace services (MWS) provider Apogee Corporation. The collaboration has modernised TSG’s telephony and legacy IT infrastructure to better

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Faraday Launches Dedicated Customer Portal App, Faraday Connect

Faraday Launches Dedicated Customer Portal App, Faraday Connect

Celebrating the release of their new customer portal app, Faraday Connect, leading property management and surveying agents Faraday are proud to continually evolve and improve their customers’ experience. As the first of many developments and with over 4,000 app downloads, the launch of the Faraday Connect app marks a milestone

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Forterra’s new online calculator improves brick merchants stocks

Forterra’s new online calculator improves brick merchants stocks

Brick manufacturer Forterra has recently launched a load selector calculator to allow customers to tailor their brick orders to the precise mix of products they require. With the ability to choose the exact number of bricks they need from Forterra’s entire range of London Bricks, plus Ecostock’s Atherstone Red and

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Latest Issue
Issue 323 : Dec 2024

Commercial : Software & I.T. News

OryxAlign - Commercial Property Header

IT provider nominated for two prestigious building awards

OryxAlign’s leadership in cybersecurity and critical infrastructure recognised with two Building Innovation Awards shortlistings OryxAlign, a leading managed service provider (MSP) in the IT and cybersecurity sectors, has been shortlisted for two categories at the Building Innovation Awards 2024. The company has been nominated for the Resilient Infrastructure Innovation or Project of the Year and Best Technology Partner categories. The awards ceremony will take place at the Hilton Deansgate in Manchester on October 17, 2024. The Building Innovation Awards celebrate forward-thinking organisations that embrace emerging technologies and digital transformation to advance the UK’s construction sector. Entrants are judged based on their ability to enhance productivity, sustainability and safety within the built environment. OryxAlign’s nomination in the Resilient Infrastructure Innovation or Project of the Year category recognises its work on the Critical Infrastructure Cyber Acceleration and Maturity Project for a leading commercial real-estate company, which bolstered the cybersecurity defences of over 30 high-value properties across the UK. The project demonstrated cutting-edge use of artificial intelligence, machine learning and real-time data analytics to anticipate and neutralise cyber threats proactively. The infrastructure was aligned with both ISO 27001 and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) cybersecurity frameworks, providing resilience for the client’s critical systems and devices. In addition, OryxAlign is competing in the Best Technology Partner category for its consistent commitment to client success, delivering round-the-clock IT support, secure network design and a proactive approach to digital resilience. The company’s managed IT services ensure operational efficiency for key building systems such as CCTV, access control and power management, proving instrumental in safeguarding critical infrastructure across a variety of sectors. “As cybersecurity threats are becoming more sophisticated, it’s critical for businesses to adopt resilient, forward-thinking technologies,” said Peter Schwartz, senior technology consultant at OryxAlign. “Our work in critical infrastructure projects showcases our commitment to safeguarding both digital and physical assets, ensuring that businesses can operate securely and efficiently, no matter the challenges they face.” The Critical Infrastructure Cyber Acceleration and Maturity Project has helped to enhance the cybersecurity posture of buildings by implementing advanced encryption and authentication protocols across operational technology (OT) devices. By integrating cybersecurity with physical security systems like surveillance and access controls, OryxAlign created a cohesive defence strategy that has significantly reduced operational risks.  “Our approach is always to listen closely to our clients, align their business objectives with the right technologies and exceed expectations at every stage,” Schwartz added. “From proactive monitoring to comprehensive cyber awareness training, we go beyond delivering transactional services, becoming true partners in our clients’ long-term success.” To learn more about how OryxAlign can support your project needs, visit www.oryxalign.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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How a FinOps strategy maximises cloud cost efficiency

