Enterprise software users have operated under the same constraint since the early days of web applications: browser-based systems require linear, single-screen workflows. This limitation impacts millions of users across industries who work with cloud-based ERP, CRM, and productivity applications daily.
The constraint emerged as software shifted from desktop to web-based delivery in the early 2000s. Desktop applications allowed users to open multiple windows simultaneously, comparing documents, cross-referencing data, and managing several tasks concurrently. Web applications, however, developed around a page-based model that displays one interface element at a time.
ProBuilt Software, based in The Woodlands, Texas, has developed technology that aims to eliminate this limitation. Their patent-pending Floating Forms architecture enables multiple interactive forms to operate simultaneously within a single browser window.
The Technical Challenge
The "one-page-at-a-time" approach impacts user productivity. Consider some common business scenarios, such as an accountant comparing invoices, a sales representative reviewing multiple customer records, or a project manager tracking several ongoing tasks. Current web applications require users to navigate between screens repeatedly, losing context with each transition.
Existing workarounds include opening multiple browser tabs or windows, but these create fragmented experiences. Users are required to manually synchronize information between disconnected instances, and browser performance often degrades with multiple sessions.
ProBuilt's solution involves two core technologies. Floating Forms allows unlimited independent forms that maintain database connections and real-time updates. Data Stacking enables multiple data sets to remain accessible simultaneously, eliminating the constant opening and closing of different views.
The company has demonstrated the technology through a complete ERP system where users can maintain active forms for invoicing, customer management, and reporting concurrently. All elements remain live and interactive within a single browser window.
Market Context
The timing coincides with growing enterprise focus on productivity improvements that deliver measurable returns. Many organizations report mixed results from AI implementations, creating demand for solutions with clearer value propositions.
Michael Till, ProBuilt's CEO and the architecture's inventor, previously built a successful transportation management system company that has operated since 1996 and was sold to private equity in 2019. The executive team identified the multitasking limitation during their industry experience and spent over three years developing the current solution.
"Our patent-pending 'Floating-Forms' technology is the much-needed solution to the antiquated, painfully inefficient 'one-page-at-a-time' design standard that has plagued every browser-based online software application ever made in the last twenty-five years," Till stated in a recent announcement.
Government and Enterprise Interest
The technology has attracted attention from federal agencies evaluating productivity and security implications. Government representatives have expressed particular interest in applications where personnel must process multiple data sources simultaneously under time constraints.
ProBuilt operates on three fronts: licensing their proprietary Floating Forms technology to software vendors, offering white-label versions of their ERP system for integration into existing platforms, and marketing their own standalone ERP application as a competitor to online accounting platforms.
The white-labeling approach addresses a common gap in industry-specific cloud applications, which typically lack integrated accounting and CRM capabilities. Most current solutions rely on third-party interfaces to systems like QuickBooks Online and Salesforce, creating dependency on external platforms that ProBuilt's white-label solution could eliminate.
Implementation Considerations
The architecture requires integration work from licensees, but ProBuilt positions this as less expensive than developing similar capabilities internally. The patent-pending status may provide early adopters with temporary competitive advantages before alternative solutions emerge.
Surprisingly, major software vendors like Microsoft, Oracle (News - Alert), and Salesforce have not implemented similar multitasking capabilities despite having resources to do so. ProBuilt’s technology applies across vertical markets. Companies considering adoption should evaluate integration costs against potential productivity gains and competitive positioning benefits.
ProBuilt has opened its licensing program to software companies across industries. The company reports initial interest from both established vendors and emerging SaaS (News - Alert) providers looking to enhance their platforms' capabilities.
