A group of leading international engineering and construction companies have joined forces to launch a new online venture, www.aecventure.com.
The initial partners are AMEC, Bovis Lend Lease, Hochtief, its US subsidiary, Turner and Skanska, which between them manage construction projects worth billions of dollars in locations all around the world. The aim is to establish a workable business exchange which will establish contacts between the various sectors of the construction industry.
The marketplace is to be neutral and will be open to the entire industry. It is aimed at all those involved in architecture, engineering and construction (hence the name AECventure), whether as main contractor, specialist contractor, supplier or manufacturer.
AECventure’s goal is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the industry by creating a bank of knowledge and information through real-time information exchange and online collaboration. Improved speed, accuracy and transparency in the supply chain are among the benefits cited in a joint statement issued by the founding partners.
"We will be able to offer best-of-class services and applications from around the world and make them available to everyone. We also look forward to facilitating cross border and regional trade and opening new suppliers and service providers to new markets. And, we’re confident that this venture will be a success because we have the critical mass, an incentive and ability to take a long term focus and a detailed understanding of the entire industry chain."
The site is due to come on line in the fourth quarter of this year and founding partners are currently in negotiation with a number of interested organisations and are actively seeking new partners operating on both a global and a regional basis. Regional portals, supported by AECventure, are planned and an announcement about the first of these is expected shortly.
AECventure will face competition from a number of other construction e-commerce sites, including Mercadium which was launched in May by a consortium of Aggregate Industries, Alfred McAlpine, BPB, Pilkington and RMC. However, AECventure’s international dimension may well give it an edge.
