London – 26th February 2025: Zutec, a leading provider of construction and property management software solutions in the UK and Ireland, today announced it has acquired Operance, as part of its ongoing growth strategy and commitment to the UK market.

The acquisition provides a complementary fit in terms of customers, solutions and remit, solidifying the company’s position as the leading player in Handover and Building Safety Act compliance solutions for contractors, developers, housebuilders and asset owners in the UK market. By combining forces, the two companies will drive new growth opportunities by integrating customer bases, solutions, and expertise, supporting the building life cycle to accelerate digital transformation and ensure compliance.

“As we continue investing in businesses as part of our acquisition strategy, Operance fitted our strategic objectives perfectly, with close alignment with our vision and an exciting addition to our business. We believe this collaboration will open up new opportunities for us to expand and better serve existing and new customers, setting the stage for future innovations in the construction and property technology space. We are thrilled to welcome the Operance team into Zutec and look forward to what we can deliver together in the future,” commented, Gustave Geisendorf, CEO at Zutec.

Ian Yeo, CEO at Operance, said: “Having built up the Operance business, and with a shared growth ambition, we welcome being part of Zutec. As a profitable, fast-growing business primarily focused on the UK and Ireland, this partnership with Zutec will allow us to accelerate our progress faster and provide even more value to the construction and property digital ecosystem as one company.”

Zutec is a provider of cloud-based construction and property management software with more than two decades of experience in transforming the way contractors, housebuilders, developers and asset owners manage building data. Its solutions sit under four solutions families for document management, quality management, handover management and asset management, providing one digital ecosystem to connect the dots in building digitisation across the building lifecycle. To find out more, please visit the new Zutec website: www.zutec.com.

For more information, please contact, maria.hudson@zutec.com

As a Chief Product Officer and company director I know that growth comes not just from hitting milestones, but from transforming challenges into opportunities. In that sense, 2024 has been nothing short of transformative!

Reflecting on our journey over the past year to date, the numbers don’t just tell a story of growth, they showcase a year of focus, innovation, and collaboration. This year was all about refining and redefining.

Here’s a closer look at the milestone and innovations that shaped Operance’s journey this year and a glimpse of what’s on the horizon.

SaaS Adoption and Client Engagement: Scaling New Heights

Operance has firmly established itself as a frontrunner in the SaaS space, and the numbers speak for themselves. This year, verified users doubled, a staggering 100% growth: while active organisations surged by 77%. These aren’t just numbers on a dashboard; they’re proof that more people are placing their trust in our platform to deliver results.

But as any digital handover software vendor will tell you, having a great platform is just one part of the solution, the industry still demands a motivated and personable team of coordinators to manage the workflow from project commencement, through to handover.

At the heart of this success is our outstanding coordination team, led by Shoughan Dilshad, with Ellie Mulligan, Alison Flemington, Becky Wood, and Archie Yeo providing unparalleled support.

I’m a firm believer that software is only as good as the support it offers, so as product lead, I’m constantly inspired to meet the high standards this team sets!

We’re proud to now support 152 live projects, a clear reflection of our growing presence in the industry. But the real game-changer? Our SaaS-first strategy. Over the past year, we’ve transitioned from a near 50/50 split between software and consultancy revenue to a whopping 76% of total sales coming from software. This shift hasn’t just streamlined our offerings; it’s cemented Operance as a scalable tech innovator, ready to meet the evolving needs of our clients.

Enhancing User Experience Through Innovation

Key to this success has been the launch of several transformative features that enhance usability and drive engagement, including:

• A new dashboard for real-time project visibility, improving focus on operations and safety information gaps.

• GoldenAI, our AI-powered chatbot provides instant access to building data, saving users valuable time.

• Task management interface, providing contributors with instant and focused views of their assignments for greater clarity and time efficiency.

• Accept and reject workflows to streamline verification reviews, improve collaboration, enable communications and improve transparency.

• SSO integration for seamless, secure platform access and data security.

These updates have empowered users to work smarter, manage data effortlessly, and achieve better outcomes across projects.

From Chaos to Clarity: Redefining User Experience

Let’s face it: way back in January, our task management setup was about as organised as a toddler’s toy box. Tasks, workflows, and even data templates had users scratching their heads. Enter our Task Management page and the new Accept/Reject Workflow; a structured approval process that restored sanity to the chaos.