How a FinOps strategy maximises cloud cost efficiency

How leveraging cloud service plans and auditing resources can significantly reduce cloud costs in the construction industry In 2024, the UK construction industry has seen a significant increase in financial distress. Begbies Traynor reports that construction remains the sector with the highest insolvency rates, with nearly one-fifth of all business failures occurring within construction. With this, it is becoming more important for companies in the construction sector to optimise their finances. The use of cloud computing is one area where many businesses are paying more than they need to. Here, Adam Weldon-Ming, head of professional services at cloud financial operations provider OryxAlign, discusses the different methods businesses can use to optimise their cloud usage for cost efficiency. Cloud optimisation falls under FinOps (Financial Operations) and focuses on managing and optimising the costs associated with using cloud computing resources. By analysing resources, construction companies can gain insight on the cloud costs for each department or cost centre. FinOps also explores strategies to reduce costs, such as identifying servers that can be turned off during non-operational hours or leveraging Microsoft Azure cost-saving plans like reserved instances. Tagging and resource allocation Applying proper tagging and categorisation to cloud resources – such as compute instances, storage, and databases ­­– can help allocate costs accurately to different departments, projects, or teams. This allows for better cost allocation, accountability, and cost optimisation based on specific business needs. For example, compute instances can be split by department, with tags like “Site_VM,” “Projects_VM,” and “Engineering_VM,” providing insights into department-specific costs. The company can then analyse the usage patterns and optimise its resources. If certain compute instances consistently experience low utilisation, they can be rightsized to match actual demand, eliminating unnecessary expenses. Demand-based flexibility Cloud platforms like Azure include options such as auto-scaling and flexible scaling sets to ensure that servers are only used when needed. Auto-scaling in Azure refers to the automatic adjustment of compute resources based on the workload demand. It allows organisations to dynamically scale their applications and infrastructure up or down to match the system’s changing needs. Flexible Scaling Sets, or Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets (VMSS), enable the deployment and management of a group of identical virtual machines (VMs) as a single entity. VMSS supports auto-scaling, allowing organisations to scale the number of VM instances within the set automatically. It ensures  the required capacity is available during high-demand periods and reduces costs during low-demand periods. Similarly, Amazon’s AWS offers Elastic Load Balancing (ELB). This automatically distributes incoming traffic across multiple instances or resources, ensuring the load is evenly distributed. It helps improve your applications’ availability and fault tolerance by automatically scaling the number of instances behind the load balancer based on traffic patterns. Another option that provides flexible scaling is Azure Functions, a serverless computing service. It enables developers to build and run event-driven functions that scale automatically, without requiring underlying infrastructure management. Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS): Offered by all major cloud providers, PaaS is a cloud computing model that provides a ready-to-use platform for developing, deploying, and managing applications without worrying about underlying infrastructure. With PaaS, developers can focus on writing code and building applications, while the cloud provider takes care of the servers, storage, networking, and operating systems. Pricing model analysis Although the names of pricing models might differ, cloud service providers offer different options, such as pay-as-you-go, reserved instances, or spot instances. Reserved Instances, for example, allow users to reserve cloud computing capacity in advance, typically for a one- or three-year term. Reserving a server for three years can cut the running cost by up to 40 percent compared to on-demand usage. OryxAlign successfully migrated a prominent client to Azure. OryxAlign monitored the infrastructure and implemented scale sets, allowing it to automatically provision new servers when capacity reached 75 per cent. Combining this with purchasing reserved instances for a three-year term resulted in significant cost savings, reducing the client’s annual cloud expenses from between £200,000-£300,000 to around £100,000. By partnering with a trusted advisor that can help to navigate the cloud landscape, companies can avoid wasting money on their cloud costs by analysing resource usage, implementing cost reduction strategies, and leveraging features like auto-scaling and load balancing. You can find out how much you could save through cloud optimisation by contacting OryxAlign through its website www.oryxalign.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Building Careers with Tech: Software's Role in the Modern Construction Workforce

