New software called Threads provides an easy search facility across all digital communications on a project and it is available free to the first architect practices and construction companies prepared to test it out on a three-month pilot.

The software, which has been five years in develoipment, allows fast and easy searching across all of a project team's digital communications, including emails and phone calls.

It won a Global Business Excellence Award for Innovation last week. The awards aim to recognise and reward business excellence across all sectors – private, public and charity. Other winners this year included Microsoft, Vodafone and BAe Systems.

John Yardley, Managing Director of JPY, the company that developed Threads and one of the longest established software companies in the UK, says of the new program: “Architects and constructors deal with many different trades and professionals on their design and building projects and keeping track of all the communications exchanged, both within the team and with external contacts, can be tricky.”

"Emails often include very large attachments that can quickly burn up storage space and search times, particularly when they are copied to all relevant parties.

"Threads does away with the need to CC all the parties you think might be interested. All messages are automatically backed up offsite together with key attachments, so it’s never a problem to find a file or even recover a message that is deleted.” says John.

Threads’ ability to include VoIP phone calls can increase its usefulness by an order of magnitude. And it is intended to be easy to use, although in the nature of computer software there may be a few bugs to iron out in the initial stages of its use – hence the offer of free systems to practices and companies prepared to take part in three-month pilot.

Last but not least, Threads provides an automatic way for users to build and maintain their contact database – a database of people they actually deal with on a day-to-day basis.

If you are interested in becoming a Threads pilot customer call the company on 0208 390 8487, email threads@jpy.com or go to www.threads.uk.com/try-threads.

They promise you will not get a sales pitch.