Improving productivity and efficiency, especially in the post-recession pick-up, is driving companies’ software choices, and software providers are responding accordingly with changes to their products.

"The latter half of 2013 saw an increase in construction activity and many manufacturers saw an increase in workload that’s continuing into 2014," said Wolf Systems sales and marketing director Karl Foster. "So with manufacturers getting busier but still perhaps having resources more suited to 2009-2012 demand levels, the need for software that allows them to work quickly, accurately and productively is stronger."

Across all Wolf Systems’ software portfolio – truss and joist design, timber frame and management – customers are looking for the software to do more for them.

"They want and need more functionality, more automation and faster results," said Mr Foster.

The importance customers place on the various functions differs depending on their needs, but what is universally important to them is that their system provider not only supplies design and management software but continues to develop it as their business develops, said Mr Foster.

In response to this, Wolf Systems’ development team is now the largest its ever been.

"We’re working on developments to our existing software range and also something brand new," he said.

The something new, which has a working title of Fusion, is structural design software for roof trusses and metal-web joists and, when launched, will replace WolfWin.

"Fusion is a way off yet," said Mr Foster, "however, the important aspect of it is our commitment in this new development.

"At the height of the recession we took the decision to start working on the largest software project we have ever attempted,hence the largest team we’ve ever employed."

Through its parametric design capabilities, the new software will deliver "functionality and automation that simply hasn’t been possible before".

"Many customers may spend time designing a trussed rafter project only to find dimensional changes made closer to the construction phase result in a lot of their work becoming redundant and a redesign is then required," said Mr Foster.

"Parametric design enables, for example, a dimension to be changed and so the walls, the roofscape, and the framing that is already in place moves accordingly. This means one change can be reflected in many objects, crucially speeding up design time and reducing errors."

Truss software update
In the meantime Wolf Systems has launched its latest version of WolfWin truss software which enables customers to incorporate a metal-web easi-joist into the ceiling tie of an attic truss. While this will often be just the bottom chord, the software update enables the entire truss to be designed using easi-joists.

Companies’ desire to improve efficiency is a trend also identified by Kerridge Commercial Systems. It recently received an order from Ealing Boards & Timber in west London for a five-user K8 system to replace a predominantly manual system at the company’s two branches.

The K8 applications, which cover stock control, sales order processing, purchasing and financials, will provide greater control and visibility of business operations.

Kerridge has recently made its K8 system available as an SaaS (software as a service)solution. The subscription-based service includes the K8 software and database licence, helpdesk support, system hosting, service capacity and system maintenance.

Sales and marketing director Duncan Smillie said the new service gave customers greater flexibility as their needs changed.

"In the same way that K8 is a very scalable system, we have made it easy for those who opt for K8-SaaS to adjust their requirements as and when necessary. Adding more users is a very simple process," he said.

"From working with merchants across the sector, we believe that our customers are not looking for a one-size-fits-all type of contract when choosing K8. Every business is different and by introducing K8-SaaS we are now able to help those who want to align the costs of their system with the flow of business benefits."

BIM is another factor driving changes to software. The collaborative process involves creating a 3D visual computer model of a building to manage design and whole life data and which can be accessed by all project parties.

"Our Horizon timber frame software allows our customers to collaborate in a BIM environment and we’re seeing some of our customers working on BIM projects and winning work as a result," said Mr Foster.

"Some have been projects that one might expect to be BIM focused, such as large commercial projects, but an interesting development is from housebuilders who are keen to exploit the benefits of BIM and are looking for their suppliers to work with them."

One supplier that is embracing BIM is joinery manufacturer NorDan. BIM files for use with Autodesk Rivet can now be downloaded from NorDan’s website, enabling architects to insert NorDan’s window and door product information directly into their drawings.

"It will greatly assist the design team in their energy analysis of the building. We envisage greater optimisation of glazing properties to control heat transfer through the building fabric will result in cost savings for heating and cooling systems," said the company’s John McMenamy.

Window on software
Flexibility is at the heart of joinery software CalWin, says Simon Mallinson, director of UK agent, Logical Bridge.

"It provides an overview of all your quotes and orders, not just one at a time which a lot of systems do," said Mr Mallinson.

And whereas reports on some systems are limited by the fields available, CalWin can tailor the reports to the company.

"I customise the reports for the customer," said Mr Mallinson. "I do some analysis with them, ask what they want to see and where in the factory people want to look at paper and I make sure that the reports have the right information for them."

CalWin is an ERP system with a design and manufacturing function, and Mr Mallinson said flexibility extends through the whole process.

It is also very easy to use, he added. At one UK joinery company, someone who had no experience in designing windows was "up and running and creating quotes" within four hours.

CalWin was developed by the Norwegian window and door manufacturing industry in 1985. In the UK it has been developed to accommodate sliding sashes, and a conservatory and bay window module will be added soon.

"The UK is a growth market," said Mr Mallinson, adding that CalWin’s customers include Allan Bros, Walker Timber, Patchett Joinery, and Lomax + Wood.

It already features an iPhone app "so you can pick up reports on the fly" and in development are some web applications which plug directly into the customer’s database.

"One’s for CRM (customer relationship management) which means the sales guys out in the field can look up a customer, put in details of the visit and check out a quote," said Mr Mallinson.

The other development is a hosted, or cloud, application.

Specifying on the move
Joinery manufacturer JELD-WEN has launched a new mobile optimised website, www.jeldwen.co.uk/mobile. The new site provides trade professionals with easy access to JELD-WEN’s product range, expert tips and galleries, while on the go.

The mobile website hosts at-a-glance product sizes, fitting guides for JELD-WEN’s premium product range and "where to buy" guides. It also houses downloadable datasheets, detailed product specifications and brochures.

The website’s gallery section showcases various image collections that joiners can use when discussing options with clients.

It also houses a merchant locator function, enabling trade professionals to find their nearest JELD-WEN supplier based on their current GPS location. Directions are provided instantly to the user’s smartphone.

JELD-WEN’s newly launched ‘How-to’ videos are also hosted on the site.