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| 2001.06.25 |
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Three new ASPs and extensions added to construction portal site BuildArc
- IT promoted in the construction industry with industry-leading multi-ASP platform -
NTT Communications Corporation
NTT COMWARE CORPORATION
Being Co., Ltd.
NTT Communications Corporation ( *1 ) (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, President: Masanobu Suzuki), NTT COMWARE CORPORATION ( *2 ) (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President: Yuji Matsuo) and Being Co., Ltd. ( *3 ) (Head Office: Tsu-shi, Mie-ken, President: Yoshishige Tsuda) agreed on a joint venture to release a new line-up of ASP ( *4 ) services on NTT Communications portal site BuildArc ( *5 ) for the construction industry. The services will be released one after the other beginning in August 2001.
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1. Overview of Portal Site Extensions
The following describes the extensions:
(1) Deployment of three brand-new ASPs for the entire construction IT market
(2) Powerful partnership on a platform that administrates multiple ASPs
(3) Integration of content on NTT Communications' OCN Kensetsu Web ( *6 ) for updates to the portal site
The newly-released services include (1) ProjectArc (tentative name), a project information administration ASP for private construction projects, provided by NTT Communications, (2) Smart Construction (tentative name), a project information administration ASP for public construction projects, provided by NTT COMWARE CORPORATION, and (3) Genba DE Net, a site information sharing ASP for small and mid-sized companies that can access construction applications, marketed by Being as a package.
This extended line-up provides a wider variety of ASP services on BuildArc for construction projects, offering one-stop availability of a variety of IT tools for construction work. Since this portal site is operated by NTT Communications' iDC (internet Data Center), a complete and totally secure IT system can be outsourced.
In addition, the ASP will be operated on a "multi-ASP platform," an industry-leading platform that comprehensively administrates contract information and part of the applications. In future, the site will be further enhanced to become a multi-ASP portal site with multiple ASPs available for construction Supply Chain Management (SCM).
2. Overview of Services
(1) Project Arc
- Service Overview
ProjectArc is an ASP for private domestic construction projects in which, in the majority of cases, all phases of the project are ordered from a single construction company. This type of comprehensive ordering is well-suited to project management and information distribution via the Internet. Project Arc allows security-focused information sharing in joint projects and cross-organizational projects which is indispensable in commercial construction projects. Its original technology enables revision management of CAD data and scheduling files that are frequently modified and updated, version control of process files and simple distribution of files into folders.
- Functional Characteristics
According to research into the needs of active participants in the construction industry, the major requests for an information sharing environment included tools for parallel administration of multiple projects and an ASP service suitable for the broadband age. This new service includes these functions as a package, and NTT COMWARE CORPORATION has helped to create a totally new IT service for the construction industry. Functions include document administration, bulletin board systems, forums for teleconferencing, work flow tools and sophisticated CAD drawing viewing/modification/layer control, all while protecting security among projects and workgroups.
- Merit
ProjectArc allows for seamless and secure information sharing and progress management, not only for each work site but also for multiple projects on a national and global basis. Users will benefit from an information distribution platform between head offices and work sites, organizations and partner companies for a low monthly fee without having to build any infrastructure.
- Fee
starting at ¥3,500 per ID (scheduled)
- Release date
September 2001 (scheduled)
- Supplier
NTT Communications (Licenser: NTT COMWARE CORPORATION, Technical support: Web-I Co., Ltd.)
(2) Smart Construction
- Service Overview
Smart Construction is a sophisticated project management tool specifically for public works with divided order placement. The service enables sharing of information and collaboration among related organizations throughout the construction project lifecycle of designing, construction and maintenance.
- Functional Characteristics
The Smart Construction ASP possesses many of the same characteristics as ProjectArc, including project management for multiple projects and interfaces for basic functions such as CAD draft modification, a layer control viewer, multiple site administration, a bulletin board system, workflow tools and document reporting. In addition, Smart Construction has special functions specially designed to support product administration and progress administration needed for the project management of public works.
- Merit
The service provides advanced project management functions that allow design offices, partner companies and clients to share information and collaborate in real time for a low monthly fee. This service is specifically designed for projects with multiple contractors and allows each of the companies involved in the project to work together as a single operating unit on the documentation needed by government offices. Naturally, this results in greater efficiency. The service is well-adapted to the increasing use of IT in public works.
- Fee
¥3,500 and more/ID (scheduled)
- Release date
September 2001 (scheduled)
- Supplier
NTT COMWARE CORPORATION (Technical support: Web-I Co., Ltd.)