But that’s not all. We’ve worked hard to improve the general interface of the product, replacing the old with new data set views to reflect a more modern look and feel. We even found time to provide a toolbar makeover which was released with more meaningful icons that now tell their own stories (with text backup for clarity). Navigation now feels like a stroll in the park instead of a maze!

Our AI chatbot, GoldenAI (we pronounce it ‘Goldeneye!’ , has officially graduated from “cool experiment” to “must-have sidekick.” Whether it’s delivering instant building data or simplifying contractor decisions, GoldenAI has redefined user productivity. And while the tech is impressive, the real win is the time saved for our users.

Speaking of time savers, our automated email notifications are the silent MVPs of 2024. They’ve reduced errors, kept users in the loop, and given our service team some much-needed breathing room. Efficiency is no longer a dream, it’s our new standard.

A massive thank you to our fabulous Development team that made all this happen, led by Tim Mutlow, big thanks go to Alimot Oladoja, Diana Khortiuk, Supriya Kadam, Oleksii Zavalniuk, Sheetal Patil, Anastasiia Demchuk, Pravin Kadam and last but by all means not least Mohamed Mohamed.

Record-Breaking Growth: Clients, Revenue, and Beyond

Thanks to the amazing efforts by a team that includes Conor Smart, Lisa Corrigan, Josh Watterson and Luisa Gullacci-Nyman, led by Ian Hetherington: 2024 has been a year of breaking records and shattering expectations. Let’s take a moment to appreciate some standout highlights (FY 23/24 vs. FY 22/23, software only):

• 672 SALs generated: That’s a jaw-dropping 420% increase.

• 225 new deals created (SQLs): Up by 196%.

• 73 new deals won: A phenomenal 284% increase.

• 39 new software logos secured: That’s 290% growth in expanding our client base.

• Software-only sales: A healthy 60% increase!

It wasn’t just software seeing the love. Thanks specifically to the brilliant work done by Dave Peacock, Eric Lee and Joshua Onyedeke, BIM services rebounded, bringing in a 253% increase from last year. This resurgence shows our ability to adapt and grow across multiple streams. It’s also a testament to their continued customer relations and project delivery record success, which ensures repeat buying with clients, consultants and contractors alike.

Operance didn’t just grow, we excelled. Our year-on-year turnover climbed 61%, and we maintained cash flow at a staggering 186% of plan. These achievements aren’t just impressive: they’re industry-leading: thanks to the work done by our wonderful Business Manager, Charlie Yeo, we’ve even set a benchmark for Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) at 46 days, underscoring our commitment to operational excellence and financial health!

A Commitment to Excellence: ISO 27001 Certification

One of our proudest achievements this year was earning ISO 27001 certification, the gold standard for information security management. This milestone demonstrates our commitment to safeguarding client data, ensuring compliance, and building trust in the Operance platform.

Achieving this certification required extensive collaboration across the board, led by our super CTO, Tim Mutlow. This exercise resulted in rigorous audits, and the implementation of best practices at every level of our operations. For our clients, this means peace of mind that their critical building data is secure and accessible when they need it. You can read more about our ISO certification and Tim’s work here.

Operance Unify: Solving Problems, Simplifying Processes

This year, we also launched Operance Unify, an internal tool designed by our CEO, Ian Yeo, to streamline project management. True to Ian’s engineering roots, this tool tackles inefficiencies head-on:

• Integrating seamlessly with tools like Operance, Jira, HubSpot, and Xero.

• Automating repetitive tasks, such as sending emails and setting up organisations and projects.

• Centralising project data, offering a real-time overview of progress.

• Simplifying financial issue tracking.

Unify is already saving time and resources for our team, embodying our mission to disrupt the digital handover industry by embracing automation.

Kudos to Ian for being a leader who pulls up his sleeves and gets stuck in to help our team!

Operance’s Upcoming Features and Enhancements

The next phase of Operance brings transformative updates to simplify workflows, strengthen compliance, and enhance user experiences. Key upgrades include advanced progress reporting, enabling detailed, customisable reports on milestones, completion, and compliance.

We’ll also pave the way for further scalability by rebuilding our export infrastructure, designing it for speed and reliability, with added enhancements like bulk data processing and advanced branding. We’ll then improve this further by enabling customisable exports for branded, professional documents with tailored navigation and inline images.

