BT has launched "Build Business," a complete online collaboration solution for the construction industry. It allows contractors and other members of a client's project team to work more easily and effectively wherever they are.

Build Business incorporates an application developed by BIW Technologies (BIW), one of the industry's e-business leaders, and is being offered with BT hardware and connectivity services, to create a hassle-free, collaborative environment to enable customers to focus on their core business.

However, delivering ICT to sites often means balancing satisfactory service with low overheads. Build Business addresses this, cutting total cost of ownership and capital on the books and reducing IT risk with its Subscription Computing service. This service means BT can provide the IT infrastructure, supplying and managing desktops, peripherals, servers, networks and applications.

Brian Crouch, General Manager, international sector at BT Retail said: "Collaboration tools typically shave off around 1.5 per cent of a project's value, but customers can save more by handing over the burden of running their core infrastructure. Applying our communications expertise to technology solutions with BIW offers the industry a fresh alternative for improving profitability."

BIW have also joined forces with BRE (part of a DTI Partners in Innovation project) to further encourage ICT uptake in the construction industry and specifically the use of collaborative working.

BRE, which provides consultancy, testing and research services relating to all aspects of the built environment, perceived the need to offer software support to its customers. Under the agreement, BRE clients will have access to the full range of BIW software services. Director of BRE Strategic, Michael Martin said: "Much of our work, particularly that relating to our investigative consultancy projects, involves a great deal of complex information. Data captured and managed via collaboration software can be of immense value as input into customers' future projects." www.biwtech.com