A formidable new consortium of property and technology companies has joined the competition to create the definitive e-commerce site for the 540bn European construction market. The companies, led by Microsoft, Commerce One Inc., Stanhope plc, and Rotch Property Group Ltd., have partnered to help transform the way buildings are designed, procured, constructed, and managed. They claim that “Asite” will enable the construction industry to work faster, at lower cost, and better.
Peter Rogers, director of Stanhope plc and chairman of Asite said, “The Internet now gives us an opportunity to address many of the industry’s problems by sharing best practice, encouraging standardization, increasing transparency of information, and improving procurement, collaboration, and logistics across the industry. [This initiative] will enable us to deliver the best technology tools for the construction industry. Microsoft’s and Commerce One’s unprecedented and exclusive support demonstrates [their] belief in Asite’s vision and commitment to change the industry.” Asite has been developed within AIM listed PremiSys Group plc. Other participants include the Aurora private equity fund, Intel, Compaq, Aspect Internet, and Attenda. The site will be tested early next year, and launched to the entire industry in the second quarter of 2001.
Based on a report from i-FM
