TWP Projects in South Africa needed a single integrated system for project management and accounting, including a tool to integrate employee timesheets with invoices. The company replaced its Softline Pastel and open-source systems with Microsoft Dynamics® SL business management software. Now, it has an integrated view of operations and revenue streams, which is boosting its ability to maximise profits and eliminating the risk of billing time incorrectly.

Antarctica New Zealand has deployed SmartAsset software from The Online Workshop to support maintenance and asset management at its Scott Base research station. Using the software along with handheld devices, engineers ensure that equipment essential to the well-being of employees in severe conditions is always reliable. Better asset management also increases fuel efficiency that reduce energy costs and minimise carbon emissions at the base itself.

To accelerate the process of bringing new, competitive products to market "Severnaya Kazna's management decided to implement a project management framework based on the PMBoK approach and Microsoft's EPM enterprise project management system. The solution makes it possible to plan and manage according to resource load, to conduct inspections based on plan deviations, to prepare project status reports, as well as to leverage accumulated knowledge to continuoulsy optimize operations.

Rodenstock is a prominent manufacturer of eyeglass lenses and frames in Germany. Project planning is a key concern for Rodenstock, whose reputation and success depends on its ability to bring innovations to market quickly. Until recently, the company planned projects using stand-alone solutions, including Microsoft® Office Project Standard 2003 and Microsoft Office Excel® spreadsheet software. To gain companywide consistency and efficiencies, Rodenstock deployed the Microsoft Office Enterprise Project Management Solution, which it uses in conjunction with Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007; it chose SOLVIN to configure and implement the solution. Rodenstock now has fast access to project data that is always up to date. The company’s workflows proceed more quickly, which translates to a faster time-to-market. The solution also provides improved administration of access rights.

Medical technology company BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) serves healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, the pharmaceutical industry, and the general public. While R&D spending at BD grew rapidly, the company’s ability to analyze projects and investments lagged behind. BD needed a tool that would provide a companywide view of all projects, associated costs, and resources. The company chose the Microsoft® Office Enterprise Project Management (EPM) Solution. With the standardized metrics and advanced analytics provided by implementation partner UMT Consulting Group, the EPM Solution offers many benefits. The company now has a comprehensive view into its U.S.$400 million R&D budget, giving BD the information it needs to measure its investments against its stated strategy, make timelier decisions, and maximize its return on investment.

Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated (CCBCC) is a leading manufacturer, seller, and distributor of carbonated sodas, bottled water, teas, juices, and energy drinks. The company’s Information Systems and Services Department needed to track its projects in a single place and to do more detailed cost analysis than its project management solution allowed. To address this need, CCBCC deployed the Microsoft® Office Enterprise Project Management (EPM) Solution, which includes Microsoft Office Project Portfolio Server 2007, Office Project Server 2007, and Office Project Professional 2007. They chose Project Solutions Group for help with deployment and training. With the EPM Solution, CCBCC can analyze its finances more accurately, easily comply with Sarbanes-Oxley and SOP 98-1 rules, and better manage resources. It also has the visibility to make decisions and achieve its goals in less time.

Shire Pharmaceuticals, a global specialty biopharmaceutical company, lacked consistent project and resource planning methods, which hindered decision making. To address that need, Shire deployed the Microsoft® Office Enterprise Project Management (EPM) Solution with help from Accenture, Microsoft Services, and Project Widgets. The solution was customized to include automated project creation using standardized templates, resource-forecasting algorithms, schedule-variance reporting, and a convenient Microsoft Office Excel® interface for specific users. With the EPM Solution, Shire can now meet its strategic milestones more consistently, plan its resources more accurately, manage change proactively, and provide key leaders across the organization with consolidated, critical information to support decision making.

Dallas-based Santander Consumer USA is one of the fastest-growing companies in the automotive finance sector. The company was acquired by Banco Santander at the end of 2006. Continued rapid portfolio growth highlighted the company’s need for automated and integrated project management methods. The company chose the Microsoft® Office Enterprise Project Management Solution; it used Project Hosts to host the solution and Catapult Systems to implement it. Within 45 days, the company had a customized EPM Solution, including integration with the company’s IBM Cognos reporting system. Santander Consumer USA achieved a leap in project management capability with the EPM Solution. Employees save hours each day with increased automation, and the company can analyze the business and forecast resources more accurately. The solution helps Santander to stay on track with its long-term business goals.

Metkombank's new project management information system, built on Microsoft Project Server 2007, gives the Russian bank access to comprehensive, objective data detailing project status. The solution ensures control and observance of project timelines and expenses according to budget, and to evaluate planning accuracy of each project.

The Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA), a state mortgage finance agency, wanted to improve its resource planning by centralizing the IT division’s project management functions. VHDA established a Project Management Office (PMO) and implemented the Microsoft® Office Enterprise Project Management (EPM) Solution, based on Microsoft Office Project Server 2007. Project managers who use the EPM Solution manage resources more efficiently because they have better real-time information on staff commitments. The solution has also decreased the number of meetings needed to track project status. The organization’s executive leadership uses the EPM Solution to view project dashboards and Gantt charts. The PMO’s efforts have been nominated for a national award and have established a base from which to extend efficient project management throughout the organization.