Primavera Releases Latest Project Management Tool

N/A> (Philadelphia) has released Version 7.0 of Primavera Expedition, its enterprise project administration and management software. According to the company, Expedition 7.0 is the first program able to provide a global perspective of a corporation's multilanguage and multicurrency projects.

The new release also promises cross-project analysis, customizable uniform processes, and improved collaboration and contract management by project teams. Expedition 7.0 follows Ver 6.4, and comes 13 years after the first introduction of the software.

Expedition fuses client/server project control with Web-enabled collaboration through its Expedition Express software. The new release provides in-depth project tracking and analysis for project and other operations managers, while enabling other uses, such as job-site personnel or vendors to benefit from relevant project information.

The software provides both new features and improved usability, says Expedition product manager Daniel Conery. "We worked closely with customer development partners representing leading construction companies as well as best-of-breed private and public facility owners to make sure we addressed their functional and ease-of-use requirements in Primavera Expedition," he says.

Primavera says Expedition is the first project control software to provide secure access to project information for all project team members using custom, role-specific workspaces and capabilities.

Executives and program managers benefit from Expedition's global project portfolio analysis. They can roll up and analyze projects, even when they use different languages and currencies for day-to-day operation. The feature supports more consistent project workflows, uniform processes, and faster decision making.

Project managers can use the new Jumpstart wizard to set up new projects by using established procedures and best practices. Expedition tracks change requests, design reviews and approvals, and payment requisitions. It manages the design, specification, ordering, and delivery of all project materials.

An updated, simpler interface enables operations and field workers to access only the project information and action lists they need to do their jobs. Two mouse clicks from anywhere in the program enables them to create new project documents (notices, RFIs) on the fly. Nomadic workers and vendors can collaborate on details and update managers on site status using Expedition's Web-based or replicated project information.

Other key new features include:

Expedition Project Center. Provides a centralized view of all project information using graphics to highlight project and program performance. The role-based workspace creates action-oriented information and uses customizable thresholds and interactive alerts to flag critical issues. It enables users to track project and cross-project trends and variances, and to drill down into project details with a single click.

Project templates. Enables companies to establish best practices by cataloging such standard project information as contacts, drawings, submittals, and other project documents. The Jumpstart wizard enables users to manage each new project using preestablished best practices.

Global customization. Support more than 16 languages and 150 currencies. Users can easily customize headings and fields on all of Expedition's standard forms and more than 200 standard reports.

Microsoft Word integration. Expedition supports Microsoft Word templates to facilitate creation of project documents in accordance with approved company standards.

Expedition Analyzer. Expedition Analyzer, an option, enables managers to study multidimensional real-time project data to improve decision-making. Its online analytical processing (OLAP) technology integrates information from multiple projects for ad hoc queries and what-if analysis. Predefined data cubes allow immediate analysis without the need for training.

Primavera Expedition 7.0 is a 32-bit application, built on a high-performance, scalable client/server architecture and SQL relational database. Clients require Windows 95/98/NT and 64 MB RAM. The server uses Windows 95/98/NT or Novell 3.1x or higher with 128 MB RAM. Pricing begins at $2500 per concurrent user, while Expedition Analyzer pricing starts at $995 per named user.

For more information: Daniel Conery, Expedition Product Manager, Primavera Systems, Inc., 3 Bala Plaza West, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004. Phone: 610-667-8600. Fax: 610-949-7894.

By Alan S. Brown