Act Building Systems
ACT Building Systems is a New Zealand-based software company developing ACT Dimensions, a cloud platform for designing, quoting, and engineering cold-formed steel buildings, serving manufacturers, dealers, engineers, and consumers across the US, Canada, and Australia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersRichmond, New Zealand
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Act Building Systems does
ACT Building Systems is a privately held New Zealand-based software company that develops ACT Dimensions, a cloud platform for designing, quoting, engineering, and ordering cold-formed steel (CFS) buildings. The company serves the full CFS value chain — roll-former manufacturers, building dealers and sellers, structural engineers, erectors, and end consumers — across the United States, Canada, and Australia. Founded approximately in 1999, ACT reports more than two decades of domain experience and over 40,000 buildings processed in the US market.
The ACT Dimensions platform integrates design, structural engineering, code-compliance checking, quoting, and order processing into a single workflow with jurisdiction-specific logic for US, Canadian, and Australian building codes. The product includes a free browser-based Online 3D Designer that functions as both a consumer self-serve tool and a lead-generation funnel for dealers, plus premium AI-enabled features (a Design Assistant chat and an HD Image Generator), EDI integration that pushes orders directly into manufacturer ERP systems, and white-label deployment so dealers and manufacturers can offer the software under their own branding.
ACT Building Systems generates revenue through two primary streams: a one-time licensing and setup fee from manufacturers who customize the platform to their proprietary component catalogs, and a transaction-based fee from dealers and sellers who pay only when a building is sold, with no recurring monthly subscription. Distribution is channel-led through a global network of roll-former manufacturing partners, building dealers, and a contractor register, supplemented by product-led growth via the free online designer and content marketing through YouTube (including a 2025 partnership with DIY creator April Wilkerson) and social channels.
Act Building Systems firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Act Building Systems
- Legal name
- ACT Building Systems
- Website
- https://actbuildingsystems.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- ACT Building Systems is a New Zealand-based software company developing ACT Dimensions, a cloud platform for designing, quoting, and engineering cold-formed steel buildings, serving manufacturers, dealers, engineers, and consumers across the US, Canada, and Australia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Act Building Systems industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Construction Design Software
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (541310)
- SIC
- Fabricated Structural Metal Products (3440)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE)
Keywords
Where Act Building Systems is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Richmond
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Act Building Systems business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Software Licensing - Manufacturing Clients: One-time fee for manufacturers to customize ACT Dimensions software to their business. Creates turnkey building solution with online designer, dashboard, and support. No monthly or yearly recurring charges beyond initial setup.
- Software Platform - Sellers/Dealers: Software platform for dealers and sellers to design, quote, and sell cold formed buildings. No monthly fees - pay only when selling a building. White-labeling available for brand positioning.
- White-Label/Branding Partnership: Dealers and manufacturers can put their own branding on the software and designer tool, extending reach while ACT serves as the underlying technology provider.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | One-time setup fee for manufacturers |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Transaction-based for sellers/dealers |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Act Building Systems product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ACT Building Systems develops ACT Dimensions, a cloud-based software platform that enables the design, quoting, engineering, and ordering of cold-formed steel buildings. The platform is offered to manufacturers (roll-formers), dealers/sellers, and engineers/erectors, and includes a free browser-based 3D Online Designer that lets end consumers configure buildings, generate photorealistic images, and request dealer quotes. Code-compliant designs are produced for the US, Canada, and Australia.
Product overview
ACT Building Systems offers ACT Dimensions as its core software platform for cold-formed steel building design, engineering, and sales. The platform integrates an Online Designer (3D lead generator) for customers to design buildings and request quotes, EDI integration for manufacturing clients to connect orders to their ERP systems, and premium AI features including a Design Assistant chat and HD Image Generator. The platform serves manufacturers, sellers, engineers/erectors, and consumers across the cold-formed steel building supply chain.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ACT Dimensions: The primary software product created by ACT Building Systems for designing, selling, and engineering cold-formed steel buildings. The software allows manufacturers, sellers, engineers, erectors, and consumers to design, quote, engineer, and order cold-formed buildings from a single platform.
