Project Management Software – Integrates with Outlook – IPM Global

IPM Construction Management for GC’s, Renewables, Civil, Speciality & more

Skip to content

IPM Construction Management Software – Integrates with Outlook – IPM Global

  • HOME
  • SOFTWARE
    • IPM Project Management
    • Why IPM?
  • BENEFITS
    • IPM Benefits
    • User Benefits
    • Business Benefits
  • FEATURES
    • Out Of The Box Features
    • Contract Control
    • Document Control
    • IPM Link
    • IPM Outlook Interface
    • Mobile Application
    • Planning and Forecast
    • Resource Management
  • RESOURCES
    • Brochures
    • Licence Classifications
    • Case Studies
    • Feature Stories
    • IPM Blog
    • Press Releases
    • Videos – IPM Overview
    • Videos – IPM Tutorials
    • White Papers
  • INDUSTRY
    • Civil and Heavy Highway
    • Construction Managers
    • General Construction
    • Specialty Contractors
  • COMPANY
    • About Us
    • IPM Facebook
    • Events
    • Technology Partners
  • CONTACT US
    • Contact IPM
    • IPM Partner Program
    • Support Request
    • Organize a Demo
    • Contact a Partner
    • Website Privacy Policy

Why Excel may be costing you time and money

  • Home
  • Why Excel may be costing you time and money
December 22, 2010

Why Excel may be costing you time and money

By admin inMiree Le Roy

For years, Excel has been a staple project management tool. But have you ever stopped to consider whether in some instances using Excel may actually be more of a hindrance than a help in managing your projects? I’m not saying there is no place for Excel in project management, but the heavy reliance of organisations on Excel as one of the main project management tools can often involve more work than is needed.

Take the developing of a forecast cost report for example. You may have your initial estimate in an Excel spreadsheet, which needs to be transferred into a forecast cost report, along with other information, such as actual costs. You could spend days developing this report by retrieving information from two or three different areas. The report is then put together using a range of formulas, which if inadvertently changed can alter the entire data set and make it inaccurate.

Then consider how this report is used. There may be two or three project managers working on the report, so it has to be shared around to be updated and often it can become confusing as to which is the correct version. Some project managers may even store Excel documents on their own laptops or computers making reports inaccessible should they be absent.

I’ve taken this same scenario and applied it to IPM. To develop a forecast report here, you can import your original estimate document from Excel into IPM. IPM then takes the information from it and uses consistent formulas to create other files relating to your project, such as job tasks, the original budget detail and the Gantt chart schedule. This information can then be used to generate a whole range of reports, including a forecast cost report complete with the ability to drill down into each task to see costs and forecast details. And because the formulas used to generate this information are embedded in the report design there is no risk of accidentally altering data.

We recently created a forecast cost report for a client using IPM and the process was completed in under an hour, something that may have taken two or three days solely using Excel. With IPM, job data is now also stored in one central place, so everyone who needs to can access and update information easily and there is never any confusion as to which is the current version. The information needed to generate the forecast cost report will continue to update when information is added into other areas of IPM, such as detailed forecasts or costs transferred from the accounting system. You can then generate a new report on demand and it will have the most up to date information, so you get instantaneous, reliable and accurate reports for your job quickly.

I’m sure if you asked any project manager whether they would prefer to take three days or one hour to generate a forecast cost report, they would choose the latter. But what do you think?

admin

Comments are closed.

IPM Outlook Interface


Document Control


Contract Control


Planning & Forecasting


Resource Management


IPM Mobility


Additional Enhancements

Construction TV Showcases

https://www.ipmglobal.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/IPM-Global-on-Construction-TV-2016via-torchbrowser.com_.mp4

IPM Feature Article

  • Construction Industry fails to use technology? SAY WHAT?
  • Ramblings of a construction nerd… Woodpecker holes in our ship.
  • What is the First Application You Open to Start Your Work Day?
  • 5 Benefits of Project Management Software for Your Business
  • With Project Management Software, Flexibility is a Must

PROJECT MANAGEMENT LINKS

  • Brochures
  • Contact IPM
  • Microsoft Portal
  • The IPM Blog
  • ERP Software Blog

IPM PARTNERS

  • Find an IPM Partner

IPM GLOBAL – SOCIAL MEDIA

 

CONTACT IPM GLOBAL

IPM GLOBAL USA
Tel: +1 720 575 6072
Email: infoNA@ipmglobal.net


IPM GLOBAL – HEAD OFFICE
Tel: +07 3106 3160
Email: info@ipmglobal.net


IPM GLOBAL – MELBOURNE
Tel: +03 9555 9757
Email: info@ipmglobal.net

Copyright © IPM Global 2019. All Rights Reserved. | © 2019 IPM Global Software. All rights reserved.