Engineering Firm Boosts Productivity Management with Integrated System
Case Study by: TWP Projects
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. Software-plus-Services Helps Antarctica-Based Research Station Keep Life-Support Systems Running at all Times
Case Study by: Antarctica New Zealand
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. On-Demand CRM Offering Expands Customer Base, Wins More Business, Adds to Bottom Line
Case Study by: Project Hosts
Project Hosts discovered that there was demand for a better customer relationship management (CRM) solution than was available from its competitors, such as Salesforce.com. Essentially, companies wanted the rapid deployment and cost-effective qualities of a hosted solution along with the rich customization and integration capabilities usually found only in an on-premises solution. Ascentium, a Microsoft® Gold Certified Partner that specializes in solutions based on Microsoft Dynamics® CRM, recognized the same trend from its customers and established a relationship with Project Hosts to meet that need. The combination of Ascentium’s design and deployment expertise with Project Hosts’s reliability, speed-to-market, and low implementation costs resonated with businesses. As a result, they now offer a flexible, extensible, and customizable solution that meets market demand. Russian Insurance Company Brings Products to Market Faster with Microsoft Office Project Server 2007
Case Study by: Страховая компания Северная казна
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. Better Planning Ensures Competitive Advantages for Eyeglass Manufacturer
Case Study by: Rodenstock
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 Gains Strategic View of $400 Million R and D Portfolio
Case Study by: Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD)
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 Improves Project Cost Reporting
Case Study by: Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated
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. Engineering Firm Increases Client Satisfaction, Cuts Costs Through Optimization
Case Study by: Malcolm Pirnie
As environmental engineering firm Malcolm Pirnie grew, teams were more geographically diverse and project durations were decreasing due to faster delivery methods. The firm realized that it needed more consistent project delivery processes. It also sought to provide employees with flexible communication and collaboration tools. The firm invested in integrated solutions for business productivity and signed a Microsoft® Enterprise Client Access License Suite agreement, deploying Microsoft Office SharePoint® Server 2007 and Microsoft Office Project Server 2007, plus unified communications capabilities. The firm’s employees now can better collaborate on projects, strategize how best to serve clients, and gain visibility into project progress. They also use synchronous and asynchronous communications solutions for enhanced productivity and have experienced significant cost savings. Global Specialty Biopharmaceutical Company Speeds Time-to-Market with EPM Solution
Case Study by: Shire Pharmaceuticals
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. Auto Finance Company Supports Long-Term Success with Better Project Management
Case Study by: Santander Consumer USA
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. Russia's Federal Judiciary Relies on Microsoft Technology to Implement an Efficiency "Measuring" System
Case Study by: Высший Арбитражный Суд РФ
Russia's federal judicial branch has implemented a new system leveraging Microsoft InfoPath Forms Services and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 to assist in judicial planning and the assessment of work efficiency. The ultimate goal is to accelerate and simplify day-to-day handling of judical reports and other documents, and to manage the task of personnel appraisels. METKOMBANK Improves Project Management with Microsoft Project Server 2007
Case Study by: ОАО «МЕТКОМБАНК»
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. Mortgage Finance Agency Improves Planning Through Centralized Project Management
Case Study by: Virginia Housing Development Authority
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. Nuclear Research Organization Optimizes Project and Data Management
Case Study by: National Nuclear Laboratory
The National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL), which is owned by the British government, has a lengthy, successful track record in nuclear research and development, and employs more than 600 people. A review of project management systems highlighted that the organization used disparate and manual project reporting and progress tracking methods. In addition, managers had no access to meaningful summary-level business reporting. To move toward integrated business processes, NNL implemented the Microsoft® Office Enterprise Project Management (EPM) Solution with the help of leading implementation specialist and Microsoft Gold Certified Partner Corporate Project Solutions. NNL quickly realized value from the solution. It now has greater organizational consistency and standardization, and is moving toward using one data set across the business. Manufacturer uses project management and EPM to increase IT credibility