Building Careers with Tech: Software’s Role in the Modern Construction Workforce

Software plays a vital role in 21st Century construction, helping modernise the industry, improve efficiencies, and deliver better project results. From the initial design process to eco-friendly practices, software is the cornerstone of modern construction, creating new jobs and fresh opportunities for a rapidly evolving workforce. Design and Innovation Design and innovation have moved from traditional times when the construction industry relied on blueprints and drawings to bring a project to life. Nowadays, you are more likely to view a proposed structure as a 3D model before any physical site work begins. This enhanced method of design and visualisation is also supported by the growing presence of virtual reality and augmented reality tools, sparking a new period of digital software innovation and career opportunities. These new technologies allow designers and project managers to visualise exactly what a building or structure will look like before a brick has been laid and allow stakeholders to take a virtual stroll through the structure. Project Management  One of the biggest advantages of software in the construction industry is its ability to enhance project management. Cloud-based solutions like construction enterprise resource planning (ERP) software help streamline processes and improve efficiencies across multiple teams so that projects run on time and within budget. Another transformative technology in construction is supply chain management software, which offers a range of functionalities, from tracking the flow of materials to managing invoices and costs. The development of ERP and supply chain management software represents key growth sectors in today’s construction industry. Communication and Collaboration Clear communication and strong collaboration are essential in any successful construction project. Thanks to continued investment and the evolving development of modern software and apps, communication between construction teams has never been better. Communication software keeps everyone in the loop and on the same page at every stage of the construction process. Any pinch points can be quickly identified and resolved so that problems resulting from poor communication are avoided. This not only delivers greater efficiencies for building firms, but it can also help reduce labour and other operational costs. AI and Data Analytics Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics can transform most industries, and they’re already having a powerful impact on the construction world. These dynamic software tools can analyse every aspect of a construction project and provide data-driven information on which parts are working well and which are not. Using this data combined with advanced tools, construction firms can adjust their outlooks and address specific issues to maximise efficiencies across the business, identify bottlenecks, and ultimately increase profit margins. AI is only set to create more opportunities in the future, with the market expected to grow from £16.8 billion to £801.6 billion by 2023, with construction poised to harness the benefits that brings.  Automation and Smart Machines Automation has already replaced many manual, repetitive tasks in construction. But this ingenious feature of many software platforms will have an even greater influence in years to come, creating an abundance of opportunities for developers and engineers alike. By letting the software automate certain tasks, such as data manipulation, the whole sector can see productivity gains.  Similarly, drone technology allows construction teams to accurately monitor and assess buildings and structures to provide a clear and detailed picture for site managers. They can inspect sites from the air to identify problems that would be difficult to spot from the ground and provide a bird’s-eye view of areas that are dangerous to reach. Not only does this create a safer environment, but drone software can produce real-time data to increase efficiencies and boost productivity. Advanced Sensor Technology Sensor technology has made huge progress and continues to do so, relaying essential information back to project managers to act upon. These state-of-the-art sensors can be embedded into construction materials and equipment where they detect defects and structural weaknesses and give vital feedback on everything from air quality to the movement of site vehicles. By continuously monitoring the building process, firms can spot potential risks early and take appropriate action to reduce the probability of accidents or injury. Similarly, construction companies are harnessing the advantages of IoT, or the Internet of Things, referring to the vast network of interconnected devices and apps that collect important data. This enables teams to monitor multiple aspects such as temperature and humidity as well as fuel and energy consumption to ensure maximum efficiencies across a project. Eco-friendly Solutions Like most industries, construction has a responsibility to reduce its negative impact on the environment for a more sustainable future in line with the UK government’s Net Zero 2050 target. With so many materials required for a project and so much waste produced, firms are under renewed pressure to adopt greener and more sustainable ways of working. Construction software helps teams identify where improvements can be made to reduce waste, improve efficiencies, and lower their carbon footprint. Not only that, but this technology ensures maximum benefits are gained from any materials used on a project to create greener buildings and structures for all as well as a variety of career software development opportunities. As you can see, technology is a driving force in construction already, and many sectors of the industry rely on it to achieve maximum efficiencies, streamline projects, and create safer and more sustainable working environments, buildings, and structures. As systems and techniques continue to evolve, a new world of career opportunities in construction software development and delivery will open up too. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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TSG Boosts ESG and Digital Efficiency with Apogee's Innovative Solutions