Data management can often feel like searching for a needle in a haystack on most digital platforms. Operance is going to improve this even further by producing simplified O&M data views and bulk system template applications, streamlining data management for faster setup and assignment.

Users will be able to seamlessly organise, search and manage components and systems, whilst aligning building operations with safety compliance.

Other highlights include project cloning for replicating entire setups, Golden Thread activity logs, compliance dashboards, and AI-assisted content creation to enhance collaboration and ensure safety adherence. Lastly, Following in from the new SSO feature, data security will get a further boost with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

With improved file management, centralised notifications, and role-based dashboards, these updates solidify Operance as a leader in building management and digital transformation.

As we set our sights on 2025, we are laser-focused on scaling our solutions, enhancing our product suite, and achieving our MRR and ARR targets. With momentum on our side, Operance is poised to deepen its impact on the industry, further empowering clients to unlock the full value of their building data.

Our leadership team has been instrumental in delivering these outcomes. From aligning product innovation with market needs to executing strategies that improve client acquisition, the board’s collaborative efforts have been pivotal. The website relaunch and its direct contribution to new deals highlight the power of data-informed decision-making.

2024 has been a transformative year for Operance, one marked by record growth, groundbreaking innovation, and a steadfast commitment to excellence. As a team, we’ve proven that the right mix of vision, collaboration, and execution can turn ambition into results.

To our team, investors, and clients: thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we’re building something extraordinary!

In response to valuable user feedback and our commitment to continuously improving structured task workflows, Operance is proud to announce the release of a powerful new feature: the “Accept and Reject” workflow. This update is designed to revolutionise task management by fostering better accountability, enhancing communication, and simplifying the approval process for our users.

The need for a structured task approval process became evident through user insights. Existing workflows often led to inefficiencies, with limited options for feedback or clarification, resulting in miscommunications, delays, and a lack of transparency. Our aim was to address these challenges head-on by creating a solution that would simplify task management while ensuring clear communication between contributors and coordinators.

Enter the “Accept and Reject” workflow—a structured, user-friendly feature that empowers contributors to submit tasks for approval, receive real-time feedback, and easily monitor task statuses. This new process enhances the visibility and traceability of tasks, streamlining project management from start to finish.

Task Submission and Status Updates
Contributors can now submit tasks directly from the Task Board, locking their entries while awaiting coordinator review. This eliminates the ambiguity that can arise when tasks remain open-ended and unmonitored. Once submitted, the task’s status changes to “In Review,” clearly signalling its position in the workflow and ensuring that contributors are always informed about the current stage of their tasks. This feature reduces unnecessary back-and-forth communication, allowing contributors to focus on their work while awaiting coordinator feedback.

Seamless Commenting for Better Communication
A key component of the new workflow is the integration of a “Comment” icon within each task. This icon opens the Golden Thread Panel, which serves as a dedicated space for comments and updates. This panel fosters direct communication between contributors and coordinators, allowing them to exchange feedback, ask questions, and stay aligned at each task’s property set level. The result is a significant improvement in how teams collaborate, ensuring that any clarifications or updates are captured and addressed promptly within the platform.

Streamlined Approval Process
Coordinators now have tools to facilitate task reviews and make decisions efficiently. The “Accept” option allows coordinators to approve tasks with a single action, unlocking them for any necessary post-approval edits. On the other hand, if a task requires changes, the “Reject” option mandates coordinators to provide feedback, ensuring contributors understand what adjustments are needed. This structured approach eliminates ambiguity and keeps everyone on the same page, promoting a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.

Enhanced Visibility for All Users
One of the standout features of the Accept and Reject workflow is the dedicated views provided for both contributors and coordinators within the Task Board. Users can track task statuses in real time, giving them insight into which tasks are “In Review,” “Accepted,” or “Rejected.” This real-time visibility helps teams gauge project progress at a glance and plan their next steps with more precision. Contributors benefit from knowing their task status without needing to chase updates, and coordinators can maintain oversight of what’s pending or completed in a streamlined manner.

The introduction of the “Accept and Reject” workflow brings a range of benefits that significantly improve task management and project efficiency:

1. Reduced Approval Times
By implementing a structured workflow, tasks move through the approval process more quickly. Contributors receive immediate notifications when their tasks are reviewed, reducing wait times and ensuring that projects remain on schedule.

