Project Managment Software
Project Managment Software
(OP)
Our firm is looking into Newforma for use as project management software....shop drawing logs, transmittal storage, email storage, client contacts etc etc. We are about 36 employees and are strictly a structural engineering firm.
The issue at hand is that, from what I have been told, Newforma costs $10,000 initially and then a hefty chunk of change each year after. The powers-that-be, of which I am not one of them, seem to think that Newforma is the way to go. Our largest client uses Newforma and I have a feeling that the powers think along the lines that if it is good enough for our client then it is good enough for us. The problem I see is the fact that with such a major capital investment there has been no searching for other programs/software that may do the same or similar functions without the large cost. If this was a major personal purchase, would anyone just buy it without researching all options? I think I learned this basic consumer concept when I was still in grade school.
What are some other programs that people use?
What uses are typical for project management software?
What should we avoid?
What should we insist on?
Is Newforma worth the investment?
The issue at hand is that, from what I have been told, Newforma costs $10,000 initially and then a hefty chunk of change each year after. The powers-that-be, of which I am not one of them, seem to think that Newforma is the way to go. Our largest client uses Newforma and I have a feeling that the powers think along the lines that if it is good enough for our client then it is good enough for us. The problem I see is the fact that with such a major capital investment there has been no searching for other programs/software that may do the same or similar functions without the large cost. If this was a major personal purchase, would anyone just buy it without researching all options? I think I learned this basic consumer concept when I was still in grade school.
What are some other programs that people use?
What uses are typical for project management software?
What should we avoid?
What should we insist on?
Is Newforma worth the investment?






RE: Project Managment Software
I pretty much think it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. I have no idea how much it costs, but the ease of use is increadible. I can look at a submittal from a project 3 years ago with just a click of the mouse. I can see what RFI's are overdue in seconds.
One of the project's I'm working on right now uses Buzzsaw. Not nearly as good as Primavera.
RE: Project Managment Software
RE: Project Managment Software
RE: Project Managment Software
Thanks for the information......
RE: Project Managment Software
In my opinion, Microsoft "Project" or Primavera's "P3" are scheduling software, not project management software.
RE: Project Managment Software
Does Primavera have a searchable database that allows you to search emails, pdfs, etc for key words? Does it have the ability to create template forms, like transmittals or faxes?
RE: Project Managment Software
I think you can also search the names of attachments. For instance, if you attach a .pdf sketch to an RFI, then the database will know the name of that .pdf. I don't think it will search inside the attachments for content.
I'm sure there are lots of higher functions that I don't have a need to use, so maybe Primavera can give you a list of capabilities. One that I'm fond of is it's reports. I can list what submittals I haven't completed, and which submittals the contractor is planning on submitting, but hasn't.
RE: Project Managment Software
How do you use Primavera with the contractor? Does it work on an invite basis or is it linked to their Primavera software they use for scheduling?
RE: Project Managment Software
I work for a big enough company that we have an construction services manager. She is the actual administrator for the site, so I don't know a lot of the specifics.
You can set up the permissions so that the contractor (or other employees) only have access to certain projects. I think a large part of the success of using a program like Primavera is the protocols that you use. It doesn't work if everybody's playing by different rules. We typically have a project meeting with all of the players prior to construction services where we lay out the ground rules and how we expect everyone to interface. It works pretty well.
RE: Project Managment Software
RE: Project Managment Software
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RE: Project Managment Software
The consultants we work with use Primavera Project Contract and it appears to be pretty capable.
ProjectWise is another widely used software. I just read article how they used it to manage a project with 70 design firms: Ohio River Bridges Project and ProjectWise.
ok, AEC Project Management Software Listing