FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NextPlans and Sharpe Images Launch NextBids
Contact: Chris Perkins, 1020 Burke St, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, (336)724-2871
Winston Salem, NC - July 22, 2011
Sharpe Images and NextPlans are pleased to announce their new public on-line plan room service "NextBids".
"NextBids will provide more project content and service capabilities to our users by including projects in Virginia and Georgia.
We hope to build on our long-standing slogan 'Do you know where your next project is... We Do!' by servicing a broader geographic region", states Chris Perkins, Director - Technical Services.
For more information, visit www.nextbids.com
About NextPlans
NextPlans is web-based service that facilitates project information management and information distribution for owners, architects, engineers, general contractors, and specialty contractors throughout the United States. NextPlans creates customized solutions that allow our clients to centralize information, reduce administrative costs, mitigate risk, and improve efficiency. NextPlans is one system with all-inclusive components that creates transparency and accountability on a project from schematic design to facilities management. For more information on NextPlans, visit www.nextplans.com or call 1-866.215.0428.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NextPlans January 2011 Feature Release
Contact: Chris Perkins, 1020 Burke St, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, (336)724-2871
Winston Salem, NC - January 10, 2011
NextPlans, a project information management and distribution (PIMD) service, is pleased to announce its January 2011 Feature Release.
Collaboration Subject Lines – Added the ability to change the subject line of a collaboration email. We have also added, under review notifications, a list view of the notifications to include the subject lines. If a user does not specify a subject line, the notification will revert to the default subject line previously in place.
Collaboration Message Formatting – Added a text editor to the message box, allowing formatting of the message body of a collaboration email.
iPhone/iPad – NextPlans now allows viewing of project documents via iPhone/iPad. This does not require an app, just navigate to the sites as normal, and view a document. You can also add the PDF to iBooks if you use that app (this will allow you to save a document for subsequent viewing).
Streaming Downloads - All users will be able to more efficiently download multiple documents from any NextPlans plan room. This will, for many users, bypass the package download method of batch downloads of project documents. By selecting this new option, users can instantly download the contents of a project folder to their computer versus downloading individually or placing a Package Download order.
About NextPlans
NextPlans is web-based service that facilitates project information management and information distribution for owners, architects, engineers, general contractors, and specialty contractors throughout the United States. NextPlans creates customized solutions that allow our clients to centralize information, reduce administrative costs, mitigate risk, and improve efficiency. NextPlans is one system with all-inclusive components that creates transparency and accountability on a project from schematic design to facilities management. For more information on NextPlans, visit www.nextplans.com or call 1-866.215.0428.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NextPlans Completes New Infrastructure Build-Out
Contact: Chris Perkins, 1020 Burke St, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, (336)724-2871
Winston Salem, NC - December 1, 2010
NextPlans, a project information management and distribution (PIMD) service, is pleased to announce its migration to a new SAS 70 Type II data center environment.
The rise in popularity of digital distribution of construction documents has led to a rapid increase in the performance requirements expected from NextPlans. This has subsequently driven a fundamental re-architecture of the NextPlans environment. This new environment utilizes cloud-based technologies for 99.99% uptime, greater data redundancy, and a significant overall increase in system performance.
Chris Perkins of NextPlans says; “Moving our services into this environment has better positioned NextPlans to scale up with client demand, while leveraging cutting edge technologies, to better distribute resources into product development. This move is critical to shortening the time to deploy new software development initiatives, while we continue to improve the overall user experience of our NextPlans users.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NextPlans Unveils New Customer Conscious Website
Contact: Zane Sharpe, 4832 Dwight Evans Road, Charlotte, NC 28217, (704) 525-7087
Charlotte, NC, October 7, 2010 - NextPlans, a project information management and distribution (PIMD) service is pleased to announce the launch of its newly redesigned website – www.nextplans.com. The NextPlans website will provide an updated resource for information and training for existing customers. It will also act as a direct median for future client opportunities and inquiries.
NextPlans.com aims to extend the reach of the NextPlans solution by serving a broad audience of owners, architects, engineers, general contractors, subcontractors, and members of the construction community who are interested in the four core competencies of NextPlans: Project Planning, Pre Construction Estimating, Project Management and Facilities Management.
The new Web site features expanded content and streaming media to include video clips related to the product, live Twitter and YouTube feeds, as well as new support and demonstration request forms. The redesign incorporates bold colors and graphics and completely new navigational tools to more clearly define the benefits of our solution.