TSG Boosts ESG and Digital Efficiency with Apogee’s Innovative Solutions

Partnership modernises TSG’s telephony and IT infrastructure for 200-strong employee base TSG Building Services Plc, a multi-disciplined building services and construction company, has successfully accelerated its digital innovation by partnering with managed workplace services (MWS) provider Apogee Corporation. The collaboration has modernised TSG’s telephony and legacy IT infrastructure to better support its more than 200 staff as well as customers. The modernisation follows a period of rapid growth for TSG and the opening of two new offices in Potters Bar and Cambridge, which highlighted the need for digital innovation to overcome inefficiencies owing to its outdated PTSN-based telephony system and complex IT infrastructure. Apogee has overhauled the company’s telephony and IT infrastructure, replacing TSG’s on-premises setup with a cloud-based telephony system that has improved remote working capabilities and streamlined call handling. The new system includes softphone and mobile app functionality, disaster recovery options, and features for remote work, compliance, and training. As a data processor for local authorities, the family-run business also needed to improve document security and reduce printing costs. Apogee’s managed print services have cut running costs by 12% and enhanced document security, ensuring GDPR compliance. “Apogee’s commitment to IT service management has made a significant difference. There has to be that sufficient level of customer service to ensure we get the best from our technology implementations. The communication promises made prior to the signing of the contract have been adhered to, and that really outweighs any financial gain we’ve made from the project,” says Marc Terenzio, Head of IT, TSG. TSG has also become the latest organisation to join Apogee’s Affinity+ Partner Programme, thereby boosting its ESG credentials by upcycling old devices for donation to schools and non-profits. This marks the first phase on an ongoing collaboration, with TSG and Apogee currently exploring further innovations to enhance TSG’s digital capabilities and operational efficiency, including hybrid cloud network infrastructure, IT service management, and cloud cybersecurity. “TSG’s business is going from strength to strength, and we’re there every step of the way to ensure they can have confidence that their IT infrastructure meets the evolving needs of both their employees and customers. This is just the start of our journey together,” added Jason Barnard, Sales Specialist Telecoms and Cloud Solutions, Apogee. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Metaroom and DIALux tie up to Enhance Efficiency in 3D Modelling for Lighting Design

Metaroom and DIALux tie up to Enhance Efficiency in 3D Modelling for Lighting Design

Partnership will enable users to instantly scan spaces and then experiment with lighting solutions to find the optimum design  Metaroom by Amrax, a spatial 3D data capture company, has announced a partnership with the world’s largest lighting design software provider DIALux.   The tie-up will enable users to send 3D scan data from Amrax’s Metaroom solution directly to DIALux’s planning software. This new feature will be available from mid-September with the release of DIALux evo 13. This allows the fast creation of precise and detailed light plans for each room.   Scans* can be made in a matter of minutes on any Apple Pro device with a LiDAR sensor and then instantly imported into DIALux. At this point, users can experiment with scores of different factors to find the most cost effective, aesthetically pleasing, functional and sustainable lighting solution for their space. The partnership between Metaroom and DIALux aims to streamline the spatial design process for professional designers and consequently help to power innovation, sustainable design, and lower costs.  The Metaroom app is an advanced 3D scanning app, driven by the power of AI, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), and SLAM (Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping) technologies. The tool enables professionals in spatial planning industries to envision and redefine spaces. The Metaroom solution is a workflow consisting of Metaroom app for capture and Metaroom Studio for optimisation before export. Through the Metaroom app users can scan rooms using an iPhone Pro or iPad Pro*. These scans are then uploaded to the cloud, generating true-to-scale 3D models within seconds. Users can then use the web application, Metaroom Studio, to enrich these 3D models with additional information before exporting, ensuring project-specific customisation and precision.  DIALux is the global standard in lighting design software, utilized by over 750,000 active users to design, calculate, and visualize lighting for both indoor and outdoor areas. Featuring real luminaires from over 412 DIALux members, users can create unique atmospheres and generate comprehensive project documentation. Available in 26 languages, DIALux supports a worldwide network of lighting professionals and adheres to the open BIM approach. The integration with Metaroom is also based on open BIM and IFC standards.   DIAL always prioritizes the needs of lighting designers in its feature development, aiming to streamline their workflows and simplify their tasks. By using Metaroom, lighting designers can save significant time when designing and placing luminaires. Projects can be conveniently downloaded from Metaroom Studio and imported into DIALux. The planning results can then be exported as an IFC model for the Open BIM process or other programs, significantly reducing the workload.  Martin Huber, CEO of Amrax, said: “Advances in 3D modelling, software and AI are combining to democratise design. Lighting designers and electrical planners now have access to powerful tools that significantly enhance efficiency, enabling them to serve more customers in less time. This is going to lead to a revolution in how buildings are designed and how we all interact with our built environment.  “Partnerships between cutting edge solutions like Metaroom and DIALux are key to powering this change. By creating an extensive ecosystem of lighting design solutions, we will significantly improve accessibility, reduce costs and bring spatial design to the mainstream.”     Dieter Polle, CEO at DIALux, said: “Simply scan the room with your smartphone and start planning right away. Wouldn’t that be fantastic? By integrating Metaroom into DIALux, this is now possible. The time-consuming task of constructing the geometry before starting the actual lighting design is eliminated. Martin’s team and their solution have convinced us. The integration follows our Open BIM strategy technologically. With this integration, we’ve made life a bit easier for lighting designers.”  Over 11.000 Metaroom users, including key players in the lighting, wireless planning and AEC industries, have registered through the Metaroom app and joined the Amrax B2B ecosystem dedicated to spatial design and 3D modelling.   *Metaroom app’s scanning functionality is currently compatible with all LIDAR-enabled Apple devices (starting from iPhone 12 Pro and iPad Pro 2020 generation devices). However, you can view or download shared 3D models directly in any web browser through Metaroom Studio.   The digital twin is created with the Metaroom app within minutes by using RGB and depth sensors from an iPhone or iPad Pro together with deep-learning neural networks. The accuracy of LiDAR sensors of the iPhone 14 Pro model is at 0.5-1%. The recognition range is approximately 5 meters. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Storyblok’s CMS helps Octopus Energy use content to power the future of green energy

