New PlanGrid for iPad Makes Blueprint Collaboration Faster, Simpler for Construction Teams

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Construction project collaboration just got faster and easier with the launch of PlanGrid 2.2, the latest version of the leading construction industry iPad app and cloud service that lets project teams view, share, annotate and sync blueprints on the iPad and in the cloud.

Designed to improve jobsite and project collaboration by eliminating the inefficiency and version confusion of paper-based drawings and markups, PlanGrid 2.2 offers project update timelines, plus automatic cloud sync of user notes and master photo sets to keep everyone on the same page. To commemorate the launch of PlanGrid 2.2, for a limited time, the company is offering a free iPad Mini with every new two-year subscription.

"Blueprints are living documents that change daily or even hourly. Making sure everyone is up to date on revisions is critical to reducing costly mistakes and keeping the project on time and on budget," said PlanGrid Co-Founder and CEO Ryan Sutton-Gee. "We've added these new features to help teams of any size stay in sync, save time and money."

PlanGrid puts up to 30,000 PDF project sheets in the hands of every team member with the ability to view, annotate and collaborate on drawings, post RFIs and, create punch lists instantly in the field or at the office using any iPad. The master set is stored securely in the PlanGrid cloud with annotations, progress photos and more all of which are synced automatically.

In addition to providing instant anywhere access to up-to-date documents, the new PlanGrid 2.2 now includes:

• Project update timelines, plus instant email notifications with a synopsis of all changes since the previous sync and a daily digest email with a rundown of all changes in the last 24 hours.
• Automatic cloud synchronization of each users' personal notes, in addition to the master project notes, for seamless access to all document annotations across multiple devices (iPads and iPhones), along with the security and peace of mind of cloud-based backup so that no data is at risk if a device becomes lost, damaged or stolen.
• The ability to add individual photos or groups of photos as master annotations within the document. Now, everyone on the team can see and save images to the master document to track progress, respond to RFIs or address other issues with full collaboration capabilities.
• A number of behind-the-scenes performance enhancements for faster document viewing and interaction on extremely large project sets.

"Using PlanGrid very quickly pays for itself, saving our customers numerous hours each week by streamlining project communication and eliminating errors, not to mention the money they save by going paperless with their drawings," Sutton-Gee said. "Even if they don't currently use iPads on the jobsite, once people see what our app can do, they often go right out and buy them just to take advantage of the efficiency PlanGrid provides. After using it just a short time, even those who previously couldn't imagine using an iPad in the field very soon say they can't imagine how they ever lived without it."

PlanGrid is already used every day by hundreds of the world's most innovative builders, including Whiting-Turner, Boldt, DPR Construction and Webcor Builders. The app and cloud storage is free for up to 50 document sheets, with plans for up to 550 sheets at just $19.99 per user per month and up to 5,000 sheets for $49.99 per user per month. Unlimited access, storage, support and training are also available for large projects.

To sign up now and take advantage of the free iPad Mini offer, visit www.plangrid.com.

About PlanGrid
PlanGrid is an iPad app and cloud-service platform that supercharges jobsite efficiency and collaboration by putting PDF construction documents at your fingertips on any iPad or web browser. Designed to enable any size project team to go paperless and eliminate the cost and confusion of printed documents, PlanGrid synchronizes drawings, spec sheets, RFIs and progress photos in the cloud, giving everyone on the team access to instantly view, share and annotate documents to reduce time-consuming and costly miscommunication and build errors. PlanGrid launched out of Y Combinator in March 2012 and is headquartered in San Francisco, Calif. For more information, visit www.plangrid.com.

SOURCE PlanGrid