Project Control

FocalPoint delivers the tools and information required by project managers, directly to the desktop, enabling them to run, manage and control their projects effectively. It delivers this information in a clear and concise format, designed for the occasional user, whilst providing the features that project managers demand of a comprehensive project management module.

Setting And Monitoring Budgets

Effective control of budgets is an essential part of project management. Within FocalPoint, both cost and revenue budgets are catered for. As with many other elements of the software, the type an format of these budgets is completely configurable within the system. Budgets can be entered directly, calculated from component elements, or even derived from associated resource plans. Budgets can then optionally be profiled either weekly or monthly across the lifetime of the project.

Job Commencement

For many organisations, there is a requirement to get sign-off for any new project before budgets and resources can be assigned and the project initiated. FocalPoint provides full support for this process through the configuration of flexible workflow rules.

Resource Planning And Allocation

Resource Allocation allows project managers to dictate which resources are able to book time on any of their projects and within a project, any specified task. These allocations can also be used to track and control the amount of hours the individual has been allocated for the specified activity. In addition to allocation, it is also possible to create a comprehensive resource plan for the project combining resources, grades or roles onto a detailed project timeline.

Milestones

Against any project, a project manager can record and manage key milestones and events. Milestone types and statuses are fully configurable within the software, values including specific cost centres within the project can be associated to any milestones. It is also possible to allocate milestones to other users within the organisation who can automatically be alerted when any action is required.

Work in Progress and Income Recognition

While each organisation will have different methods for calculating work in progress, the responsibility for supplying the information usually lies with the project manager. FocalPoint provides a complete set of tools to enable this information to be captured easily within the system. There are a number of methods supported within the software including percentage complete, cost to complete and hours to complete. It is also possible to get project managers to specify income recognition values within the software. All of these inputs can be used to automatically calculate and post month-end journals into Access Dimensions to represent accurately the organisation’s financial position.

Document Management

As part of the project management toolset, FocalPoint adds document management functionality to the system. Any electronic file can be uploaded to FocalPoint and stored centrally against a project. These documents can be reviewed by anyone in any location that has the appropriate security privaleges.

Billing

FocalPoint supports three main billing options within the project management function, all of which integrate seamlessly with the sales order processing and sales ledger modules of Access Dimensions. Time and material projects can be billed out of project management, allowing the project manager to specify which element of time and costs to pass on, with or without an uplift. Fixed price or stage payment billing is supported with full integration to the sales request module. These requests can optionally pass through an internal approval cycle before being released to the client. In addition, full support for application for payment processing is available within the system.

Benefits

• Comprehensive control of all elements of the project lifecycle
• Real-time integration with Access Dimensions
• Drill down to budget, actual and forecast information
• Easy to use interface for the occasional user