Storyblok’s CMS helps Octopus Energy use content to power the future of green energy

Octopus Energy is now able to deploy website updates in five minutes, and has seen a two-thirds decrease in requests for support from developers Storyblok, the modern content management system (CMS) for all teams, today announced that Octopus Energy is using its CMS to manage content more efficiently and decrease dependence on developers. Octopus Energy is a global clean energy tech business, driving the affordable, green energy system of the future. Their previous CMS required significant developer involvement for every content task and was very limited in its flexibility and customization options. This led to a fragmented content management setup that was slow and prevented collaboration.   Knowing that this wasn’t sustainable for their dynamic content needs, Octopus Energy made the switch to Storyblok. Now they use Storyblok to centralize content management and integrate all of their platforms through APIs, give content creators the components they need to create experiences without the help of developers, and closely manage user roles to improve collaboration. Storyblok is used by 19 teams across 6 business functions in 8 countries. With that combined teamwork, Octopus Energy is able to create a website from scratch within 2 weeks and deploy updates in 5 minutes. The typical creation and publishing time has been cut by 1-2 days, with smaller projects getting delivered on the same day. This smooth process led to a two-thirds decrease in requests for support from developers. Aaron Cawte, Senior Front-end Developer at Octopus Energy, said: “Storyblok’s Visual Editor empowers our content editors to click on the content they want to change and see the results in real-time. This enabled us to roll out Storyblok at speed with zero training, and our teams around the world have taken to it like ducks to water.” Based on this success, Octopus Energy plans to continue using Storyblok for various projects, including the migration of over 1,000 pages from a legacy CMS, and the expansion of their mobile app content. Sascha Ploebst, VP of Sales at Storyblok, said: “Storyblok makes it possible for everyone on the team to be a part of your content efforts. Octopus Energy has seen firsthand why using a CMS that can be adopted by multiple teams, departments, and regions is a smart business decision.” Dominik Angerer, CEO and Co-Founder of Storyblok, said: “Octopus Energy views energy in the same way we view content: it should be efficient and nothing should be wasted. By centralizing content with Storyblok, Octopus Energy is experiencing the benefits of reusable content across all of their platforms.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Faraday Launches Dedicated Customer Portal App, Faraday Connect

