Overview


Include Software is the 21-year old company behind Asset™, Censeo™, and Asset G9™, the innovative software products used by contractors throughout the United States.  Asset is the leading business management software for the green industry, which consists of landscape contractors, design/build firms, and landscape architects, just to name a few. It’s a fully-integrated product that manages every aspect of your business and eliminates the need for other software programs. Because it is comprehensive, Asset is appropriate for larger businesses with revenues of at least $5 million. On the other end of the spectrum is Censeo, our innovative project-estimation program that was designed for contractors in every industry. This easy-to-use product is affordable for even the smallest business.  Finally, Asset G9 is a derivative of Asset. Asset G9 provides business-management solutions for contractors in nearly any industry, and applies the knowledge base built upon 21 years of listening to the needs of our clients.
.

Company Origins

The state of business software available for Green Industry companies in 1989 was, in a nutshell, not very good. The only available products were designed for general contractors. They were slow, expensive, and did not fit the needs or requirements of landscape companies.


With a strong background in construction project management and real estate development, and working as lead estimator for a landscape company, founder Bill Seven recognized the need for quality software in the industry. So he designed Lbase Estimating, the first commercially-available, landscape-specific, PC- based product for the Green Industry.


Almost immediately, clients requested more functionality. It was typical to hear comments such as "We love your estimating product, but we need scheduling too." Such client feedback caused Bill and the Include Software team to revise and enhance the software, adding routing and scheduling components. But clients wanted more, so accounting functionality was soon added.  Include Software was the first Green Industry-centered software company to provide Windows-based products in 1996. We were also the first, in 1997, to deliver a Palm-based data-collection solution to the market. All of that was just the beginning. Over the years, the team at Include Software has learned to carefully listen to clients and deliver products and services that meet an ever-changing and increasingly-demanding marketplace.

 

As we continue to innovate, we’ve truly come full circle. Whereas our earliest product was an alternative to the business-management programs available for the general contracting industry, we’re now serving that sector as well, but with Asset G9, a product that has evolved from 21 years of continual improvements and growth.

Company Milestones

We are the leading software provider to the Green Industry, and we have the track record to prove it. We've been working with leading Green Industry companies, industry consultants, and trade organizations for 21years, and have developed the richest, most robust business-management software product line available.

Industry First Year Event
  1989 Include Software founded as Synoptic Systems in Carlsbad, California
* 1989 LbaseTM Estimator, first Green Industry estimating product for PC and DOS, introduced
  1989 Joined CLCA
* 1990 LbaseTM Routing & Scheduling introduced
* 1993 LbaseTM Accounting introduced, including fully integrated payroll
  1993 Joined ALCA (Now PLANET)
  1994 Company renamed to Include Software
  1995 Launched include.com
  1996 Relocated corporate offices to Maryland
* 1996 Released first Green Industry WindowsTM based product, AssetTM Estimator
* 1997 Released MinnowTM, first Palm Pilot application for the Green Industry
* 1997 Introduced Client-server SQL database capability to products
* 1997 VCatTM, the vendor pricing integration tool, introduced
  1999 Certified products for use with CitrixTM Metaframe
  1999 Year 2000 certifications
  2000 Started new millennium trouble free! 100% uptime for our clients!
* 2000 Released Remote Estimator (Now called EstimateAnywhereTM), industry's first remote estimating tool.
* 2000 Introduced email proposals
  2001 Introduced Proposal ManagerTM, the next generation estimating tool
  2001 Introduced LandCaddTM integration
* 2001 Introduced Call ManagerTM first Green Industry integrated CRM tool
* 2002 Introduced serialized inventory capability
  2004 Introduced AssetTM user forum
  2004 Introduced IncludeNETTM, a user organization for Asset™ users
* 2005 Introduced CREWtekTM, 2nd generation mobile data collection, and the first to allow remote collection of material use information
  2006 Introduced online training videos
  2006 TotalHelp initiative, designed to make our help system the most comprehensive in the industry
  2006 Added integrated, online credit card processing capability
* 2006 Added GL & Department restructuring capability
* 2006 Added GoogleTM search integration
* 2006 Added Green Industry's first travel calculator to Proposal ManagerTM
  2007 Added integrated use tax handling
  2007 Introduced branch and security level visibility filtering
* 2007 Introduced email notifications to purchasing and scheduling systems
  2007 Introduced counter sales capability
  2007 Use tax handling
  2007 Created Asset User Forum
  2007 Integrated email
  2007 Added multi-branch capability
  2007 Introduced email notifications
  2007 Introduced multiple insurance expiration check warnings
  2007 Introduced transaction reclassing, preserving the audit trail
  2007 Introduced CX, our second generation CRM tool
  2008 Introduced CX mass email.
  2008 Introduced email invoices and statements
  2008 Introduced renewal schedule creation
  2008 Added Squawk Box
  2008 Added spell checking to Proposal Manager and AR Manager
  2008 Introduced Asset Techniques newsletter
  2009 Asset Enterprise connector
  2009 Began Webinar continuing education series
  2009 Authorize.net payment gateway added for easy credit card setup
  2009 Created Asset Suggestion Box so everyone can be heard
  2009 Introduced next generation Proposal Manager with Images that can be embedded in proposals
  2009 Created link with Vectorworks CAD software
  2009 Added Point of Sale module to Asset

Overview


Include Software is the 21-year old company behind Asset™, Censeo™, and Asset G9™, the innovative software products used by contractors throughout the United States.  Asset is the leading business management software for the green industry, which consists of landscape contractors, design/build firms, and landscape architects, just to name a few. It’s a fully-integrated product that manages every aspect of your business and eliminates the need for other software programs. Because it is comprehensive, Asset is appropriate for larger businesses with revenues of at least $5 million. On the other end of the spectrum is Censeo, our innovative project-estimation program that was designed for contractors in every industry. This easy-to-use product is affordable for even the smallest business.  Finally, Asset G9 is a derivative of Asset. Asset G9 provides business-management solutions for contractors in nearly any industry, and applies the knowledge base built upon 21 years of listening to the needs of our clients.
.

