UK-based RedSky IT, an $80 million turnover construction software specialist business with offices in the US and in Dubai, intends to introduce an element of surprise to its participation at the Big 5 show:  it will be launching a new software solution for a particular segment of the construction industry but is keeping the details under wraps so that visitors can discover it for themselves at its stand.

Besides this launch, RedSky IT will be showcasing its award-winning Summit software for contractors, Informate document management software and Progression AEC solutions.
Established in 1972, and presently part of the US’ Explorer Group, the 350-employee strong company provides specialist software solutions for the entire construction operation.
“We deliver, support and develop enterprise operational and financial management software for the construction industry, working with contractors, architects, engineers, consultants and facility management providers,” says Andy Bullen, the company’s recently-appointed director of sales and marketing for the Middle East and Asia region.
Having exhibited successfully at the Big 5 before, Bullen has nothing but praise for the show. “The Big 5 is universally accepted as being the most established and premier construction related event in the Middle East and as the market leader in our field, we need to be present at the event to showcase our products and services to a wide section of the construction industry.”
Commenting on the company’s document management software Informate, which will be showcased at the show, Bullen says: “Informate, which has been recently introduced by the company to this region, is a tried-and-tested award-winning content and document management software for the construction industry.”
“Working with contractors, professional service organisations and clients, we developed Informate to meet the construction industry’s unique methods of working. The software is delivered as a content and document management solution that structures around projects and contracts to offer a tool for business knowledge management,” he says.
Informate provides a framework for businesses to create, locate, manage and disseminate information across projects and also the company structure in general. It seeks to maximise the information and IT systems that a business already has in place by unlocking the knowledge contained in them and making it easily accessible to any user, according to him.
Some of the key features of the solution include powerful reporting and search tools to ensure that users can get to information quickly to aid business decision-making and reduce duplication of effort.
RedSky IT will also be showcasing Summit, its contractor accounting software for the construction industry. Commenting on its advantages, Bullen says: “Summit is a good, fundamental accounting, project management system. The biggest advantage of having it is that you can get timely information so you can make valid decisions about your costs.”
The latest edition of Summit incorporates VAT, which is under discussion and expected to be introduced sooner or later in the Gulf. Another feature that is relevant for this region is that Summit can handle multi-currency transactions.
Besides these two software, RedSky will be highlighting its Progression AEC solutions, which are a suite of project software developed specifically for professionals such as architects, engineers, and consultants within the construction industry supply chain.
“A fully integrated software solution, it helps deliver relevant and timely financial and project management information, ensuring access to real-time information, in any format, at any time from a single data store. Progression AEC’s powerful accounting capabilities, user-definable reporting and seamless integration of all modules provide a flexible approach to effective cost control, budgeting and monitoring for any scale of professional services organisation, either enterprise-wide or for a single department,” elaborates Bullen.
Speaking on the company’s presence and plans for the Gulf region, he says: “The past year has seen RedSky IT establish itself as the fastest growing software provider for the industry in the Middle East. We will continue to develop the scope and range of our specialist software, enabling us to provide the most complete and functional construction software solutions available. We are actively looking to expand our customer base in the GCC region and beyond.”
Globally, RedSky IT software is used by more than 50,000 construction professionals daily in over 1,500 organisations from different parts of the world, including three of the biggest Dubai-based contracting businesses, according to the company.
Major construction companies in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Yemen also rely on its software to manage their businesses.
RedSky IT, has a 15 per cent market share of all contractors in North America, where it functions under the banner of Explorer, while in the UK, it has a whopping 70 per cent share.
The company can be found at Stand A292.