2018 marks the 10th anniversary of the IT Forum Conference. AGC of America is proud to announce this notable event will be held Aug. 15-17, 2018 at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Chicago. Don't forget to mark your calendars!

Each year around this time, AGC asks you – our members – to predict what next year will be like for your business. This year AGC has partnered with Sage to prepare questions that focus on expectations for market performance, hiring, labor market conditions, etc. Please take a moment to complete the survey.

BY ELIZAH HULSEMAN, B2W SOFTWARE Paper forms and the headaches that accompany them are all too familiar in the construction industry. In recent times, however, user-friendly electronic forms solutions that leverage the expansion of tablets, smartphones and internet access have allowed many contractors to eliminate paper forms and manual processes. Electronic data capture has proven itself to be easier, more affordable and more efficient – and it is immensely more effective in delivering more and better data.

Google Maps has refreshed its look in order to prominently display information during navigation. SOURCE: THEVERGE.COM

You know you've made it big as a brand when your company name becomes a verb in everyday language. SOURCE: WIRED.COM

While 2018 updates may contain only small improvements, 2019 could see significant advances in Apple's augmented reality capabilities.

BY DEBRA WOOD Contractors are finding that sending and receiving messages through Zinc — a full-featured, secure mobile messaging platform — helps connect workers inside and outside the office and archive that correspondence for future reference.

The Construction Open Standards Alliance (COSA) is a community of construction industry professionals who support open integration standards in construction software. Join the effort today.

Celebrate 100 years of construction with AGC of America in New Orleans, Feb. 26-28, 2018. The host hotel, the Hyatt Regency New Orleans, offers easy access to the area’s most popular attractions. Hop on the Loyola Avenue Streetcar, or take a walk to the historic French Quarter, Arts District, Audubon Aquarium of the Americas and the scenic Mississippi Riverfront. For the list of featured speakers, click here. For special events, click here.