Company Origins

The state of business software available for Green Industry companies in 1989 was, in a nutshell, not very good. The only available products were designed for general contractors. They were slow, expensive, and did not fit the needs or requirements of landscape companies.


With a strong background in construction project management and real estate development, and working as lead estimator for a landscape company, founder Bill Seven recognized the need for quality software in the industry. So he designed Lbase Estimating, the first commercially-available, landscape-specific, PC- based product for the Green Industry.


Almost immediately, clients requested more functionality. It was typical to hear comments such as "We love your estimating product, but we need scheduling too." Such client feedback caused Bill and the Include Software team to revise and enhance the software, adding routing and scheduling components. But clients wanted more, so accounting functionality was soon added.  Include Software was the first Green Industry-centered software company to provide Windows-based products in 1996. We were also the first, in 1997, to deliver a Palm-based data-collection solution to the market. All of that was just the beginning. Over the years, the team at Include Software has learned to carefully listen to clients and deliver products and services that meet an ever-changing and increasingly-demanding marketplace.

 

As we continue to innovate, we’ve truly come full circle. Whereas our earliest product was an alternative to the business-management programs available for the general contracting industry, we’re now serving that sector as well, but with Asset G9, a product that has evolved from 21 years of continual improvements and growth.

Company Milestones

We are the leading software provider to the Green Industry, and we have the track record to prove it. We've been working with leading Green Industry companies, industry consultants, and trade organizations for 21years, and have developed the richest, most robust business-management software product line available.

Industry First Year Event
  1989 Include Software founded as Synoptic Systems in Carlsbad, California
* 1989 LbaseTM Estimator, first Green Industry estimating product for PC and DOS, introduced
  1989 Joined CLCA
* 1990 LbaseTM Routing & Scheduling introduced
* 1993 LbaseTM Accounting introduced, including fully integrated payroll
  1993 Joined ALCA (Now PLANET)
  1994 Company renamed to Include Software
  1995 Launched include.com
  1996 Relocated corporate offices to Maryland
* 1996 Released first Green Industry WindowsTM based product, AssetTM Estimator
* 1997 Released MinnowTM, first Palm Pilot application for the Green Industry
* 1997 Introduced Client-server SQL database capability to products
* 1997 VCatTM, the vendor pricing integration tool, introduced
  1999 Certified products for use with CitrixTM Metaframe
  1999 Year 2000 certifications
  2000 Started new millennium trouble free! 100% uptime for our clients!
* 2000 Released Remote Estimator (Now called EstimateAnywhereTM), industry's first remote estimating tool.
* 2000 Introduced email proposals
  2001 Introduced Proposal ManagerTM, the next generation estimating tool
  2001 Introduced LandCaddTM integration
* 2001 Introduced Call ManagerTM first Green Industry integrated CRM tool
* 2002 Introduced serialized inventory capability
  2004 Introduced AssetTM user forum
  2004 Introduced IncludeNETTM, a user organization for Asset™ users
* 2005 Introduced CREWtekTM, 2nd generation mobile data collection, and the first to allow remote collection of material use information
  2006 Introduced online training videos
  2006 TotalHelp initiative, designed to make our help system the most comprehensive in the industry
  2006 Added integrated, online credit card processing capability
* 2006 Added GL & Department restructuring capability
* 2006 Added GoogleTM search integration
* 2006 Added Green Industry's first travel calculator to Proposal ManagerTM
  2007 Added integrated use tax handling
  2007 Introduced branch and security level visibility filtering
* 2007 Introduced email notifications to purchasing and scheduling systems
  2007 Introduced counter sales capability
  2007 Use tax handling
  2007 Created Asset User Forum
  2007 Integrated email
  2007 Added multi-branch capability
  2007 Introduced email notifications
  2007 Introduced multiple insurance expiration check warnings
  2007 Introduced transaction reclassing, preserving the audit trail
  2007 Introduced CX, our second generation CRM tool
  2008 Introduced CX mass email.
  2008 Introduced email invoices and statements
  2008 Introduced renewal schedule creation
  2008 Added Squawk Box
  2008 Added spell checking to Proposal Manager and AR Manager
  2008 Introduced Asset Techniques newsletter
  2009 Asset Enterprise connector
  2009 Began Webinar continuing education series
  2009 Authorize.net payment gateway added for easy credit card setup
  2009 Created Asset Suggestion Box so everyone can be heard
  2009 Introduced next generation Proposal Manager with Images that can be embedded in proposals
  2009 Created link with Vectorworks CAD software
  2009 Added Point of Sale module to Asset

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I could spend more, but I couldn't get more. Include® is not only fast and responsive if we need support but we are always learning new ways to improve our operation, as the product is constantly enhanced to serve our growing needs. We've tried all of the rest and finally found the best.

- Bruce Birdsong, President
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