Case Study by: Carpenter Technology
Carpenter Technology, a worldwide manufacturer of steel and other alloys, was investing in several large capital projects, including a U.S.$120 million facility expansion. Yet it had a limited in-house project management function. So it created a project management office in the IT department and implemented the Microsoft® Office Enterprise Project Management (EPM) Solution, based on Microsoft Office Project Server 2007. Across the company, employees found the EPM solution robust and easy to understand, especially project workspaces where they collaborate through Microsoft Office SharePoint® Server 2007. The solution was quickly and widely adopted to manage a range of capital projects. The smooth implementation has increased the credibility of the IT department, because the solution improves the company’s ability to make efficient use of its resources. Better Project Management Helps City Council Complete Important Initiatives
Case Study by: Wolverhampton City Council
Wolverhampton City Council is a metropolitan local authority in the West Midlands, United Kingdom. Following significant city growth and a corresponding increase in the number of projects needing to be managed, the Wolverhampton City Council wanted to improve its project and resource management methodologies. After detailed comparisons of project management solutions, the council chose the Microsoft® Office Enterprise Project Management (EPM) Solution. The EPM Solution, which includes Microsoft Office Project Portfolio Server 2007 and Microsoft Office Project Server 2007, helps organizations to manage projects and resources more effectively. Since implementing the EPM Solution, the council has better visibility of projects and resources; this lets the council better manage tasks, resources, and customer expectations. And, the council can more effectively monitor and manage workloads. Healthcare Services Company Fosters Rapid Adoption for New Collaboration Environment
Case Study by: McKesson
To promote collaboration among its many dispersed business units, McKesson, the nation’s largest healthcare services company, deployed Microsoft® Office SharePoint® Server 2007. McKesson realized, however, that its new technology would help the organization function as a cohesive entity only if users successfully adopted and took full advantage of the product’s capabilities. By taking a well-planned approach to deployment that included collaborative, Web-based training for users rather than individualized help-desk support, McKesson was able to foster a groundswell of excitement around Office SharePoint Server 2007. Now, more than 10,000 employees rely on the new collaboration environment to find and share information, manage documents and projects, and work together across business units—and that number grows every day. Company Benefits from Licensing Agreement as It Rebrands and Expands Operations
Case Study by: NuStar Energy
NuStar Energy began operations in 2007 in San Antonio, Texas, after separating from parent company Valero Energy. Management was under pressure to rebrand operations while ensuring that customers experience continuous service. NuStar had to choose technology that would provide immediate operational efficiency and support long-term corporate goals. NuStar Energy also needed a licensing strategy that would deliver initial cost savings and long-term benefits. To achieve these goals, NuStar Energy acquired an integrated Microsoft® solution through a Microsoft Enterprise Agreement that covers the latest Microsoft desktop software and server products, as well as ongoing maintenance benefits. NuStar Energy’s IT infrastructure was operational in less than six months and now has the communication, collaboration, and IT management capabilities it needs to support a growing global organization. Swiss Energy Company Boosts Productivity and Security with Desktop Modernization
Case Study by: BKW FMB Energy
Leading Swiss energy company BKW was running outdated desktop software on its employees’ computers, compromising its ability to compete in an energy market where productivity and agility are essential. The company decided to upgrade its 2,300 computers to a new desktop platform based on the Windows Vista® Enterprise operating system and Microsoft® Office Professional Plus 2007. With the new software in place, BKW is benefiting from a significantly enhanced security environment, higher employee productivity, and better integration of mobile workstations. IT management is enjoying simpler administration thanks to a reduction in use of third-party security solutions. BKW employee feedback on the new workstation infrastructure has been very positive, as employees are taking advantage of an intuitive user interface and improved search features to help boost productivity. eHealth Solutions Provider Standardizes Deployments, Improves Resource Management
