Effectively managing an architectural firm and practice is time consuming, especially when running multiple projects in an understaffed firm. It is also become imperative that projects be managed profitably and all billable hours captured and accounted for. This where investing in dedicated architecture project management software can be a big help as there are multiple benefits to switching.
Many firms piece together email, generic pm programs, spreadsheets, documents and a shared drive to manage things. And while this will get you by, you will not be best utilizing resources. Specifically designed architecture project management software blends together all the key components of the these programs into one easy to use interface. Since it is designed with architects in mind, the workflow, terminology and reporting are all tailored to the industry so there is little downtime in switching to the system.
Using specific software means that there is a very quick learning curve. All terminology, reports, templates are specific to the needs of a professional architectural firm. They are designed through close consultation with architects and staff who have real-world experience. This makes things simple, intuitive and much easier to learn. This also means training staff is easier, which means the company will more quickly adopt using the new system.
The basis of all good software is to organize, coordinate and manage the team's tasks, deliverables and workload. These programs offer a variety of features to make this easy. Project managers can plan all aspects of the project with a simple interface, entering tasks, dependencies, resources, time and other important components. Once entered these programs generally use Gantt chart-type reporting to get a visual look at a project.
Another important aspect is resource tracking. With all firm's emphasizing the maximization of resources and billable hours, it is imperative that the PM have quick access to resource allocation. These tools have many different reports that allow quick analysis of an individual's workload. It is also easy to spot where certain tasks need more attention and shift resources accordingly.
All architectural firms must manage a mountain load of documentation. This is where this type of program really shines. Doc workflow is integrated into most systems, not only to store information, but to allow easy collaboration and distribution. Documents can be linked so important information or details such as that found in change orders is not missed. Clients can also be given access to either view or collaborate as appropriate.
Project reviews are an important component of the process, both during projects and after completion. Unfortunately these are often done with incomplete information, so not as effective in optimizing the process as they could be. Architecture project management software allows one to truly analyze and dissect a project in a way that allows managers, staff and senior executives to diagnose issues and institute real change.
Competition today is fierce and unfortunately the most creative firms are not always the most successful. This is often due to less than ideal business processes and the inability to most effectively allocate resources and maintain billability. Architecture project management software takes much of the guesswork out of this process by providing the tools to do things more effectively. If you are not using a comprehensive PM system, you owe it to yourself and your firm to find out more.
Many firms piece together email, generic pm programs, spreadsheets, documents and a shared drive to manage things. And while this will get you by, you will not be best utilizing resources. Specifically designed architecture project management software blends together all the key components of the these programs into one easy to use interface. Since it is designed with architects in mind, the workflow, terminology and reporting are all tailored to the industry so there is little downtime in switching to the system.
Using specific software means that there is a very quick learning curve. All terminology, reports, templates are specific to the needs of a professional architectural firm. They are designed through close consultation with architects and staff who have real-world experience. This makes things simple, intuitive and much easier to learn. This also means training staff is easier, which means the company will more quickly adopt using the new system.
The basis of all good software is to organize, coordinate and manage the team's tasks, deliverables and workload. These programs offer a variety of features to make this easy. Project managers can plan all aspects of the project with a simple interface, entering tasks, dependencies, resources, time and other important components. Once entered these programs generally use Gantt chart-type reporting to get a visual look at a project.
Another important aspect is resource tracking. With all firm's emphasizing the maximization of resources and billable hours, it is imperative that the PM have quick access to resource allocation. These tools have many different reports that allow quick analysis of an individual's workload. It is also easy to spot where certain tasks need more attention and shift resources accordingly.
All architectural firms must manage a mountain load of documentation. This is where this type of program really shines. Doc workflow is integrated into most systems, not only to store information, but to allow easy collaboration and distribution. Documents can be linked so important information or details such as that found in change orders is not missed. Clients can also be given access to either view or collaborate as appropriate.
Project reviews are an important component of the process, both during projects and after completion. Unfortunately these are often done with incomplete information, so not as effective in optimizing the process as they could be. Architecture project management software allows one to truly analyze and dissect a project in a way that allows managers, staff and senior executives to diagnose issues and institute real change.
Competition today is fierce and unfortunately the most creative firms are not always the most successful. This is often due to less than ideal business processes and the inability to most effectively allocate resources and maintain billability. Architecture project management software takes much of the guesswork out of this process by providing the tools to do things more effectively. If you are not using a comprehensive PM system, you owe it to yourself and your firm to find out more.
About the Author:
If you want to find reliable architecture project management software, pay a visit to the web pages at www.project-note.com today. You can see details online at http://www.project-note.com now.
No comments:
Post a Comment