BQE Acquires ArchiOffice and EngineerOffice

BQE has taken another major step forward in its ‘Designed For My Business’ strategy with the acquisition of ArchiOffice and EngineerOffice of Orange Loft LLC. Steven Burns, CEO and Founder of Orange Loft, will join the BQE team.

Unlike most acquisitions you hear about, BQE is not only acquiring customers, we will sell, support and improve  the applications. ArchiOffice and EngineerOffice are key additions to our product family.

This acquisition has many benefits for customers. Some will be immediate, like enhanced support and training resources behind ArchiOffice and EngineerOffice. Also, resources are now available to deliver new and improved capabilities sooner, like more complete integration with QuickBooks. All resources will ramp up quickly.

Other benefits will be coming soon. For example, BillQuick users will gain access to ArchiOffice and EngineerOffice capabilities.

And longer term, customers will see improvements and enhancements to capabilities, user interface, ease of use and more.

In December, Shafat Qazi, CEO, and Steven Burns, our new Director of Product Strategy and Innovations, discuss the acquisition and the BQE’s road map. Watch your email and the blog for information about the webinars.

Be sure to check out the full press release.

Designed For My Business Strategy

BQE’s strategic road map is based on our 4 Pillars of Customers.

1. Architects/Engineers
2. Accounting
3. Consulting
4. Legal

BQE products continue to progress to the full embodiment of the strategy, Designed For My Business. The acquisition of ArchiOffice and EngineerOffice is only part of a bigger plan to better serve our customers.

This strategy goes beyond software applications. For example, with the acquisition of ArchiOffice and EngineerOffice comes a special asset that is more valuable than any software: Steven Burn, FAIA. Steven was recently honored by the American Institute of Architects as a Fellow for his outstanding contribution to the architecture industry for his innovative ArchiOffice product that has helped thousands of architects all over the world. The “Fellow” honor is rare and very special. Steven spent 7 years as an Associate at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, where he served as Project Architect on major international projects in London, Seoul, Kyoto and Berlin. Steven founded Burns + Beyerl Architects, a local design firm in Chicago.

Steven is also active in the A/E space:

• Technology in Architectural Practice and the Project Management forums of the AIA
• Construction Specifications Institute and the Association of Licensed Architects
• The American Institute of Architects

Steven is joining BQE as its new Director of Product Strategy and Innovations. He has spent many hours visiting customers, discussing not only ArchiOffice but also best practices, issues facing the architectural industry, and much more. That dedication will continue.

Another major BQE asset for the A/E space is our Founder and CEO, Shafat Qazi. He is a Structural Engineer, known widely as an earthquake expert. Shafat ran BQE Engineering for many years, working on projects as diverse as individual homes to major high-rise buildings and bridges. He has been involved in local, state and national engineering, architectural and other A/E/C groups for over two decades.

Shafat’s great passion is technology and its application to businesses, which has led to thousands of conversations with engineers, architects, accountants, attorneys, consultants and others while he ran his engineering firm. That passion carries over to BQE Software, with Shafat spending several hours a week talking with customers and prospects. He also visits over a dozen companies every year.

Shafat’s passion and leadership has helped BQE to grow to more than 160,000 users worldwide, and in 2009 led us to many achievements, including:

• Expansion of the BQE Australia office
• Establishment of our U.K. office for sales and support
• Earning a place on the Inc. 5000 list of the Fastest Growing Private Companies in America

What you see now is only part of BQE’s strategy. On the horizon is more strategic development and acquisitions which will benefit all 4 Pillars of Customers.

What do you think about the acquisition?