Case Study by: MEDSEEK
Alabama-based MEDSEEK provides more than 600 healthcare organizations with Web portal technologies and consulting services to connect physicians, patients, employees, and consumers. As its projects increased in number and complexity, project managers lacked a comprehensive view into resources, schedules, and status. To solve this problem, MEDSEEK teamed with Project Hosts to implement an on-demand Microsoft® Office Enterprise Project Management (EPM) Solution, which includes Microsoft Office Project Server 2007, Office Project Professional 2007, and Office Project Web Access. With the EPM Solution, MEDSEEK can set more accurate client expectations and establish successful, repeatable delivery processes. It also helps the company meet milestones, proactively address slips, and manage and distribute resources intelligently. Newspaper Streamlines Project Management; Achieves Compliance, Increases Efficiency
Case Study by: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Journal) is the primary newspaper in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Journal employs 900 people and is distributed widely throughout Wisconsin. The company decentralizes project management by organizing functional departments to reflect different competencies. This structure makes it difficult for the Project Management Office (PMO) to gain visibility into projects companywide. To rectify this, the PMO implemented the Microsoft® Office Enterprise Project Management (EPM) Solution and received an immediate return on investment. The EPM Solution has streamlined total work management, provided visibility and accountability, increased employee efficiency and involvement, simplified reporting compliance, and helped the Journal increase its competitive edge in the news reporting industry. Solutions Delivery Focus Smoothes Planning, Strengthens Ties
Case Study by: Microsoft Corporation
Microsoft Information Technology (Microsoft IT) has a Human Resources Solutions Delivery (HR SD) group whose charter is to partner with the Microsoft HR business group; understand the key strategies, business processes, and systems that support the group’s business drivers; help prioritize projects to make it easier for Microsoft IT to meet the group’s goals; and deliver technology solutions that help Microsoft HR succeed. Since its inception, HR SD has been able to create an integrated, holistic view of all the applications relevant to HR, increase the cohesion of the planning and implementation of HR strategies, simplify and streamline many of the solutions, and improve Microsoft employees’ experience with HR tools. The following article discusses the success of and key learnings from the Microsoft HR SD group. Paper Manufacturer Uses Software to “Go Green” Through Reduced Energy Consumption
Case Study by: Mohawk Fine Papers
Mohawk Fine Papers makes premium papers that are used by major corporations and institutions. Recently Mohawk has seen increased demand for papers that are produced with minimal environmental impact. To meet this demand, Mohawk is implementing a new Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) solution from Microsoft® Gold Certified Partner Infor to reduce energy consumption on the factory floor. After implementation in June 2008, Mohawk will improve information collection and dissemination with the user-friendly, scalable Infor EAM product. The improved information will lead to better decisions, resulting in an expected 5–10 percent reduction in energy consumption, which translates annually to savings of hundreds of thousands of dollars and carbon emission reductions in the millions of pounds. Also, the measure will enhance the “green” Mohawk brand, increasing the company's customer base. Project Management Solution Streamlines Processes and Improves Collaboration
Case Study by: MVideo
As one of the fastest-growing retail companies in the Russian market, household appliance and electronics retailer M.VIDEO was finding it increasingly difficult to manage the opening of new stores and the development of information systems. It wanted to introduce a corporate standard for project management and approached Microsoft® Gold Certified Partner Bogdanov and Partners to help optimise its processes. The company implemented the Microsoft Office Enterprise Project Management (EPM) Solution based on Microsoft Office Project Professional 2003. With standardised project management processes, M.VIDEO has enhanced collaboration across the business and dramatically improved its data collection and reporting processes. In addition, managers can allocate resources more effectively, while employees have a clearer understanding of their roles and responsibilities. Independent Software Vendor Simplifies Sales and Business Acquisition with OBA
Case Study by: Cincom Systems
