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Builder
SupplyNet - Online Trading Community
The Need
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The online, virtual trade community can simplify constructions firms’
business processes by providing enhanced marketing, bidding, communication and commerce.
As a password-protected, subscription-based online community, Builder SupplyNet developed
and operated by Internos Corp, promotes business relationships among general contractors,
builders, subcontractors, suppliers, and service providers. Furthermore, by helping local
firms better manage their business processes and projects, it can help make them more
productive and profitable. |
The Technology
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Builder SupplyNet is hosted at UUNET™, providing services with a direct connection to the
UUNET backbone capacity network. Builder
SupplyNet's technology was developed by Microstate, Inc. The
Hamilton Software interfaces with SQL databases and enables real-time editing of members'
pages and data. Based on these technologies, Builder SupplyNet enables subscribers to
search for vendors by area of specialty,
CSI division number and minority designation; access vendor catalogs;
submit online purchase orders; e-mail requests for bids, sealed bids, promotional
messages and work orders to individual or multiple recipients; send documents and attached
files in original format; transmit blueprints without special software; access archived
e-mails; and verify transmission and receipt of information. |
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The Benefits
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- Can facilitates the electronic exchange of information,
streamlining operations among residential and commercial construction industry
participants in local construction markets nationwide.
- Availability. Can transmit
requests for bids and quotes electronically to trading partners within a local or national
geographic area.
- Increased qualified industry
contacts. Can expand list of competent contacts and reduce dependency upon
referrals, chance meetings and geographic proximity.
- Enhanced knowledge base. Instead
of choosing vendors or subcontractors out of habit or time constraints, the database
query can compare results and make an informed decision quickly and effortlessly.
- Improve communications and save
time. Can simplify routine commerce communications among industry participants and
reduce time spent playing telephone tag and faxing documents.
- Immediacy: Can transmit one-time and limited-time promotional opportunities directly to
active buyers.
- Expedite purchasing: Can select vendor products for purchase, complete purchase orders
automatically via e-mail and end repetitive tasks.
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Status
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Builder SupplyNet V. 2.0 was
launched by Internos Corp. in Fall 1999 as the first subscription-based online working
community for local construction and building markets nationwide. Builder SupplyNet
customers include William V. Walsh Construction and Natelli Custom Homes and Renovations. |
Barriers
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- Builder SupplyNet is only available in
limited geographic markets; however, they
continually are expanding into new ones, which now include Atlanta; Austin, Dallas/Fort
Worth and Houston, Texas; Baltimore; Boston; Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh-Durham,
N.C.; Chicago; Indianapolis; Lincoln/Omaha, Neb.; Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego
and San Francisco, Calif.; New York; northern
New Jersey; Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia and Scranton/Wilkes Barre, Pa.; Phoenix; Richmond
and Tidewater, Va.; and Washington, D.C
- Companies can pay a flat annual fee of $999
per local market, or $99 per month through a company subscription includes an unlimited
number of users.
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Points of Contact
- Gary Graziano, General Manager, Builder
SupplyNet, Internos Corp., 45195 Business Court, Suite 100, Dulles, VA 20166, Tel:
(703)715-3200, Fax: (703)715-8001. E-mail: ggraziano@internoscorp.com
- Erika Platt, KSK Communications, Ltd. Suite
400,8618 Westwood center Drive, Vienna, Virginia 22182-2222. Tel: (703)734-1880, Fax:
(703)821-2756. E-mail: eplatt@kskcommunications.com
References
- News Release by Builder SupplyNet. Nov. 1999
Disclaimer Statement
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Neither the Construction
Industry Institute nor Purdue University in any way endorses this
technology or represents
that the information presented can be relied upon without further investigation. |
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