Projektron BCS

Projektron BCS (Business Coordination Software ) is a commercial web-based project management software for multi-project management.

Dissemination

The software is currently being used internationally in over 20 countries totaling approximately 20,000 users. One of the largest customers with 600 licenses, EADS Innovation Works that use the software in Germany and France.

Other users are E.ON, neofonie, Nintendo, the German National Library, the Hanse Merkur Insurance Group, Universa insurance, the Municipal Hospital Munich, ] init [ AG, Eurocopter, Hella Aglaia Mobile Vision and NTS - New Technology Systems. One in six of the Top 100 Internet agencies uses Projektron BCS.

Use and characteristics

The software is primarily used in IT projects. This accounts for many features that are aimed primarily at IT companies and departments, such as the support of agile development method Scrum or the ticket system. Other sectors are covered. Not aligned the software, however, is for the construction industry, as key features for the construction project management such as procurement missing.

Motivation for the development of Projektron BCS were both a platform-independent, web-based as well as provide a comprehensive information possible on customizable system configurations. This increases the flexibility of the software, but is also comprehensive administration knowledge among users ahead. One of the reasons why Projektron BCS is often used by IT companies.

Mey Mark Meyer, who accompanies companies in the selection and implementation of project management software, in addition to the IT industry looks small and medium-sized service provider 's core target group, whose projects on behalf of customers especially by the numerous daily functions of the software - such as an appointment calendar, reminders, management of contracts, holiday and expenses or the supply and invoicing - are supported. Projektron BCS was one of the first systems that integrated these everyday functions.

Construction

The software is modular. There are single user licenses to be posted, for example, for staff, project leaders, managers, administrators and customers or for sales, for the time tracking and billing.

Functions

The focus of the software is the support of the single and multi-project management.

In addition to opportunities for project preparation and project coordination, the software also provides features for documenting and project controlling.

However, focus is on project planning, which is supported by an assistant. The user can access a template folder by example, certain procedural models or standard projects are stored. For development projects, there is a wizard for project planning with Scrum, a rare functionality of the larger project management systems.

After creating the project structure, scheduling and cost planning follow. The utilization of employees is taken into account. Personnel and material costs can be planned. Various reports and charts for time course of the project to the efforts and costs show possible futures or budget overruns.

The interface is available in German, English, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch and Hungarian.

Technology

Projektron BCS is based on a three-tier Java application. User interface is the Internet browser. A client installation this is not required. The server component supports Apache Tomcat. As databases are SQL 92 compliant, transactional relational databases.

Various interfaces allow integration into existing IT environments and data exchange with third-party systems, including Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Project, Jira, CSV, and XML, as well as Microsoft Exchange Server, SAP, Microsoft Navision, Sage KHK, LDAP and Lotus Notes.

Manufacturers and development history

Manufacturer of Projektron BCS is the Berlin Projektron GmbH. The company was founded in 2001 by Dr. Marten Huisinga, Maik Dorl and Jörg Cohrs.

The first aim was to offer a web-based, platform-independent, easily configurable software for project management.

Over the years, more features were added:

2001: Projektron BCS is in the first version.

2002: Projektron BCS supports dependencies and milestones, and the ability to compare several projects together. Also added is a notification system through e- mails that refer to project changes.

2003: Projektron BCS provides an interface to Microsoft Outlook as well as an English interface.

2004: The module resource management will be presented at CeBIT. On the system of the new report generator for reporting is presented.

2005: Version 5.0 now offers the top-down budgeting, functions for billing, the import of e-mails via IMAP or POP3 and order management, which can also include funding. The file storage has been adapted to the WebDAV standard.

2006: At CeBIT, the contract management module is presented. In addition Projektron BCS now offers interfaces to SAP and Microsoft Exchange, as well as a ticket module, customer requests and error messages can be managed with the. Version 6.0 features a completely redesigned interface, based on AJAX technology.

2007: The administration of expenses and holidays, and a loyal resource scheduling are supported with Projektron BCS.

2008: project portfolio management, an interface to the open source BIRT reporting framework and the Spanish surface will be presented at CeBIT. With the new offer preparation service providers are supported, implementing projects on behalf of customers.

2009: added support of flextime models, milestone trend analysis, a conclusion of the project wizard and archive multiple baselines come. Agile Scrum process model is supported and offered a French surface.

2010: The multi-currency capability allows you to work with multiple currencies within a project. The Computer Telephony Integration ( CTI) ensures that Projektron BCS can be connected to telephone systems. Via the interface to BGI ThematicMapper address data can be visualized on a map. The headquarters moves from Kreuzberg in Berlin Mitte.

2011: At CeBIT, mobile time tracking is presented via smartphones. The project preparation, offering features such as crosshair, considered the project environment and stakeholders. The user interface is also available in Dutch, Italian and Hungarian.

2012: Completely revised user interface in version 7.0. New Edition Projektron BCS.start for project teams of up to 15 employees.

Awards

  • Best Use 2001 Internet World Berlin
  • Laureate founder multimedia competition in 2002, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology
  • Innovation Award - Auszeichnetes product in the category ERP 2007 Initiative Mittelstand
  • Dokupreis 2010 Tekom - professional association for technical communication and information development
  • Nominated as an ERP system of the year 2011 in the category service, CE Centre for Enterprise Research
  • Student Innovation Award 2012 intro, Tekom - professional association for technical communication and information development
  • Dokupreis 2012 Tekom - professional association for technical communication and information development
  • ERP System of the Year 2012 in the category service, also nominated for the SME special price, CE Centre for Enterprise Research

Credentials

Projektron BCS is in the database of the Institute for Project Management and Innovation (IPMI) at the University of Bremen and the Section for software project management tasks GPM - listed German Association for Project Management: www.pm - software.info

  • Ahlemann, Frederik: Project management software system. Requirements, Selections Process and Products. Wurzburg, 2008, 5th edition.
  • Bialas, Martin; Meyer, Mark Mey: Control Center. Software for multi-project management. In: c't 15/ 2007, pp. 114-123.
  • Born, Achim: Great view. IT projects efficiently plan and control. In: iX No. 5/ 2007, pp. 94-100.
  • Meyer, Mark Mey: Software review. Projektron BCS 6:14 - Agile tool for service providers. In: Project Magazine, Issue 22 /2009.
  • Meyer, Mark Mey: Projektron BCS. Ergonomics and performance. In: GPM magazine PM to date - Issue 3/ 2007, pp. 49-52.
  • Petrasch, Roland; Fever, Florian; Bednarz, Maciej A.: Agile Model-based software development in practice. In: object spectrum. Issue 3/ 2008, pp. 36-44.
  • Zuther, Bernd: Agile methods for the introduction of an ERP system using an Internet agency. LAP Publishing, in 2012.
Scrum (software development) Software asset management Sysop Sage Group Internet Message Access Protocol Post Office Protocol BIRT Project
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