All construction companies know how important it is to capture and report on changes to projects but at the same time understanding that sometimes this is not as easy as it sounds. Capturing and accurately recording all the changes that have arisen during the life of the project can make the difference between making and losing money on a project.

“Many changes happen on site when you do not have access to your personal computer. Diamonds Mobile Manager enables you to capture change on your mobile phone. Our phone app will automatically capture the time and place of the change using the phones GPS locator. And because the phone knows the location of the change Auto Manager is able to recover the project name and number. Easy to use features allow you to take photos, record voice memo’s and enter any other relevant details. Once complete this information is allocated a unique reference number and transmitted back to your office to be processed in accordance with your change management process.” states Robert Brown of Diamonds Software. “Once you have captured a change it is important that it follows the correct process. Sometimes this may be your internal process and other times NEC3 or JCT. Whatever the process, Process Manager enables you to configure your systems and procedures to match your requirements. When contract terms dictate Diamonds Auto Manager allows you to set automatic messages to remind people that tasks need to be completed within an agreed time frame. And, if necessary send escalation alerts to remind managers and supervisors of incomplete tasks and work activities. This ensures that you are able to meet all your project deadlines.”

Diamonds Construction Management Solution is a suite of Cloud based software applications for businesses in the construction industry. The key strength of the solution is in its ability to integrate, people, business processes, data and work activities within a single environment. Diamonds Construction Management Solution uses key software applications to enable people to improve their performance in their day to day jobs. The technology is used to automate best practice business processes. A collaboration system enables businesses to integrate their customers, suppliers and business partners with the relevant parts of their business processes. And a full documentary audit trail with real time exception reporting to ensure compliance with their best practice processes.

About Diamonds

About Diamonds Diamonds specialise in the development of software solutions for organisations in contractual or highly regulated marketplaces where the management of processes or workflow is the foundation of overall business delivery. This is achieved through providing industry specific software applications that manage the integration of people, work activities, data and business processes. Diamonds software helps people to do their jobs faster and easier which enables businesses to increase productivity, reduce costs and manage quality.

The company’s StudioTM technology is the foundation behind the firm’s success. Studio hides the complexity of underlying technology by presenting it to business users in a format and language they are able to understand. This enables non technical end users to make otherwise complicated changes to their software applications. This facilitates rapid change to business processes and activities without the need for IT intervention enabling an organisation to keep pace with changes in its internal or external operations. It is believed to be the only software of its type that will allow the execution of business activities directly from a process model.

The company has its headquarters at the Birmingham Science Park, Aston.

Contact Diamonds now to discuss your requirements and find out how you could benefit from Diamonds Variation Management Solution.

16M is a specialist mechanical and electrical contractor. Despite the recession 16M have achieved significant growth which has lead to an increased requirement for greater management and co-ordination of both internal and external resources. The current economic climate has also meant that the need to manage gross margin is now more acute than ever.

In order to ensure that the organisation is working efficiently and that gross margins are maintained Managing Director, Wayne Jenkins is keen to ensure that his organisation is making use of the latest technology in order maintain his company’s competitive position in the market. “Our current systems and procedures are very good and have served us well for a long number of years, but we recognise that with an increasingly distributed organisation, more competition and ever increasing regulations that we must move with the times. We had been looking for something for over 2 years but everything that we looked at fell short of our requirements. The internet and mobile phones have transformed the way people interact and communicate with each other. We need to recognise that we must embrace these new technologies to both manage our business and improve the service that we provide to our customers. The key for us is to be able to continue to do what we know works best for us but utilising the latest technology” says Mr Jenkins.

“Diamonds have a deep understanding of construction company requirements and have developed a system that not only meets our requirements but is easy to use".
Charles Hipwell (Project Manager)

Diamonds Construction Management Solution is a suite of Cloud based software applications for small to medium businesses in the construction industry. The key strength of the solution is in its ability to integrate, people, business processes, data and work activities within a single environment. Diamonds Construction Management Solution will provide 16M with the key software applications to enable people to improve their performance in their day to day jobs. The technology to automate 16M’s best practice business processes. A collaboration system that will enable 16M to integrate their customers, suppliers and business partners with the relevant parts of their business processes. And a full documentary audit trail with real time exception reporting to ensure compliance with their best practice processes. “A few years ago I got an IPHONE which was a surprise to many. If you had said to me that I would be using it to manage my business 2 years later even I would never have believed you.” states Mr Jenkins. “Using Cloud based technology means that I can be available to my team and customers wherever I am whilst at the same time being in control of my business".

16M will be rolling out Diamonds Construction Management Solution in early December 2011 2011 “We will be rolling out the whole solution in phases so that we can make sure that we fully understand each application and minimise the risk of anything falling between the cracks” says Mr Jenkins. “Everyone is very keen to get the new system going and we look forward to reaping the benefits".

Diamonds Software, which has developed a suite of software applications to enable businesses to increase productivity, reduce costs and manage quality, has secured additional financial backing. Midven, the West Midlands’ specialist venture capital company, along with private investors, have today completed a significant investment into the company.

The company has its headquarters at the Birmingham Science Park, Aston.

The company’s Studio^TM technology is the foundation behind the firm’s success. Studio hides the complexity of underlying technology by presenting it to business users in a format and language they are able to understand. This enables non technical end users to make otherwise complicated changes to their software applications. This facilitates rapid change to business processes and activities without the need for IT intervention enabling an organisation to keep pace with changes in its internal or external operations. It is believed to be the only software of its type that will allow the execution of business activities directly from a process model.

The investment will be used to increase the level of R&D and open up new channels to market.

Prior to this investment, the company has been organically funded, with the aim of developing and commercializing the technology of its founder Robert Minty. Robert is a computer studies graduate from Brunel University who designed and managed the development of Diamonds Studio following a successful career with a US-based international software company.

Robert Brown, Diamonds managing director, said: “I am delighted that Midven has chosen to invest in Diamonds and look forward to working with them to realise the full potential of the business.”

Midven is the West Midlands’ leading investor in small and medium sized businesses. Duncan Kerr, investment director of the firm’s Early Advantage fund, added: “I asked Robert Brown to have a look at the company to see whether the opportunity had merit. Robert managed the growth and successful sale of Coda, an accounting software business. Robert saw sufficient potential in Diamonds to take over managing the company. The combination of a flexible software platform with proven leadership makes this a very attractive proposition to invest in.“

For more information on Diamonds please visit www.diamonds-software.com

About Midven and the Early Advantage fund

Midven Limited www.midven.co.uk is a privately owned specialist venture capital company with a successful track record of investing in small and medium-sized enterprises in the Midlands over 15 years. It manages a variety of funds, one of which is the Early Advantage fund, and has invested in a wide range of sectors, including software, biotechnology, healthcare, engineering, manufacturing and distribution.

The Early Advantage fund is an £8m fund launched in December 2009, funded by Advantage West Midlands and the European Regional Development Fund. The fund targets investments alongside business angels, generally in early stage and technology propositions with exciting growth prospects.

For more information contact:

Mark Whitehouse, Clarke Associates – Telephone: 01564 826653.