UK builders have just been given a huge boost to their position in the building industry. Now today’s builder can take ownership of every aspect of a project thanks to the ground-breaking software packages developed by HBXL, the industry’s leading software provider.

No one until now has given builders the tools to be able to draw their own plans, create estimates and manage their health and safety paperwork – and even accounts - individually and together.

Cheaper computers and a more general acceptance of IT has seen more builders than ever starting to use software to help run their building businesses. And over the years the industry has seen estimating software come and go, along with CAD software, accounts packages and more recently attempts at health and safety software.

But it’s taken HBXL, a company with the right mindset (it’s built by a builder) to create a suite of bespoke software, designed purely for the builder and property developer – down to the last nail.

Not satisfied with having given the industry PlansXpress, EstimatorXpress and Health & Safety Xpert, the most successful building software products on the market today, the developers at HBXL have just launched x-connex™.

X-connex™ is data sharing technology that links the processes of plans, estimating and health & safety into one, a feat no other company has managed to perform. Now project details need only be input once saving builders huge amounts of time that would otherwise be spent pulling together separate plans, drawing up an estimate and making sure health and safety paperwork is up to date.

In other words, builders now have access to one very powerful construction tool allowing them to confidently tackle every stage of a job.

Incorporating their three powerful, yet easy to use software packages - PlansXpress, EstimatorXpress and Health & Safety Xpert - builders will be able to draw their own building plans (or scan existing plans into the software) which will then be directly interpreted into a totally accurate estimate with a full breakdown of costs.

In addition all the health and safety paperwork can be automatically produced to satisfy the builder’s paperwork obligations including the latest CDM 2007 regulations.

Developed by a builder who knows what builders need, this new interconnected suite of software is the brainchild of Adrian Wild, the managing director at HBXL.

Adrian said: “Interpreting a set of building plans into an accurate estimate has never been a particularly easy exercise to undertake.

“Previously neither ‘spoke’ to each other, meaning builders had to learn how to use different types of systems and enter info twice – once into the CAD package and again into the estimating software.

“At the same time, once you’ve got the job and you’re on site, there’s the issue of keeping the health and safety paperwork right up to date. And at a time when the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) is making more random inspections, making sure you’re covered has never been more important.”

Adrian added: “HBXL’s suite of software packages deal with all of this simply and efficiently. Some builders are put off the design and plans aspect of a project because there has never been any software that a builder could easily master. But through our suite of products, builders can offer customers the complete build package from professionally presented drawings and visuals to totally accurate estimates and build programmes.

“If a customer already has a set of plans, PlansXpress allows the builder to import the drawings and trace over them onscreen to fully cost the project giving 3D visuals, professional quotes and schedules.”

Builders wanting to increase their profitability, even their work-life balance, will be pleased to know that HBXL have put together a bundle deal which means they can purchase all 3 products at a great discounted price, with x-connex™ technology thrown in for free.

As further verification of the benefits of the software, HBXL won several awards at the recent Interbuild show, not least a commendation for Best Connected Construction Process in the iTShowcase awards in November 2007.

USEFUL LINKS

PlansXpress - CAD software for builders

EstimatorXpress - Estimating software for builders

Health & Safety Xpert - Health and safety software for builders

CIA Lite - Accounts software for builders