2. Increased Transparency
Clear task statuses and mandatory feedback on rejected tasks enhance transparency within teams. Contributors understand the exact reasons behind any rejections and can take prompt corrective action, which in turn improves the quality of resubmissions.

3. Enhanced Accountability
The workflow fosters greater accountability across the team. Coordinators are responsible for providing structured feedback, while contributors are expected to make adjustments based on this input. This mutual accountability keeps everyone engaged and proactive.

4. Improved In-Platform Communication
With the integrated Golden Thread Panel for commenting, communication is kept within the platform, removing the need for emails or external messaging tools that can be overlooked or forgotten. This direct, centralised form of communication ensures that everyone has access to the same information, facilitating a collaborative approach to task completion.

5. Real-Time Progress Tracking
With dedicated views for contributors and coordinators, teams can effortlessly monitor project progression. Contributors can see when their tasks are in review or completed, while coordinators have a clear overview of pending approvals and completed items, enabling better workload management and priority setting.

6. Early Issue Resolution
By promoting direct feedback within the platform, issues can be addressed early in the process. This reduces the risk of misunderstandings and helps projects maintain momentum without the disruptions that come from unclear task requirements or delayed responses.

With the addition of the Accept and Reject workflow, Operance not only enhances the efficiency of task management but also enriches how teams collaborate and communicate. For example, project managers overseeing large-scale projects can now rest assured that their teams are equipped with a structured workflow that supports detailed oversight, faster turnaround times, and improved quality of task submissions.

Contributors will find their workflow simplified, with a clear path for submitting tasks and receiving actionable feedback. Meanwhile, coordinators can streamline their workload by approving or rejecting tasks with ease, knowing that all relevant updates and comments are captured within the system.

This new feature ultimately helps users of the Operance platform to create safer, well-managed projects. By improving communication, collaboration, and accountability, Operance sets a higher standard for structured task workflows that support successful project outcomes.

The new Accept and Reject workflow marks a significant step forward for Operance and its users. By addressing the need for structured task management, clear communication, and accountability, this feature empowers teams to work more effectively and confidently. The benefits of reduced approval times, enhanced transparency, and real-time task visibility contribute to a smoother, more efficient project lifecycle.

At Operance, we remain committed to continuous innovation, driven by user feedback and a dedication to making our platform the most effective tool for managing building information. With the introduction of the Accept and Reject workflow, Operance users can look forward to improved task management and a collaborative approach that supports seamless project delivery.

We are proud to announce our achievement of ISO 27001 certification, a globally recognised standard for information security management systems. As a digital-first building information company, our mission is to provide seamless, secure, and efficient solutions for managing building data. From our innovative Building Information Management (BIM) software to our high-rise building compliance solutions and digital handovers, we enable clients in construction, property management, and compliance to centralise critical data and ensure their buildings are managed with accuracy and confidence. This certification reflects our dedication to safeguarding client data and the digital assets that power our solutions. In this article, we explore what ISO 27001 means for Operance and our clients, the rigorous journey to achieve it, and how it solidifies our commitment to delivering secure, high-quality digital services.

ISO 27001 is an international standard developed by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). It provides a framework for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an information security management system (ISMS). ISO 27001 is hugely centred around the CIA triad of Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability. For digital-first companies like Operance, achieving ISO 27001 is vital to ensuring that every element of our technology platform is secure, resilient, and protected against risks.

For our clients, this certification means that we are systematically managing and protecting sensitive data, including building plans, tenant information, compliance documents, and maintenance schedules. ISO 27001 outlines a comprehensive set of security controls and management processes, including areas such as access control, risk assessment, incident management, and business continuity. By adhering to these guidelines, we’ve created a security-conscious culture that reduces the risk of data breaches and ensures the continuous, reliable performance of our digital services.

Attaining ISO 27001 certification was a rigorous and thorough process, requiring extensive preparation and commitment. As a digital-first provider, we understand that our products—ranging from BIM consultancy to compliance solutions for high-rise buildings—are essential tools for our clients, who rely on us to store, manage, and protect critical information.

To qualify for ISO 27001, Operance needed to demonstrate a comprehensive approach to information security across every level of our organisation. This journey involved assessing our existing security measures, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing a range of controls and processes that meet ISO’s strict standards. We also conducted thorough risk assessments and established protocols for managing potential security incidents, ensuring that our clients’ data remains protected under all circumstances. With external and internal audits verifying our ISMS, our certification reflects an objective and independent review of our practices and assures clients of our commitment to the highest standards of data security.