Cincinnati-based Cincom Systems provides products that simplify business processes. Its customers—manufacturers of complex products—were challenged by a complicated sales and business acquisition process wherein employees used ad hoc collaborative techniques that resulted in delays and miscommunications. Difficulty accessing data from enterprise systems also impeded their productivity. Cincom solved these problems with an easy-to-use Office Business Application (OBA) called Cincom Acquire™. Customers use the 2007 Microsoft® Office system programs in the OBA to access structured data in enterprise systems and unstructured data in documents. Working within Acquire’s role-based portal collaborative workflow, employees can simplify the sales and business acquisition process and more quickly secure a sale. South African Bank Gains Consistent View of Project Managers’ Work
Case Study by: First National Bank
First National Bank (FNB) is a leading financial services organisation in South Africa with 680 branches. The FNB Branch Banking division saw the need to better align projects at its branches with its business strategy, and to gain a single view of multiple projects in every branch. Having already implemented the Microsoft® Office Enterprise Project Management (EPM) Solution with Microsoft Office Project Server 2003 as an EPM tool, FNB Branch Banking was looking for enhanced portfolio management functions. It chose the UMT Portfolio Management solution as the best for future growth, given its acquisition by Microsoft and the opportunity to upgrade to Microsoft Office Project Server 2007. FNB Branch Banking project managers now have an end-to-end integrated project and portfolio management tool that helps to deliver new business value and ensure excellence in project execution. Facilities Management Company Saves Money and Cuts Project Management Time in Half
Case Study by: The Linc Group
The Linc Group (Linc) provides facilities management and building system services to more than 100,000 customers in 45 states and internationally. Linc cost-effectively maintains and improves building facilities for its clients, maximizing energy efficiencies, and optimizing operations. Linc has thousands of internal and external projects running concurrently and needed an effective, homogenous system for managing them and tracking progress. Linc worked with Microsoft® Gold Certified Partner, LMR Solutions (LMR) to implement Microsoft Office Project Server 2007. After a smooth implementation, the solution was deployed to 350 employees within six months. Office Project Server 2007 has saved Linc time and money, improved employee collaboration and customer service, and provided Linc with an efficient way to evaluate employees fairly. South African Service Provider Boosts Security for Users with Antivirus Tool
Case Study by: Internet Solutions
Internet Solutions (IS), a leading converged communications service provider in South Africa, has attracted more than 80 per cent of the nation’s top businesses as customers. To reinforce its reputation as the dominant hosting and security service provider, IS needed to protect its hosted mailbox users against malicious e-mail messages and, at the same time, reduce operational costs and downtime. IS invested in Microsoft® Forefront™ Security for Exchange Server for its operating systems. Forefront Security for Exchange Server is the first server-based security offering that unifies antivirus software, content filtering software, network firewalls, and virtual private networks. The impact on the IS business has been immediate. Whereas a year ago, the company’s biggest corporate customer had around 100 users, it is now taking on firms with 3,000 users or more. Sydbank Improves Project Management with New Enterprise Project Management Solution
Case Study by: Sydbank
Sydbank, one of Denmark’s largest banks, employs more than 2,000 people in 100 offices throughout the country. Because of the country’s solid economy, many Danes are currently well off and require more banking services. As a result, Sydbank is expanding its product offerings, and the company’s Department of Communication has an increasing amount of projects and tasks. Sydbank sought a software solution that could help the department’s employees become more organized and better manage projects. The bank recently implemented Microsoft® Office Project Server 2007. Sydbank has gained a more complete overview of projects and has improved scheduling and management capabilities. Employee satisfaction has also increased. Large Power Provider Uses Business Intelligence to Optimise Plant Operations
Case Study by: Edipower
