COINS USA Construction Industry Challenge, Lake George

It is just over a year since COINS acquired Shaker Inc. of Latham, New York to form COINS USA. Shaker was the original developer of the COINS software, so the acquisition brought things full circle.

Although the two COINS products have evolved down differing technology paths, the fundamentals of the client processes they address remain very similar. Partly because of that synergy, rapid progress has been made in many areas by sharing strengths in products, people, market and client understanding.

Within a very short time COINS OA functionality was enabled to run alongside the COINS-Ti modules to allow clients to implement COINS OA modules such as CIM (Document Management), CRM, HR and Designer. The introduction of web-based dashboards allowing existing Ti users to view their data through a modern, comprehensive and interactive interface has been particularly well received.

In taking COINS OA to the USA another development centre has quickly been established there. Currently the team is focused on adding USA-specific functionality, but are also adding functionality to modules which will have international appeal. The pool of COINS expertise has expanded and USA resource is being used to implement and support UK sites. Similarly UK and Australian employees are reciprocating with visits to clients in the USA. This interchange and integration of people and skills is benefitting our clients through enhanced product development and a wider understanding of international best practice.

Whilst gaining an additional two hundred and fifty COINS clients in the USA, it has been pleasing to find existing USA and UK clients working together and also to find USA arms of our UK clients already using COINS.

The last twelve months has been a period of acclimatisation but nevertheless immensely successful. The speed with which the two organisations have come together has been better than expected and the resultant synergy of the people and products has already benefited, and can only continue to benefit, our combined and global client base.

Plans for this year are to roll out USA Financials & Payroll within the standard, global COINS OA suite, and to work with clients to enhance and develop OA screens for USA and international markets. Also, building on the enormous success we have had with the COINS 3 Peaks Challenge in support of Habitat for Humanity, CURE International and CARE projects, the first COINS USA Construction Industry Challenge took place this year; a 22 mile war canoe challenge on Lake George.