For main contractors, building owners, and construction consultants, working with an ISO 27001-certified partner like Operance is essential to ensure data integrity and project success. Our digital products, such as the Digital Handover solution and BIM software, help clients streamline their building data management and improve compliance with legal and regulatory standards. Here’s how our ISO 27001 certification makes Operance a trusted and valuable partner in the building information management sector.

1. Secure Data Management for Digital Building Records
   Construction projects and building management involve vast amounts of sensitive information, from architectural designs and engineering specifications to tenant data and compliance documentation. Our Digital Handover solution allows for centralised, secure storage of this information, ensuring authorised access at all stages of a project. ISO 27001 certification means that our solutions incorporate strict information security controls, reducing the risk of unauthorised access and helping to protect clients’ project data from potential breaches.
2. Supporting Compliance in Building Safety and Regulations
   With compliance demands on the rise, particularly for high-rise buildings, ISO 27001 certification shows that Operance is well-equipped to handle the rigorous requirements of building safety regulations. Our solutions help main contractors and building owners meet the standards set by the Building Safety Act and ISO 19650. With data security at the forefront, clients can trust that sensitive compliance documents are stored securely and remain accessible for audits, reviews, and inspections as needed, reducing liability and enhancing confidence in data integrity.
3. Enhancing Risk Management for Housing Associations and High-Risk Assets
   For housing associations and building owners with high-risk assets, maintaining secure access to tenant, building, and compliance data is critical. Our Building Information Management solutions mitigate risk by offering a secure, centralised platform where all necessary data can be managed, accessed, and protected. ISO 27001’s risk management protocols help us safeguard this information, ensuring that data remains available even in the event of disruption, and protecting building owners from the legal and financial implications of data mismanagement.
4. Assuring Business Continuity for Digital Services
   Operance’s ISO 27001-certified systems include a robust business continuity framework. For our clients, this means that should an unexpected event occur, our services can recover quickly and maintain minimal disruption. For projects relying on continuous access to our digital platform, such as construction timelines, project updates, and compliance status, this is invaluable for avoiding costly delays and ensuring smooth project delivery.
5. Ensuring Transparent, Reliable Partnerships in Construction
   Trust is paramount when handling sensitive building data, and our ISO 27001 certification provides assurance to main contractors, building owners, and consultants that Operance is a secure and reliable partner. By choosing Operance, clients are assured of data security and transparency in every aspect of our operations. Our digital platform serves as a trustworthy repository of information, helping clients build stakeholder confidence by ensuring compliance with best practices and rigorous security standards.

In short, ISO 27001 certification signifies that Operance is a reliable partner for managing construction data, handling compliance requirements, and securely storing essential building information. For our clients, it means partnering with an organisation that not only understands the unique security challenges of the industry but also has the infrastructure, protocols, and commitment to provide secure and efficient data management solutions.

In today’s digital era, data security is more important than ever. Organisations in construction face an array of cyber threats, from hacking and phishing to malware and ransomware attacks. In this landscape, clients want assurance that their data is secure, especially as data breaches can result in financial losses, reputational damage, and legal liabilities. ISO 27001 certification represents our commitment to protecting client data against these threats.

By implementing ISO 27001’s rigorous framework, Operance is helping to set a higher standard of security and accountability within the industry. Our approach is designed not only to protect data but also to provide a reliable and secure platform for our clients. This is particularly crucial for housing associations, building owners, and contractors who work with sensitive information and require a trusted partner for managing and protecting their data.

Achieving ISO 27001 certification is a significant milestone for Operance, reinforcing our commitment to data security and demonstrating our dedication to providing the highest level of service to our clients. This certification assures our clients that Operance has established, implemented, and maintained a robust information security management system in line with globally recognised standards. By choosing Operance, clients are not only partnering with a leader in information management solutions but also benefiting from the peace of mind that their data is in capable hands.

As we continue to evolve and enhance our services, our ISO 27001 certification serves as a foundation for ongoing security and reliability. We look forward to building on this achievement, delivering secure, compliant, and innovative solutions for our clients, and setting a new standard for excellence in information security within the industry.