(3) Genba DE Net
- Service Overview
Genba DE Net was designed to be an groundbreaking ASP for small and mid-sized construction companies by combining a user interface adaptable to the environment of the construction site with site administration functions appropriate for project managers. The ASP can be connected to other Being technologies, including a quantity survey package, so that an IT environment can be smoothly incorporated into the construction site.
- Functional Characteristics
Genba DE Net is a highly advanced communications tool for the integration of business applications and the Internet with quantity, process control, performance budgeting, cost control and accounting in addition to the basic functions of daily reports, schedules, facility reservation, mail, bulletin board systems, reply confirmation and document control. It dramatically promotes IT at the work site as the first step in total support for the project lifecycle in the construction industry. In addition, data input can be performed via fax, mobile phone, i-mode and other technologies so that staff unfamiliar to PCs can easily use it.
- Merits
Genba DE Net removes the barriers for digitalization of construction sites. Digitalization allows managers and site representatives to easily obtain the latest information for efficient administration free of communication problems.
- Fee
starting at ¥3,500 per ID (scheduled)
- Release date
August 2001
- Supplier
Being Co., Ltd.
3. Multi-ASP Platform
Multi-ASP Platform is a Web site support system provided by NTT COMWARE CORPORATION for BuildArc. It has unique license administration and authentication technologies that succeed in handling the complexities of membership and billing administration required of a construction ASP. It uses Being's Multi-License Controller as an authentication and accounting mechanism.
On the platform, end users are not required to supply multiple IDs and passwords for each ASP or option, or to enter basic information for multiple ASPs. In the future, BuildArc will be the foundation for SCM in the construction industry by applying ASPs to a variety of construction processes.
Basic functions
- Administration of basic information on site member companies and users
- Authentication with IDs and passwords
- Flexible criteria for user licenses
- Centralized administration of licenses for multiple ASPs
- Administration of ASP services (administration of user licenses, service usage)
- Administration of utility charges (fixed or per-unit charges)
- Administration of existing customers in connection with a billing system
4. Marketing Objectives
It is projected that these three products will attract hundreds of thousands of users and bring in approx. ¥5 billion within three years.
5. Other
With the BuildArc brand, NTT Communications will solicit construction companies and application vendors to participate as "BuildArc partners" to promote IT in the construction industry.
Companies that participate in BuildArc will:
Effectively promote sales among ASP marketing partners including NTT Communications, the global IT company with a total-solution network and data center.
Utilizing iDC, the enterprise backbone system, and the newly-introduced multi-ASP platform, participants can provide users with highly-reliable, convenient services, and the brand will develop synergy.
*1 NTT Communications Corporation
NTT Communications provides domestic and international communication services, Internet service OCN, and other IP related services. It is the main operator of BuildArc, with a wide-ranging line-up of service including networks, applications and other services related to sites and enterprise backbone systems.
*2 NTT COMWARE CORPORATION
NTT COMWARE CORPORATION was the division of NTT in charge of engineering, configuration, implementation and operation of network communication systems and business systems such as accounting phone charges and billing, it was separated from NTT in September 1997. In November 2000, its organizational structure was reshuffled into a marketing-centric infrastructure, and its name was changed from "NTT COMMUNICATIONWARE CORPORATION" to "NTT COMWARE CORPORATION." It has set the target of 2001 to seriously enter the IT market, and will endeavor to deploy its SI solutions - networking technologies, Linux, Java, and security technologies - with technical expertise and reliability.
*3 Being Co., Ltd.
Being has been active in the development and sale of business software for the construction industry, such as Gaia, a civil engineering quantity survey application, and Charites, a performance budgeting and cost controlling application. Its customers are construction companies including major general contractors, public offices and construction consultants. Gaia has a market share of 43.9% (according to a report on construction CAD software and hardware by the Economic Research Association issued in 1998). As an Internet service provider, Being operates Allesnet, Construction Information Network and other telecommunication services for users in the construction industry.
*4 Application Service Provider (ASP)
An application provider that allows customers to access proprietary computer applications via the Internet, VPN and dedicated lines. Users with a Web browser can access the application server owned by the ASP. Users are freed of the cumbersome tasks of installation, maintenance and version management of the application, resulting in greater customer satisfaction.
*5 BuildArc
NTT Communications' general portal site for the construction industry (construction companies, partner companies, design offices, clients and materials vendors) with various ASPs and industry information. The operation started in October 2000.
*6 OCN Kensetsu Web
OCN Kensetsu Web provides content for the construction industry via OCN Business Web. The site is popular for its complete information on bids and order placement, building material and parts catalogues, live Webcasting from construction sites and daily news of the construction industry.
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