Products and services
- ACT Dimensions
Quantifiable outcome
- Save 30% or more on concrete costs compared to red iron buildings
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Act Building Systems
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Act Building Systems technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability4 records
Feature5 records
Act Building Systems partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- April WilkersoncoreYouTube influencer and DIY creator (maker, woodworker, metalworker since 2013) partnered with ACT to demonstrate cold formed building construction. April designed and erected a 40' x 60' single slope building in less than 10 days with a crew of 3-4. The partnership includes YouTube video series documenting the build journey.
- Global Manufacturers (Roll-former companies)coreACT partners with manufacturers who have roll-forming equipment. ACT customizes Dimensions software to the manufacturer's catalog, creating a turnkey building solution. Manufacturers can create their own network of building dealers who access the software.
- COLD FORMED Steel Building DealerscoreNetwork of dealers across the globe who use ACT Dimensions to design, quote, and sell cold formed buildings. Quote requests from the online designer are forwarded to dealers who provide pricing. Dealers can white-label the software.
- Contractors and Builders NetworkminorACT maintains a contractor/builder register connecting installers with their network of distributors and customers. Contractors can register to have their services made available through ACT's extensive distribution network.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Act Building Systems competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Procore: Construction management platform for project owners, GCs, and specialty contractors. Adjacent rather than direct overlap, but competes for the same SMB-to-enterprise construction software wallet.
- Bluebeam: PDF markup, drawing management, and construction-document collaboration software widely used across the construction industry. Comparable as an upstream design-to-construction documentation tool for SMB contractors.
- Trimble: Construction technology platform spanning design (Tekla), estimating, project management, and field operations. Overlaps ACT's design-to-fabrication workflow via Tekla Structures for structural steel.
- Autodesk (Revit / Construction): Industry-standard BIM and construction software with Revit for architectural/structural design and a broader construction-cloud portfolio. Competes for engineering and design workflows with vastly greater scale and ecosystem.
Direct peers
- Envisioneer: Residential and light-commercial BIM-based design software producing framing, construction documents, and material lists. Closely comparable workflow to ACT Dimensions for builder/dealer channels.
- Cedreo: Cloud-based home design software for residential builders and remodelers with 2D/3D plans and AI-assisted features. Comparable product-led growth motion targeting builders and dealers with white-label-friendly architecture.
- SoftPlan: Residential design and remodeling software producing plans, 3D models, and material takeoffs. Comparable as a design-to-quote workflow tool sold through channel relationships to builders and remodelers.
- MBS (Metal Building Software): Design and estimating software specifically for pre-engineered metal buildings (red iron and steel). The most direct peer by product category, also serving manufacturers, dealers, and contractors in the metal building space.
- Chief Architect: Residential and light-commercial building design software with3D rendering and construction documents. Directly comparable as a single-platform design, quote, and documentation tool for SMB builders — though it serves wood framing rather than cold-formed steel.
Emerging players
- BricsCAD (Bricsys): DWG-based CAD platform with construction-specific toolsets targeting architects and engineers. Comparable as an alternative CAD/design platform serving similar SMB construction professionals at lower cost than Autodesk.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Act Building Systems social profiles
Digital presenceAct Building Systems financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Act Building Systems leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Act Building Systems funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Act Building Systems M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Act Building Systems
What does Act Building Systems do?
ACT Building Systems develops ACT Dimensions, a cloud-based software platform that enables the design, quoting, engineering, and ordering of cold-formed steel buildings. The platform is offered to manufacturers (roll-formers), dealers/sellers, and engineers/erectors, and includes a free browser-based 3D Online Designer that lets end consumers configure buildings, generate photorealistic images, and request dealer quotes. Code-compliant designs are produced for the US, Canada, and Australia.
Is Act Building Systems a public or private company?
Act Building Systems is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Act Building Systems founded?
Act Building Systems was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Act Building Systems based?
Act Building Systems is headquartered in Richmond, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does Act Building Systems make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Software Licensing - Manufacturing Clients are the primary driver. The others are software Platform - Sellers/Dealers and white-Label/Branding Partnership.
Who are Act Building Systems's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Procore, Bluebeam, Trimble and Autodesk (Revit / Construction). Direct peers are Envisioneer, Cedreo, SoftPlan, MBS (Metal Building Software) and Chief Architect. BricsCAD (Bricsys) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Act Building Systems have an API?
No public API is recorded for Act Building Systems.
What industry is Act Building Systems in?
Act Building Systems's product category is Construction Design Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFABAE, Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders. Its NAICS code is 541310 and its SIC code is 3440.