Skip to main content
Advantive

Advantive Expands Global Footprint with Acquisition of Canadian Architectural ERP Software Leader Comsense


With the addition of Comsense, Inc to its solutions lineup, Advantive expands its distribution offerings into the architectural openings space

Tampa Bay, Fla. – September 17, 2024Advantive, a mission-critical software provider for specialty manufacturing and distribution businesses, today announced its acquisition of Comsense, a leading ERP software provider for architectural opening distributors. This acquisition furthers Advantive’s commitment to driving innovation in the manufacturing and distribution industries by expanding into the architectural openings space and elevating its position in construction-related materials distribution.

Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Comsense has provided ERP and project management solutions for the architectural door, frame, and hardware distribution industry since 1989. Today, Comsense helps architectural opening distributors optimize their operations by streamlining their quote to cash process. Based on the backbone of digital price books, Comsense software facilitates the complex processes of bidding, submittal generation, change orders, and fulfillment to ensure accurate and efficient project execution.

“While Advantive has over 30 years of experience in the distribution industry, we are always looking for the right opportunities to expand our presence and deepen our expertise,” said Kevin Boyce, CEO of Advantive. “The acquisition of Comsense enables us to further solidify our position in construction-related materials distribution by expanding into the essential architectural openings space.”

Advantive is a leading provider of wholesale distribution ERP software with capabilities for fastener, lighting, plumbing, and other hardware materials related to residential and commercial building construction. Comsense’s construction focused ERP software offers estimating and detailing, project management, and accounting features, alongside comprehensive, accurate, and up-to-date pricing for over 120 brands to enable easy quoting and quick commerce. This acquisition further extends Advantive’s position within the market.

“We are thrilled to become part of Advantive’s vision for the future,” said Patrick Teas, President of Comsense. “Over the past 35 years, Comsense has grown from the ground up to suit the unique and complex challenges of the architectural door, frame and hardware industry. As we move forward with our combined solutions, we strive to deliver on this promise while furthering innovation in the industry.”

For more information on Advantive, visit https://www.advantive.com/.

For more information on Comsense, visit https://www.comsenseinc.com/.

About Advantive:
Advantive is a leading provider of mission-critical software for specialty manufacturing and distribution companies, offering purpose-built ERP, MES and SPC software solutions that meet the unique needs of our customers. Serving over 6,500 customers and operating in 88 countries, Advantive’s software solutions simplify complex processes, optimize operations visibility and throughput, and drive improved quality, profitability, and revenue growth. Deeply embedded into key end-to-end workflows, Advantive’s software uses automation, seamless integration and real-time data to streamline plant scheduling, order management, quality control, sales order forecasting and pricing, ecommerce and delivery – making the complex, simple. More information about Advantive can be found at https://www.advantive.com.

About Comsense:
Based in Toronto, Canada, Comsense provides architectural opening distributors across North America with an ERP system designed from the ground up to suit the unique and complex requirements of the architectural door, frame, and hardware distribution industry. Comsense designs and develops software internally, providing direct support and training, and selling directly to customers.

Founded in 1989, Comsense initially began creating software for specification writers. Shortly afterward, a full estimating and detailing system was created, allowing for the creation and management of bids and detailed submittals, initially focusing on hardware products only. Doors and frames were then added to the mix, and combined with full accounting features, the Architectural Hardware Manager, aka AHM was born.

In 2002 Comsense released SpecWriter, the first of a collection of new modules for the Windows desktop, followed by Advantage and Elevations, for project estimating and detailing, and then finally by Enterprise, the complete project management and accounting module.

Media Contact:
Kendall Kosek
Alloy, on behalf of Advantive
855.300.8209
[email protected]

Editorial standards

Fact-checking & editorial guidelines

Every article on advantive.com is written and reviewed against an internal accuracy standard before publication. Here's what that means in practice.

  • Product claims are verified by the brand team that owns the platform.

    When an article references InfinityQS, WinSPC, PQ Systems, Pinpoint, ParityFactory, ProPlanner, KiwiPlan, DDI System, VeraCore, or any of Advantive's other specialty platforms, the relevant product team checks technical statements about features, deployment, and current capability before the article goes live.

  • External statistics cite their source inline.

    When an article references industry survey results, regulatory benchmarks, or third-party research, the source is linked at the point of citation. Statements without an inline source link are first-party observations drawn from Advantive's product teams or customer base.

  • Publication and revision dates stay visible.

    The original publication date and the most recent revision date are both shown on every article. Topics that change quickly — AI capabilities, regulatory rules, product roadmaps — are revisited on a tighter cadence than evergreen reference content.

  • Corrections are issued openly.

    If a factual error is reported, the article is updated, the revision date advances, and material corrections are noted at the bottom of the article so readers can see what changed and when.

Found something wrong, or have a citation to add? Get in touch with the editorial team and we'll review it.

Subject-matter review

Reviewed by subject-matter experts

Advantive is a portfolio of 14+ specialty software platforms — each one built and maintained by a product team that has spent years inside a specific manufacturing or distribution discipline. Articles in technical channels are reviewed by the relevant team before publication.

  • Quality & SPC content

    Reviewed by the InfinityQS, WinSPC, and PQ Systems product teams — the platforms behind statistical process control, capability analysis, and gage management deployments across food, automotive, pharma, and CPG manufacturers.

  • Manufacturing operations & MES content

    Reviewed by the PINpoint, ProPlanner, ParityFactory, and VIA Information Tools teams, whose platforms run production scheduling, traceability, and shop-floor execution for discrete, automotive, and food-and-beverage manufacturers.

  • Packaging & converter content

    Reviewed by the KiwiPlan, Abaca, and AdvantZware teams, who build software specifically for corrugated, folding-carton, and packaging-converter operations.

  • Distribution, ERP & B2B commerce content

    Reviewed by the DDI System (inFORM ERP), Distribution One, VeraCore, Pepperi, and Commerce Vision teams, whose platforms run wholesale ERP, fulfillment, field sales, and B2B portals for specialty distributors and 3PLs.

Are you a practitioner with domain expertise to contribute? Get in touch — we accept guest contributions from operators in the industries we serve.