Projectmates Construction Software Blog

Projectmates iPad Utility App for Online Construction Management Software

Since late 2010, Projectmates has been iPad friendly and fully accessible on the iPad. The app was developed to overcome an iPad limitation and provides an easy and convenient way to upload photos to Projectmates. The app integrates seamlessly with Projectmates to break the dichotomy between field and office work.

With Projectmates on the iPad, complete a punch list, update a field report, or create an RFI right from the field with the added perk of attaching photos on the fly. Plans and drawings, schedules, and even change orders can be viewed and updated in real time. Field work has never been more productive than with Projectmates and the iPad.

Click the link to watch a YouTube video demonstrating Projectmates on the iPad. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnXqPwhrbIE

Brad Brown, Field Capital Project Manager for the largest home improvement retailer, walks his stores with iPad in hand to review schedules, verify drawings, create punch lists, and send notifications, all within Projectmates construction management software. When asked what he is most excited about with the new Projectmates iPad compatibility, Brown responds, “There’s no need to take my laptop with me on shorter trips. This makes me more efficient traveling from place to place in addition to the efficiencies gained while on the job."

The Projectmates mobile utility app is free and can be downloaded from Apple's iTunes at http://itunes.apple.com/app/projectmates/id463230284?mt=8

To read this full article on PRWeb click on the following link.
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/11/prweb8917568.htm

Projectmates Launches Version 11.2

Systemates, Inc., the leader in web-based construction 
management software, recently launched its latest
version: Projectmates version 11.2. After more than a decade, Projectmates continues to be the trusted software for online collaboration and construction project management. In the latest version, Projectmates underwent a total application overhaul to upgrade the behind-the-scenes technology; business processes from change management to construction workflow have been upgraded to improve speed, workflow, usability, and increase the scope of what you can do.

"Every new version of Projectmates brings a number of enhancements. These enhancements represent our continued commitment to helping make your job a little easier," said Varsha Bhave, lead developer at Systemates.

 

Here is what you can expect from Projectmates V11.2:

• Powerful Draft Feature – The draft feature enables you to begin work on an item then save it as a draft while you continue to gather all information or double check facts.
• User Interface Improvements – With tabbed logged pages, you can immediately see what items are pending, overdue or complete. With this new streamlined layout of the log pages everything is more conveniently visible and easily accessed.
•  Image Thumbnails – With this new feature, viewing file attachments has become easier than ever. For example, photos attached with an RFI or a punch list task are displayed in thumbnails so that you can preview the image without having to open each file.
• Markup Attachments – Projectmates has always provided tools to make markups to drawings in the document management area. With version 11.2, now you have the ability to do markup elsewhere, such as in RFIs and submittals.

The New Projectmates

After years of consulting with clients on how to manage projects, the team here at Systemates has learned so much and grown by leaps and bounds. Always on the cutting edge of technology our goal is to stay in the forefront. We recently took on a project ourselves; to learn from you and how you have evolved in the new digital world.

We are happy to unveil and present to you the first step toward adapting to the new way of business at Systemates. We would like to greet you to all things digital. New business workflows enable you to access your information from anywhere any time on any device. Jot down a thought, task, or send a message to team members at the speed of light. Save as draft or finalize it. Simplified screen layouts make your decision-making process uncomplicated and the user interface makes it easy to find specific information.

Come see the new way of easier, simpler, and faster.  Let us walk together to a new destination where less is more, uncomplicated is the norm and sophistication is in vogue.  Stay tuned for a demo of all the new and exciting features in Projectmates 11.2.

The iPad - Bringing Another Cool Factor to Projectmates

In business today, and particularly in the construction industry, accessibility and usability are key for a business to be productive. With our new version release we have expanded the platforms on which clients can access Projectmates to include the iPad. Projectmates clients couple the portability of the iPad with the accessibility of Projectmates to save time and bring efficiencies to work done outside the office. No need to lug your laptop around with you: review your schedules, create RFIs, verify drawings and send notifications, all within Projectmates right from your iPad. No need to download any apps just launch Projectmates in Safari, the iPad's default browser and, voila, your off and running. With the accessibility and ease of Projectmates and the cool factor of the iPad, daily tasks can be simple and fun!

Here at Systemates we strive to stay on top of trends and client requests in order to continue making Projectmates the leader in web-based construction management software. With expanding our client's choice on how and where to access Projects we give them the tools to use Projectmates to its fullest potential.

Custom Forms in Projectmates

Impress your project team with Projectmates Web Forms

With Projectmates 10.2, you now have the ability to build custom forms yourself without any programming knowledge. Quickly and easily integrate electronic versions of forms unique to your project or company.

Why create forms in Projectmates instead of MS Word?
Integrating project forms into Projectmates lets you quickly view and sort multiple form entries, create an online approval process, attach files, and control access to form information. Forms are centralized and can be accessed 24/7 in Projectmates. 

 
 Common Project Forms:

• LEED Tracking
• Inspection Report
• Safety Report
• Project Survey
• Close-Out Report
• New Store Setup
• Test Report
• Infection Control (Healthcare)
• Travel Request

This new feature is both flexible and easy to use, so go ahead and get started today!! Call Projectmates Support if you would like to setup a personalized training session on creating custom forms.

Graphs and charts speak a 1,000 words!

Most people have better memory retention when they see a graph, chart or table as opposed to plain words. Especially when it comes to complex data – there’s really no better way to express compound information than through graphs, charts and diagrams. That’s why you’ve got to love any type of dashboard reporting. Like any other software solution, project management software, especially in the construction industry is served best with a versatile dashboard reporting module or Portfolio Management.

 

A good project management software solution will have Portfolio Management that provides excellent visibility and overview into a company’s construction projects. It’s akin to having a clock that shows the different times in major cities around the world. With all your projects ordered and tabbed, one snapshot view should tell you the status of all your projects simultaneously.

 

There are numerous ways to enjoy the benefits of Portfolio Management but this tool is most effective when grouped and displayed in a user-friendly format with easy navigation and easy-to-read reports. The new Projectmates V10.0 Portfolio Management is versatile and has the capability to produce a variety of reports conveniently grouped under – Construction, Workflow, Financials, and Project Status. This type of dashboard reporting helps in managing the entire project portfolio as a whole, and not just as individual projects.

 

For individual project status monitoring, Earned Value Analysis is a handy tool – another great feature in the new Projectmates V10.0. Combining key factors such as planned time and cost and actual time and cost of a project, simple coefficients will tell you – at a glance – how your projects are faring in terms of time and schedule. Because sometimes, you got to look at the big picture!

Next Generation FlexForms!!!

When we introduced FlexForms in 2004, it became such a popular feature of Projectmates! We could design the FlexForms for the customers in matter of a day or two. It provided clients the ability to have their own Transmittal forms, Online Survey Forms, Project Pipeline sheets, etc. as a part of Projectmates within their projects. FlexForms are also accessible from mobile units such as Pocket PC, Treo, or Blackberry which gave users an ability to be on site and fill out the surveys from right there.

Our Next-Gen Flex Forms allows you to create your own forms and use them in Projectmates. I know our development team is genius, but this is really awesome. Just pull up your Microsoft Office Suite, create a form, upload it to Projectmates…. and Projectmates will convert it into a FlexForm! All automatic - no more programming required! How cool is that? You can add logos, drop down menus, radio buttons, calendars, automatic calculations, you name it.

I have been using a beta version of this and it is sweet! Easy to use and gives hundreds of possibilities. More details to follow…