Faraday Launches Dedicated Customer Portal App, Faraday Connect

Celebrating the release of their new customer portal app, Faraday Connect, leading property management and surveying agents Faraday are proud to continually evolve and improve their customers’ experience. As the first of many developments and with over 4,000 app downloads, the launch of the Faraday Connect app marks a milestone for Faraday in transforming the way leaseholders and property owners engage and communicate with their property managers and surveyors. With enhanced access to the portal anytime and anywhere, Faraday understands the significance of convenience for their customers. By extending the portal’s availability with a user-friendly app, users can now access Faraday Connect from any mobile device. Following their recent launch, Faraday are already planning to introduce new features to ensure the platform continues to enhance their communications. Aimed at empowering users, Faraday Connect enables customers to conduct real-time financial monitoring, effortlessly engage with their community, and instantly raise and track requests, all at the touch of a few buttons. Faraday’s Managing Director, Russell O’Connor, added: “In today’s digital world, it is increasingly important that information is easily accessible. With the development of Faraday Connect, we prioritise our customers’ ability to instantly connect with their property managers and retrieve important documents such as key building and leasehold documents. As ethical and transparent agents, we pride ourselves on making it easy for customers to find important information, which is why our portal acts as an easy-to-use hub for service charge details, fostering open lines of communication and tracking their request progress.” Director’s Area By extension, Faraday Connect grants Directors improved access to information through a secure and dedicated area. This exclusive Directors area also offers easier ways to communicate with their property management teams transparently and efficiently, further enhancing the platform’s functionality. Faraday’s dedicated team brings years of specialised experience in building surveying and property management. Whether you have a historic or new build, using the latest technology, Faraday is equipped to support your property’s unique needs and enhance your property management experience. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Forterra’s new online calculator improves brick merchants stocks

Forterra’s new online calculator improves brick merchants stocks

Brick manufacturer Forterra has recently launched a load selector calculator to allow customers to tailor their brick orders to the precise mix of products they require. With the ability to choose the exact number of bricks they need from Forterra’s entire range of London Bricks, plus Ecostock’s Atherstone Red and Hampton Rural Bricks, a selection of Butterley bricks, Thermalite blocks and Conbloc aggregate blocks, customers can benefit from increased stock flexibility and potential reduction in invoice value. Other benefits include reducing the environmental impact of transport by streamlining deliveries to one truck, which also eases traffic on customers’ sites. The online calculator gives Forterra’s customers the opportunity to create a visual representation of their Load Selector order, as they choose their products and determine how much of each product they require to make up their latest load. Once the truck is at capacity, customers will see a breakdown of the order which they can download or send straight to Forterra’s sales office to receive a quote. Load Selector is the latest service designed to make Forterra’s purchasing experience as smooth as possible. Recently, builders merchant Collier & Catchpole, who have two large yards, one in Colchester and one in Ipswich, as well as a smaller yard in the village of Lawford in north-east Essex, have been taking advantage of the Load Selector service to improve their stock profile. The option to order mixed loads of brick and block has brought numerous benefits to the business; because they now order little and often, Collier & Catchpole are able to keep a greater variety of Forterra’s brick and block range at any one time. The smaller volume also makes it easier to keep stock neat and tidy. Jasper Smathers, Purchasing Manager at Collier & Catchpole, said, “Forterra’s Load Selector has been a game changer for our business. Having the option to mix London Brick with other bricks and Thermalite and aggregate block on a single load – and at full load rates – is fantastic. It’s also enabled us to reduce our stock levels and have better control of our ordering. Most importantly of all, it’s helped us improve our product range and service to customers – it means we are now able to really shine.” Adam Smith, Commercial Director at Forterra, said “We are thrilled to launch the calculator and continue to improve our Load Selector Service. We’ve already had great feedback on the original service from customers like Collier & Catchpole and hope the calculator will ensure an even easier purchasing experience that will make our customers’ orders more efficient in transport and their stock profiles.” To find out more about the Load Selector visit: https://www.forterra.co.uk/load-selector/ For more information on the calculator visit: https://www.forterra.co.uk/load-selector/calculator/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Landsec works with Smart Spaces to roll out new Landsec Experience app across its whole London workplace portfolio

Landsec works with Smart Spaces to roll out new Landsec Experience app across its whole London workplace portfolio

