NCI recognizes that continual technological progress is required to compete in today’s demanding marketplace.  We are committed to the use of web-centric information systems that deliver accuracy, convenience and innovation to our global customer base.  And due to NCI’s aggressive growth strategy, it is imperative that our systems are scalable to accommodate the demands of our growing companies as well as newly acquired organizations.  Oftentimes, as part of our acquisitions, we receive new technologies which are evaluated based on two criteria: fit with current systems and processes, and overall performance. As a result, we have been fortunate to have attained new technologies that have allowed us to further enhance our existing capabilities.

Examples of a few of our premier systems include:

• An e-commerce interface that allows MBCI^® customers to order metal building components conveniently online.  Items ranging from panels to roof jacks to vents and louvers can be selected and customized within the interactive catalog and purchased with a credit card. An added benefit is the order tracking module that permits MBCI customers to monitor the shipment of orders, whether placed online or through conventional means.
  
  
• Web-based building software that facilitates the design, estimating and ordering of low to medium complexity buildings through a simple user interface. Steelbuilding.com™ is available to the public and is specifically designed for small general contractors and do-it-yourselfers while Fastar and Express Plus have been customized to meet the specific needs of our builder network. 
  
  
• Advanced builder software is available, enabling our knowledgeable builder network customers to engineer and design more complex building designs directly to the plant floor machinery. The system holds the latest building codes applicable to a geographic area and creates a final design which is ultimately sent to NCI’s internal manufacturing systems. 

In addition, a common ERP system is currently in design that fosters internal alignment throughout the organization and further supports our hub-and-spoke strategy.  When implemented, it will provide a highly efficient platform for new software development; lower-cost, back-office operations; reduced transportation costs; and, efficient inventory management.   The aggregation of all these information technology improvements results in more responsive customer service as well as an increased ability to respond to changes in the metal buildings marketplace.