Edipower is a leading Italian energy provider, with the capacity to generate around 8,700 megawatts of power. After merging with Eurogen, Edipower decided to migrate from its disparate IT system to an integrated infrastructure that would meet its new business needs. Edipower created a centralised data network, allowing the company to transmit vital data quickly and cost-effectively. Working with Microsoft® Gold Certified Partner Microsys, Edipower implemented a solution based on the Microsoft .NET Framework. Microsoft BizTalk® Server 2004 and Microsoft SQL Server™ 2005 were used to integrate data from the company’s systems into a single database. Employees at Edipower now have better access to information, making it easier to predict usage and availability. As a result, managers can allocate resources more efficiently, saving the company an estimated €25 million (U.S.$34 million) a year. Microsoft Office Project Server 2007 Benefits Microsoft OEM IT
Case Study by: Microsoft Corporation
The Microsoft OEM IT Development group manages between 40 and 50 development projects annually, relying on 300 globally dispersed resources. The project management process that was set up to share, allocate resources and set costs for individual projects was not efficient, and it was inconsistently applied. The monthly consolidation of the individual project plans into a complete project portfolio was labor-intensive and sometimes prone to inaccuracies. Microsoft Office Project Server 2007 allowed the OEM IT group to use a central repository of project plans for better collaboration, a global resource pool to easily allocate available resources, and consolidated reporting to replace their previous manual method. Rail Agency Boosts Productivity by 100 Per Cent with Content Management Solution
Case Study by: European Railway Agency
The European Railway Agency is an independent European Union (EU) body working to create an integrated rail area and revitalise EU railways. With just 95 employees, the agency collaborates with thousands of civil servants, engineers, consultants, and academics, working within tight budget constraints and to tough deadlines. The agency considered several options for its enterprise content management platforms, but, on the advice of Getronics, a Microsoft® Gold Certified Partner, chose Microsoft Office Enterprise 2007 with Microsoft Office SharePoint® Server 2007 because of its resilience and workflow control features. As a result, the agency’s employees are more productive because the portal solution and upgraded Microsoft Office system offers transparency, ease of use, and seamless connectivity to external organisations and people. Software Developer Boosts Productivity with Communication and Collaboration Solution
Case Study by: Autodesk
Autodesk, a leading developer of state-of-the-art 2-D and 3-D applications, wanted to improve communication, collaboration, and the management of new product development and introduction processes. Within the Manufacturing Solutions Division (MSD), engineers used e-mail to exchange information with team members worldwide. People wasted time pinpointing the latest version of files. In addition, managers could not easily collect the information required to make informed decisions. After researching various applications, MSD deployed a product life-cycle solution built on Microsoft® Office SharePoint® Portal Server 2003 and the Microsoft Office Enterprise Project Management Solution. As a result, MSD has created a people-ready engineering desktop—and improved data sharing, accelerated employee productivity, boosted efficiency, and simplified system access for contractors. Solution Provider Expects One-Year Growth of 85 Percent with New Technology Addition
Case Study by: AccTech Systems
After attending the 2006 Microsoft® Worldwide Partner Conference, longtime Sage Accpac partner AccTech Systems joined the Microsoft Partner Program and started to sell Microsoft solutions. This decision opened up new solution areas for AccTech, thus leading to new sales opportunities. The company expects to more than double its annual growth as a result, and its Microsoft business practice is the fastest-growing part of the organization. Developer Enhances Business-Integration Functionality with Reduced Time-to-Market
Case Study by: FOLIOdev
When FOLIOdev, a wholly owned subsidiary of Computer Generated Solutions, saw an opportunity to fill a market need, the company visited a Microsoft Technology Center (MTC) for help in determining the best products to use. Thanks to the MTC, FOLIOdev has been able to trim as much as 30 percent off its development time, saving money for the company, adding customer-requested features to its products, and accelerating time-to-market. Danish Manufacturing Company Drives Growth with Project Management Solution
Case Study by: Danfoss
Danfoss produce electronic components for various hi-tech industries and relies heavily on EPM software for business critical projects. The team needed a management solution to help team members prioritise and order projects, control financial issues for projects and also give insight into time management for ongoing projects. They chose to deploy the Microsoft® Office EPM solution with support from Microsoft Gold Certified Partners Avenade and Accenture. The solution provides a comprehensive and all-encompassing management solution to meet its business needs.
