In a world where speed, data, and flexibility define success, MiTek is forging a new path for the housebuilding and structural timber sector with Optics — its cloud-based platform designed to simplify how businesses work and collaborate.
At the heart of this project is Joss Smith, MiTek’s Product Director whose journey into the industry began unexpectedly.
“I began the journey into computing at the age of 11,” Joss recalls. “I’ve always been fascinated by how you can use software to make things easier and more efficient. That curiosity has stuck with me my whole life.”
After studying Mathematics and Computing at Oxford, Joss took a temporary six-month contract as office administrator at a small truss manufacturer, not realising he’d begun a path to transform the construction industry.
“I looked at their processes, their workflows, and started implementing automations,” he explains. “I removed the need for an admin clerk, enabling designers to do their own quotations. I basically programmed myself out of the job. The system owner heard about what I’d done and asked me to do the same for the rest of their customer base.”
Over the past three decades, Joss has worked alongside component manufacturers through every generation of software, driven by a passion for helping people work smarter, not harder.
“That’s what I’ve always thrived on,” he says. “Continuous improvement. Opportunities exist, if you are persistent and know what questions to ask.”
Building Optics for real-world needs
Now, Joss is the product leader behind MiTek Optics. Joss and his team are focused on solving some of the industry’s biggest operational headaches. Optics aims to reduce administrative burden, give teams real-time insights from anywhere, and deliver the agility modern businesses need to stay competitive.
“The industry’s moving fast towards cloud-based solutions,” Joss says. “Businesses don’t want to be tied to on-prem solutions anymore, they need secure, highly-available systems that let their team work wherever they are – on site, on the road, at home or in the office. Optics is all about giving them that freedom.”
“We’ve taken the chance to completely rethink how companies manage their component manufacturing business. The industry has changed since we built MBA. Customers now offer timber frame and Posi-joists. Increasingly we are seeing vertical integration with home builders. Each company has its own workflows and challenges, but we see common themes that Optics meets head on.”
One challenge is the hidden cost of administrative tasks. Conversations with industry professionals revealed that designers can spend as much as 40% of their time on paperwork instead of the creative and technical work they love.
“One designer told me that if they could spend 80% of their time doing what they love, it would be transformative,” Joss says. “With Optics, we want to bring admin down to 5% of their time.”
Optics is the result of countless conversations with designers, manufacturers, and housebuilders — all grappling with similar issues: balancing complex technical demands with the growing need for speed and agility.
“We’ve been collaborating with customers every step of the way, and they’re excited by what they see so far. The feedback we get drives us forward. We’re not building software for the sake of it — it’s about solving real problems.”
“Development is an on-going process. The product we are readying now has lots of planned room to grow. Given the scope of data within our platform, we see opportunities to incorporate AI-driven agents and insights, for example.”
Leading like a jazz musician
Leading a 15-strong software development team, Joss compares his role to another of his passions: jazz.
“Definitely software development is more chaotic than jazz,” he laughs. “But that’s what makes it exciting. Collaboration is everything. In both jazz and software, you need skilled people, dedicated, aligned and in tune, each bringing unique talents to build something great together”.
He believes great products don’t just come from brilliant engineers or a visionary leader, but from direct engagement with users. Optics has evolved through regular feedback from user groups, ensuring the platform addresses real-world needs.
“We’ve been collaborating with customers every step of the way, and they’re excited by what they see so far,” Joss says.
Shaping the future, one feature at a time
Building a platform like Optics comes with its challenges. Joss likens product development to shaping clay on a potter’s wheel — it takes time and careful judgement to turn a raw idea into something people will genuinely love.
“The hard part is shaping it into something that’s loveable, not just functional,” he explains. “We are balancing simple features to support one-off jobs, with powerful capabilities for large-scale customers managing national housebuilder contracts. The result must be intuitive and accessible to everyone. We want users to feel confident and empowered, not overwhelmed.”
The pride Joss and his team have in what they’re building is unmistakable – but can he sum up the impact in just three words?
“Simple. Insight. Everywhere? Easy. Transformative. Impact? Or I could break the fourth wall: Sign up now!” he laughs.
“But honestly, it’s about results. The real excitement comes when businesses start using Optics and discover how much faster they can move, how much smarter their decisions become, and how much time they win back to focus on what truly matters. I think once people get their hands on it, they’ll have a lot more than three words to say.”
Despite the complexities, Joss believes software development is ultimately about understanding people.
“We think about software as building lines of code,” he says. “But it’s really about building relationships, listening and adapting. It’s about how we work together.”
As MiTek approaches the launch of Optics, Joss and his team are driven by one goal: giving customers a platform that makes businesses leaner, faster, and more competitive — and that frees up valuable time for what truly matters.
“What we’ve developed so far is just a taste of what’s to come,” Joss says. “And we can’t wait to get this powerful tool into customers’ hands.”
Watch Joss share his story: https://youtu.be/ZDyf8_Fnq44?si=TZre75zWTAIVFOZv
