Thank you guys,

I was so glad hearing all your informative feedback regarding the software solutions. Now, what we need perhaps are those softwares such as RPM, Spider Project, CCS, P3e, although I have my idea that P3e is quite costly if I wanna buy at my own to search for the reports capability regarding what I really need.

While before we can conclude how powerful the software what we want to use, I feel that we need to open those , use those if that really match our needs. So therefore, maybe we could get from you where we could obtain , order the software , and whether it is affordable or we need support financially from the employers where we worked. However , if ever I could afford I wish I could able to order those WHERE.....please let me have that info.

Several Remarks:
1. It does not make sense to connect PM software with the accounting system. Accounting is based on the documents (at least in Russia), PM monitoring - on field reports. It is different information and the only thing that is necessary - to compare these data.
2. Our software Spider Project has an open format of storing project data in the database (Oracle, MS SQL Server, Access, just any SQL database) or in the text files. So integration is easy. But what integration?
3. To my knowledge Primavera does not simulate profits and cost components. So, Pedrito I cannot send you Primavera example.
4. In Spider Project Demo (http://www.spiderproject.ru/spider_e.php) there is an example of the construction project schedule with the cost components (materials, labor, machines, indirect costs, etc.) including profit forecast and project financing. So you can aplly any analysis of the project budget and project performance and receive any reports, like project cost, project revenues, project cash flow, project performance cash flow, profit, loss, just anything including the use of discounting, calculating NPV, IRR, payback period, etc. You can also calculate project schedule with the financial and supply constrints.

Please inform me what reports do you need, I don’t understand what integration except integration with the accounting do you mean. Our customers usually use Spider Project for everything except accounting for the reasons I mentioned above.

Thank everybody for the interesting discussion. It may suggest good ideas for the future development.

Hi

I think you guys should check CCS for integration of various aspect of project like budget, schedule, actual cost, material delivery, sub contractors liability and payment etc.

I used CCS more than 3 years and I find it really marvelous.

Cheers.

Vladimir,
What I mean for the Integration will be coming from module of accounting (payrolls,direct cost materials, equipment cost)to be linked to my activities say in Primavera softwares in order that I could have exact direct cost amount so that I could have my comparisons between my achieve amount and my actual cost. This would be a great help in defining really in profit and loss based on the Primavera output report generation. I’ve heard about OB Prospero but it did not pursue.
Maybe you could able to send me one sample project in Primavera with all the resources and reports generated output for my analysis.

Pedrito,
schedule, budget, actual cost are things that must be supported by PM software. What reports you need but cannot get? What logic needs to be changed?
Accounting and PM are based on different initial information (accounting documentation and field reports). This is a restriction for integration. Do you have other problems?
Regards,
Vladimir

I don’t know about other software companies, but our strategy - to have happy customers. If our customers will be happy they will send us other customers, etc. So earning more money is not a goal, it is a result.
If there is a need in something our customers ask us if it can be done. If we see that it is not very specific and may be useful to others we develop new functionality. Our company is involved not only in software development but also in consulting, implementation of PM systems, and management of projects. Many things are developed for ourselves, because we use it in the real life. If there are simple decisions like connecting our software with the external one then we choose them instead of developing our own tools that just repeat other software functions.
I think that software companies are different, don’t make conclusions basing on the few examples.

Brandon

I think in the real world it do not have a total software to address all the ends.

A dish washer cannot clean cloths. My points is every tools have its specific purposes and address certain needs.

Even Mircosoft separate WORD and Excel... why they have different functions that may or maynot require integration.

A clever person will make software as a building blocks where you can combine blocks together to form something that suit you.

Thats how large company do things. Asset Management, Human Resource Management, Timesheet, Project Management, Procurement Management, Cashflow Management, Accounting Management, Taxation Management.................

Some software powerhouse do have product that address most of the building blocks, like SAP MIMS... However, they are trying to do everything in life with a dishwasher (IMHO)

Sometime it makes it too difficult for everyone because not all software is strong in all aspect. Like Speed, Graphic, User interface, Integability, Web Platform,....

Another approach is "INTEGRATION" select the best software in the market to perform individual task and integrate them in a logical and co-ordinated manner where you can have to best of the world and integrated together.

Regards

Alex

Brandon,
project management is based on field reports and not on accounting information. That is why PM systems usually do not include accounting. What other necessary things are missed? At least in Spider Project you can simulate everything in your list. If you will suggest something useful that is missed it will appear soon.