3M Medical Division Doubles Milestone Attainment with Integrated Project Scorecards
Case Study by: 3M
3M is a diversified technology company with a yearly revenue of nearly U.S.$23 billion. In 2004–2005, the company’s Medical Division was not achieving its new product launch goals. Lack of a standard, simple format for communicating project status was creating project delays. To solve this problem, the division turned to an intuitive project scorecard solution, which it created with an integration of the Microsoft® Office Enterprise Project Management (EPM) Solution and Microsoft Office Visio® Professional 2003 drawing and diagramming software. The EPM solution maintains project information and Office Visio pulls the data into color-coded project scorecards that are easy to understand and share. Since using the integrated solution, the division has doubled its milestone attainment, improved business insight, simplified communications, and saved significant time on project status tasks. Paper Manufacturer Cuts Costs, Streamlines IT with Microsoft Collaboration Solution
Case Study by: Albany International
Albany International supplies the worldwide pulp and paper industry with technologically advanced structured materials and related services. In 2005, the company’s messaging solution, based on IBM Lotus Domino Server and Lotus Notes, had grown to 62 server computers and had become difficult and costly to manage. Notes/Domino also didn’t adequately support the centralized data center or broad collaboration strategy that Albany was planning to implement. In response, the company deployed a collaboration solution that includes Microsoft® Exchange Server 2003, Office Live Meeting, and Live Communications Server 2005, along with its existing deployment of Microsoft Office SharePoint® Portal Server 2003. As a result, Albany has consolidated 62 servers into just 7, and it has reduced costs and simplified IT management. Employees also collaborate more effectively, improving their productivity. Construction Company Cuts IT Costs, Boosts Productivity with Integrated Solution
Case Study by: PROKON
PROKON, an engineering consulting company based in Ankara, Turkey, wanted to upgrade its aging IT infrastructure, which did not provide the level of messaging, communication, and collaboration services employees needed. PROKON chose an integrated Microsoft® communication and collaboration solution based on the Microsoft server product portfolio and a standardized desktop environment using Microsoft Office Professional Edition 2003. By leasing the products under a Microsoft Open Value Volume Licensing agreement, PROKON saved 15 percent in acquiring its new solution. PROKON also saved 20 percent in IT salary expenses by using Microsoft tools to automate routine IT administration tasks. Engineers, architects, and managers are working more efficiently now that they are using Microsoft messaging and collaboration software to provide project management and customer service. Mining Company Targets $10 Million per Year in Savings with Mobile Solution
Case Study by: PT Freeport Indonesia
PT Freeport Indonesia, a copper and gold mining firm, conducts a tightly synchronized set of drill and blast processes before it can extract ore. Because its sites are in remote, high-elevation environments, communication between mining teams and operations leaders is vital, while planning and operations efficiency is a challenge. Using application blocks from the Microsoft® patterns & practices group, the company developed a mobile device–based solution that utilizes Windows Mobile® 2003, Microsoft SQL Server™ 2000 Compact Edition, the Microsoft .NET Compact Framework 1.1, and Microsoft Project Server 2002. With improved systems, communications, planning, and operations efficiency, The company has slashed its costs—quickly nearing its goal of U.S.$10 million per year in reduced equipment expenses and down time—and realized a 12 percent increase in drill and blast efficiency. Flexible EPM Tool Helps Russian Subsidiary Support Employees and Manage Expenses
Case Study by: Siemens Russia
Siemens Russia works in partnership with companies from a diverse range of sectors—from telecommunications to advanced hearing technology. Siemens relies on its project management systems to record billing data and guide planning and developments. The company decided to pilot the Microsoft® Enterprise Project Management system and expects to improve project reporting across its departments. Global IT Solution Provider Uses Unified Project Management Platform That Reduces Internal IT Operations Costs by 10 Percent
Case Study by: Getronics
