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Software company provides mobile project management solution

DIERDRE STRYDOM
FOXit provides a range of mobile solutions for clients using Android, Apple IOS and Windows operating systems

DIERDRE STRYDOM FOXit provides a range of mobile solutions for clients using Android, Apple IOS and Windows operating systems

14th February 2014

By: Donna Slater

Features Deputy Editor and Chief Photographer

  

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Mobile project management solutions can increase productivity, lessen administration and save money in the long term, says software solutions provider FOXit.

Cost plays an influential role in the mining industry with labour unrest and increased production costs on the rise, says FOXit CEO Dierdre Strydom. She tells Mining Weekly that mining companies need to control cost to a finite point. “Clever technology is the way to do this, and the ability to deliver projects on time, within budget constraints and with the right level of quality, will benefit the industry greatly,” says Strydom.

As most projects are managed by personnel based at different offices or project sites, it is imperative that information and documentation remain accessible to all parties at any time, says Strydom.

She says through FOXit’s mobile project management solutions – Project Server 2013 and document management solutions (DMS), both of which are based on SharePoint 2013 – clients will experience an increase in productivity. Daily administration tasks will also be reduced, owing to less paperwork, which, in turn, saves time.

“While there would be an initial capital outlay on the software solution, it will result in a greater cost saving during the execution of the project, owing to enhanced ability to track and trace project costs,” says Strydom.

FOXit upgraded its Centurion-based sister project management company Fox Projects’ existing project management solution with the latest Microsoft version of the solution that went live at the end of January. The company’s DMS solution was upgraded simultaneously.

Strydom notes that the 2013 platform on Project Server 2013 and SharePoint 2013 offers greater benefits to the organisation, including improved reporting services with the feel of social networking, and collaboration, which is needed in an industry where multiple parties are involved.

“Tighter controls on a project, not only from a cost perspective, are imperative when it comes to running a project successfully,” says Strydom.

Security

FOXit’s project management solutions are equipped with security measures, which means that specified and confidential information can be accessed only by authorised personnel. “For instance, only procurement employees are allowed to edit procurement-related information – a member from another team can only view it,” explains Strydom.

She adds that, with the new solution’s collaboration function, more than one person can work on a document, reducing the time spent on getting client deliverables completed and eliminating the need to email the latest versions of the documents.

Strydom notes that FOXit’s new technology will require a paradigm shift from users of the older technology. For instance, clients will have to get used to emailing hyperlinks, instead of emailed attachments, to recipients, as the new function enables users to access documents online. This results in smaller and easier-to-navigate mailboxes.

“It also reduces the risk of losing information, as it is stored in a central repository,” says Strydom, adding that this offers businesses peace of mind that their critical intellectual property is kept in a safe and secure – yet accessible – environment.

Users can also provide their clients with access to documents, enabling them to track developments on projects without having to phone, email or leave their offices.

Product Offering

FOXit provides a range of solutions to assist the mining industry with mobile project management, provided that clients use Android, Apple IOS and Windows operating systems.

The company’s Project Server 2013 solution offers project report packages that can be customised to a client’s specifications.

FOXit also provides a visual resourcing tool – PIVOTit – enabling project managers to visualise the management of human resources on various projects. “This enables project managers to assess the risk of overusing certain key resources on various projects,” says Strydom.

All information is captured on a live system, providing updates in real time.

However, if a user works offline, all the information is gathered and stored until the user has access to the network again, after which the information will be automatically uploaded.

FOXit provides in-depth project-server collaboration training for administrators and end-users.

Risk Management

Project risk is managed proactively with a FOXit solution, as users can highlight risks online and respond to and assign risks to team members without being in the office, says Strydom. “The need to send out spreadsheets or text documents with an updated risks register is no longer needed, as everything is captured online.”

“As the world of business becomes more mobile, technologies like these not only assist business with the daily running of projects but also provides them with an overview of critical information that is needed for business decisions.”

FOXit also offers clients complete customised solutions within the framework of Project Server 2013 and SharePoint 2013, as clients can extract all their requirements to execute projects on time and within budget, adds Strydom.

Edited by Samantha Herbst
Creamer Media Deputy Editor

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