PlanGrid for Windows is out of beta

PlanGrid, developer of construction software for the field, is used by tens of thousands of contractors, designers, owners, and architects to finish their projects on time and under budget. Lightning fast, easy to use, and loaded with shortcuts, it delivers thousands of plans right to users’ fingertips - helping field teams edit, share, and manage blueprints, specs, photos, RFIs, and punch lists in a single place. They currently store over 50 million customer blueprints in its cloud, translating to savings in labor costs, increased productivity, and on-site safety improvements.

PlanGrid is a mobile-first platform, and the decision to prioritize mobile from day one was instrumental in the company’s success and market leadership position. Building an intuitive, sheet-based construction app available on iOS, Android, Windows, and the web allows anyone to collaborate in real-time from their mobile devices and desktop computers.

In March 2016, PlanGrid’s Windows beta app was announced, and seven months later, it became publicly available. Since its release, the app for Windows 1.0 has been downloaded in over 30 countries and daily active users have increased by 4x. Windows is used heavily in office settings; over 30% of PlanGrid for Windows users work with two monitors, and more than 10% use three monitors. 

Traditionally, software used for design, engineering, and management of construction projects has been Windows-based, and professionals at all levels are familiar and comfortable with Windows operating system. While Windows has ruled software in the office, iOS has a stronger presence in mobile device usage. But according to the 5th Annual Construction Technology Report, over the last year, the release of Microsoft Surface tablets shows Windows OS catching up with iOS - even on mobile. The approach to the development of the Windows app was guided by customer feedback. Opting to first release a private beta to secure detailed feedback, PlanGrid’s R&D team continuously polled and interviewed beta users, culminating in over 2,000 detailed responses.

With this release, users have access to all the core features on Windows devices running Windows 7, 8, or 10. Today, more than 40% of Windows users are still using Windows 7 or 8, and according to Netmarketshare, the majority of Windows users globally have not yet upgraded to Windows 10. Developing only for Windows 10 would have excluded that large majority, and in order to address customers’ needs, we developed software that runs on their current setup - removing any barriers to adoption.

In addition to core features, customers using the Windows version can:

- Use multiple windows to view two or more drawings side-by-side

- Use any input method available - mouse, touchscreen, or pen

- Work offline - any changes made will automatically sync back to the project when the device is brought back online

PlanGrid can be used easily and elegantly not only on mobile devices out in the field, but in the office, on a desktop, on a laptop, or on any hybrid device. Given the varied and sophisticated customer requirements in today’s construction environments, the app helps everyone get on the same page to be more productive, collaborative and, ultimately, more profitable.