Exclusively Construction, Increasingly Global

With COINS’ recent announcement of the acquisition of Shaker Computer and Management Inc., based in Latham, New York, COINS has substantially added to its worldwide operational capabilities.

COINS is the established leader in the provision of solutions for the construction industry in the UK, with a third of the top 100 construction and house building companies as clients. There is also a significant client base in Eire, where COINS opened an office earlier this year to add to existing offices in Australia, Asia, and Russia. Now, in the US, COINS incorporates Shaker (to be renamed under the COINS brand) in Latham and the existing COINS business in Dallas.

Shaker, the original author of the COINS software, established in 1978, has over 250 clients throughout the United States representing $20 billion in construction annually, with a team of 60 supporting the operation and additional development capability in Ukraine. The Dallas company is focused on the provision, support and training of 3D design systems for the construction, house building and services industries.

This acquisition is another step in COINS’ strategy to provide solutions across the worldwide construction industry, from localised and/or specialist firms to international concerns that require an integrated system to support their global requirements. Increasingly the benefits of COINS will be offered through the principles of ‘Software as a Service’ (SaaS) allowing clients to access COINS via the internet and not be concerned with IT hardware.

There is a great deal of synergy between the two companies, and each one brings areas of specialisation as well as geographic location. While COINS has evolved to focus primarily on General Contractors and House Builders in the UK, Shaker has specialised in Mechanical Services Contractors, although both already have clients in each other’s areas of specialisation. The combined client base includes some of the largest construction companies in the world, many operating internationally either through their own offices or via joint ventures. COINS is uniquely placed to support the requirements created from different work practices, legislation and currencies.

Dick Werner, founder of Shaker who will remain as Chairman of the Latham business puts it like this: ‘With some of the best product and industry knowledge in the world, supported by some of the most advanced technical skills, we can really offer our clients something special. As well as working almost round the clock on their behalf in so many different time zones, we will also deploy our best people around the world to meet their particular needs’.

Larry Sullivan, COINS Chairman concludes, ‘Our Construction Industry specific IT expertise now exceeds 2,200 man years. We think that is unrivalled in any other individual IT or professional services company. All major or ambitious construction industry boards not using some aspect of COINS expertise within their business should really consider why they are not.'