Since 1999, Getronics transformed its IT infrastructure from stand-alone operations to a centralized, fully integrated system. Getronics wanted to grow revenue in the highly competitive global IT services industry by reducing IT and business operations costs and by managing project-related resources more efficiently. To help achieve these goals, the Getronics Information and Communications Technology Organization (ICTO) tested and implemented the 2007 Microsoft® Office Enterprise Project Management (EPM) Solution, which includes Microsoft Office Project Server 2007, Office Project Web Access, and the Project 2007 Professional client, as a unified, global project and program management platform. New Solution Improves Software Project Management, Productivity, and Quality
Case Study by: Washington State Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development
Facing multiple simultaneous projects, the nine-member software development group within the Washington State Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (CTED) found it difficult to accurately assess project status, estimate new efforts, and ensure sufficient software quality. The group adopted Microsoft® Visual Studio® Team System to help it overcome all those issues. In gaining a comprehensive solution for all aspects of the development life cycle, the group has been able to increase its productivity, better manage and understand the application life cycle, and increase software quality. In addition, the group’s development process is more consistent and predictable, and the collection, sharing, and reporting of project-related information is built into everyday workflows. Technology Company Improves Time to Market with Project Management Solution
Case Study by: Thomson
Since France-based Thomson changed its business focus from the manufacture of televisions and hi-fi systems to digital-video technologies, the company has seen a dramatic increase in research projects. Because these projects often vary in size, location, and importance, organising and planning resources efficiently is vital. To stay responsive and competitive, Thomson realised it needed planning tools capable of managing several projects simultaneously. It also wanted better insight into the financial aspects of its projects. To achieve this, the company implemented the Microsoft® Office Enterprise Project Management solution. Employees can now plan the release of new products more accurately, with improved team collaboration, project organisation, and financial management tools at their disposal. ICT Company Improves Customer Satisfaction with Project Management Tool
Case Study by: GijimaAst
GijimaAst Microsoft Professional Services (MPS) in South Africa is a division of information and communications technology (ICT) company GijimaAst. GijimaAst started testing Microsoft® Office Project Server 2007 technology in beta with 14 project managers. It wanted to find a new solution for its project management team to improve reporting, customer satisfaction, and time to market. GijimaAst plans to roll out the enterprise project management (EPM) solution division-wide over the next three months. Leading Shipbuilder Streamlines Operations with New Project Management Solution
Case Study by: Fincantieri
Fincantieri is one of the world’s largest shipbuilding groups. The company, which employs 9,300 people, manufactures cruise ships, ferries, and military vessels and handles projects worth €10 billion (U.S. $12.78 billion). Shipbuilding projects require collaboration between thousands of individuals at hundreds of companies. Historically, Fincantieri relied on disparate project management systems to oversee work and this reduced operational efficiency. The company moved to a new enterprise project management solution, based on Microsoft® technology, which optimises project life cycles by integrating information from all business units. It gives employees and partners a common collaboration tool and can easily manage 100 shipbuilding projects simultaneously, while offering flexibility to scale for future needs. Israel Police use SQL Server 2005 Integration Services for 2-Terabyte Intelligence System
Case Study by: Israel Police
Israel Police needed to unite data from more than 20 intelligence applications to give its officers a faster and more efficient tool for solving crime. They needed an enterprise grade extract, transform, and load (ETL) tool for performing complex transformations on feeds before adding information to its new online analytical processing (OLAP) intelligence system. After testing Informatica PowerCenter against Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2005 Integration Services, Israeli Police decided to use Integration Services for the ETL component of its OLAP solution. The 2-terabyte intelligence system, running on a single instance of SQL Server, helps Israeli Police intelligence officers complete data searches in seconds as assembled from disparate systems. Integration Services has proven easy to incorporate into custom applications created using Microsoft Visual Studio® .NET. |