Trimble expanding portfolio with new acquisition deal

2122 Trimble is continuing to expand its array of construction solutions with a move to acquire software specialist Viewpoint. The aim of this deal is to provide a complete construction management solution, extending Trimble's ability to provide integrated project, jobsite and business workflows across construction projects. The firm has a definitive agreement to acquire privately-held Viewpoint from Bain Capital. This cash transaction is valued at US$1.2 billion.

Viewpoint is a leading provider of scalable construction management software, which integrates financial and resource management to project operations as well as to the jobsite for the contractor.

The tool provides integration across the office, team and site and is said to allow users to both manage and have visibility of data and workflows. These can span the construction lifecycle from pre-production planning, to product operations and supply chain management. The information integration also applies to project handover and asset operation and maintenance. The solutions can help to improve project performance, provide increased visibility and deliver integrated workflow data to a project team comprising contractors, project managers, architects, engineers and subcontractors. By blending office and field data workflows across a project, Viewpoint customers are able to achieve improved collaboration, efficiency and decision making, while lowering costs.

The acquisition will allow Trimble to offer customers a platform for integrated, end-to-end construction management, while further enabling connectivity across the complete construction lifecycle. In addition, Viewpoint will complement Trimble’s recent acquisition of e-Builder, a construction programme management solution for capital programme owners and programme management firms. Viewpoint will further extend these capabilities with focus on general, speciality and heavy civil contractors, and link project data into the owner-facing e-Builder suite for end-to-end project transparency.

“The acquisitions are strategically significant and position us to play a unique and central market role in providing comprehensive enterprise and project solutions,” said Steven W Berglund, president and CEO of Trimble. “They also provide significant financial opportunity and contribute strong growth trajectories. The current trajectories can be further enhanced by a large addressable market enabled by the combined capabilities of the three companies."

“The construction industry is embarking on a major digital transformation, and together with Trimble we will further accelerate technology innovation and adoption to deliver even more value to our customers,” said Manolis Kotzabasakis, CEO of Viewpoint. “This partnership is a perfect fit, as Trimble and Viewpoint share a common vision helping construction companies integrate operations across the office, team and field, improving project profitability, enhancing productivity, and effectively collaborating across the construction ecosystem.”