Landsec, one of the UK’s leading commercial real estate companies, is launching an optimised Landsec Experience app across its entire London portfolio of prime workplaces using Smart Spaces’ smart building OS. The new app is designed to help people who work in Landsec’s buildings get the most from their time in and around their offices. In addition to digital access control, it provides office customers with access to a range of personalised experiences, events and discounts along with the latest information about their workplaces, through their smartphones and smartwatches.  The app also integrates with Landsec’s flexible office brand – Myo – allowing Landsec customers to book meeting rooms and events spaces through the app in Piccadilly, The City of London, Southbank and Victoria. In line with Landsec’s wider focus on leveraging data and insights to improve customer experiences, the app will also enable two-way consumer feedback for Landsec with customer surveys to better understand how its buildings are being used and any opportunities for its services to be enhanced. Smartphone access to buildings is now ‘live’ The Landsec Experience app will also provide contactless entry for customers, aligned with Landsec’s strategy to deliver digital-led solutions which enhance guest experience. At all London locations, access credentials can now be stored in digital wallets to make this a seamless experience.   To facilitate this, Landsec has optimised the technology throughout its spaces with upgraded doors readers in many buildings, as well as implementing HID Mobile Access. This makes it straightforward to deal with all the licensing and credential management for tenants and visitors, as well as setting building access rights which is now all done quickly and remotely. Oliver Knight, Head of Workplace at Landsec said: “Alongside our exciting plans to activate our places and buildings, the Landsec Experience app is designed to help the people who work in our spaces get the most out of their time in and around the office. By launching this optimised Landsec Experience app, with even more capabilities, we’re providing a personalised and digital user experience which will enhance the working week for everyone who uses our workplaces.” Today, registered users simply have to download the Landsec Experience app to then use their Android or Apple smartphones or watches to have quick and seamless access by holding their device near any HID reader to open the turnstiles and doors automatically.  Smart Spaces’ OS provides easy central control with the ability to modify the app per building and an architecture designed to allow access control software from multiple vendors to be incorporated easily. Dan Drogman, Smart Spaces’ Chief Executive Officer, says, “We’re delighted to support Landsec with the development of its customer experience app and introduction of mobile access. It’s an important step on their smart building journey with our OS platform capable of scaling with them. It helps a customer like Landsec maximise the investment in its estate to the full.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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MRI Software enters agreement to acquire Capita One – a subsidiary of Capita plc

MRI Software enters agreement to acquire Capita One – a subsidiary of Capita plc

MRI Software, a global leader in real estate solutions and services, announces that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Capita One, a leading provider of software solutions across the UK public sector. Upon close, MRI expects that the acquisition will expand and complement its existing offering and accelerate future technology innovation for local authorities and local education. Founded in 1994, Capita One is a subsidiary of UK-listed Capita plc, a modern outsourcer supporting primarily UK and European clients with people-based services underpinned by market-leading technology. “The acquisition of Capita One significantly enhances our ability to serve the UK public sector with flexible solutions that meet its evolving needs,” said Patrick Ghilani, Chief Executive Officer of MRI Software. “MRI’s AI-first approach and platform are designed to empower clients to break down information siloes, unify data across systems and deliver the best outcomes for their communities. Today’s announcement ushers in new possibilities for the industry, and our teams are excited about what’s ahead.” The combination of MRI and Capita One is expected to create a broad suite of solutions that help local authorities optimise the asset lifespan, reduce team workload through self-service tools, drive data-informed decisions, and manage educational touchpoints to deliver optimal outcomes. The public sector has been subject to continuous regulatory change, driving an increased need for software solutions that enable compliance. MRI’s offerings are designed to improve the living experiences for millions of residents worldwide through specialised technology that automates processes, streamlines operations, and adapts to changes in legislation. Capita One brings additional capabilities to expand MRI’s solutions for public sector customers in the UK and Northern Ireland, including: “This acquisition will give Capita One’s clients access to a wider range of complementary technology to address the complexities of a highly regulated sector, while clients who use our other products will benefit from our new scale and pace of innovation in the future,” said Jon Peart, Managing Director, Capita One. “The combined expertise of MRI and Capita One will build a bright future for the industry.” The acquisition has been unanimously approved by the boards of MRI and Capita and is expected to close by the end of August 2024, subject to regulatory approval and approval by Capita’s shareholders. Capita One will continue to serve its clients as usual, without interruption. For full details of the transaction, please see Capita Plc’s market announcement here: https://www.londonstockexchange.com/news-article/CPI/disposal/16558237 Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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