Zane Sharpe of NextPlans says; “Our thought process is 3-fold; we want to streamline education and training for our existing customers through the new site. We want to create a new resource for exposing our service on the internet to potential customers. Lastly, NextPlans wants to provide a direct forum for our clients to provide feedback on their experiences using existing tools and new feature releases. We believe this will allows us to consolidate and more quickly digest their input for future improvements.” Sharpe adds; “We are pleased with our new site and will continue to enhance its capabilities to improve our communication with clients and potential clients going forward.”
Building Information Modeling: A Game-Changer for NC Construction Industry - Part 2
NC Construction News
Charlotte, NC, July 14, 2010 - Joe Sferrazza, BIM specialist with Lake Architectural, Charlotte, says one example of BIM’s momentum is the rise in membership of Charlotte’s Revit User Group. “In the last year and a half, membership has grown to well over 300 members, he adds.
“Charlotte’s Revit User Group is an excellent resource for AEC professionals interested in BIM, he explains. “You can get unbiased answers to your questions from actual users, not just someone trying to sell you a piece of software.” Lake Architectural has been using BIM software since 2004.
“BIM files create several other investments beyond the scope of 3-D software, one of which is a more robust information technology infrastructure,” says Zane Sharpe, who manages NextPlans, a subsidiary of Winston-Salem-based Sharpe Images. “Facilitating the communication and exchange of this information is what we’re built for."
"NextPlans’ web-based system manages construction documents from schematic design to project closeout", Sharpe adds.
With significantly larger electronic files that BIM entails, NextPlans helps all involved transfer information back and forth. Marveling at BIM and its capabilities is Ned McNaughton, an attorney at Charlotte’s McNaughton & Associates, which focuses on construction law.
“BIM is a wonderful tool from an engineering and construction point of view,” McNaughton says. “I think it’s really going to improve construction and decrease defective construction.”
Currently, some harbor inflated expectations for BIM, McNaughton believes, based on 3-D modeling they’ve seen in Hollywood offerings such as “The Matrix.”Though he hasn’t been involved in lawsuits involving BIM, McNaughton anticipates he will. He sees two BIM problems in need of solution.“The first one is just figuring out who’s responsible for the design and who owns it,” he says.“BIM is a cooperative system where everybody puts in their design,” he explains.
This includes the trades such as HVAC, plumbing and electrical.“But somebody needs to be responsible for the accuracy of that information and keeping it up to date,” he says. Who is that? “Well, that’s what we’re trying to find out. The logical place is whoever is in charge of the design element. Usually the architect.”
The second problem involves making what is built match what is drawn. If an HVAC firm installs ductwork in an unspecified spot, that usually results in adjustments in the field.BIM is different. “When you have a BIM system,” McNaughton says, “you have to up fit with the computer model. It can have a ripple effect on the entire project. There’s a higher administrative cost.”
When something does go wrong, finger-pointing is based on who knew what and when, the attorney says. With dynamic, multi-sourced 3-D modeling, that’s going to be harder and more expensive to ascertain.The federal Spearin Doctrine and its North Carolina sister “implied warranty of plans and specifications” will eventually factor in, McNaughton speculates.
Both essentially hold that the contractor has a reasonable expectation that if a structure is built to specification, it will work. But if the contractor, subs and others participate in the design, that “just following orders” defense is harder to mount.Matters such as that generally get hashed out in the courtroom.“BIM is going to be a lot prettier 10 or 20 years from now,” McNaughton says.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sharpe Images buys NextPlans
Contact: Jay Edwards, 5605 Chapel Hill Road, Suite 106, Raleigh, NC 27607 (919) 573-5034
Winston-Salem, NC, February 20, 2010 - Sharpe Images, a 58-year reprographics company based in Winston-Salem, NC, announced the purchase of NextPlans®, a project information management and distribution service, from Again Development in Westford, MA.
“It was time for Sharpe Images to pursue the acquisition of NextPlans,” says Greg Sharpe, CEO. “Sharpe Images has been the largest reseller of NextPlans since its inception and our clients have been the driving force behind many of the advancements NextPlans has undergone.”
Again Development is a software design/development firm with a focus on web-based systems for maintaining and communicating information via the Internet. Eric Benson, co-owner of Again Development and creator of NextPlans says, “Sharpe Images seemed like the right fit for NextPlans. I have watched [Sharpe Images] build an entire division around the NextPlans interface, and create a protocol that has allowed them to expand their reach beyond brick and mortar boundaries.” Benson will continue to stay connected with Sharpe Images in the coming months after the purchase.
NextPlans is developmentally flexible and Sharpe Images’ future for the product is to maximize its growth opportunity in the U.S.
