SmartPM

Pros

SmartPM isn't just another scheduling software; it's a game-changer. Its intuitive interface makes creating and managing schedules a breeze. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned pro, SmartPM adapts to your expertise level, ensuring a seamless experience from start to finish.

One of the standout features of SmartPM is its robust scheduling engine. With advanced algorithms at its core, SmartPM optimizes schedules for maximum efficiency, taking into account various constraints and dependencies. This means fewer delays, better resource utilization, and ultimately, happier stakeholders.

But SmartPM doesn't stop there. Its collaborative capabilities are second to none. Team members can easily collaborate in real-time, share updates, and communicate. SmartPM keeps everyone on the same page, every step of the way.

As someone who values data-driven decision-making, I appreciate SmartPM's analytics and reporting tools. With customizable dashboards and insightful reports, I can easily track progress, identify bottlenecks, and make informed decisions to keep projects on track. This has improved our overall health of the schedules on every project we currently have.

Cons

We use columns within Microsoft Projects to identify levels, towers, and buildings. Being able to see those within the software would be really helpful.

Pros

What I liked most about SmartPM was its ability to streamline project management processes with intuitive features which has empowered efficient decision-making and facilitated successful project outcomes.

Cons

One drawback I encountered with SmartPM pertains to the accuracy of its SPI calculation, particularly when the planned percentage completion reaches 100%. Additionally, the frequent appearance of pop-up notifications, disrupting discussions, detracts from the platform's usability. Lastly, the Gantt chart interface could benefit from refinement to match the user-friendly experience offered by Primavera's Gantt display.

Pros

Identifies key areas to ensure schedules are calculating dates correctly, allows drill down to identify root causes and highlights areas of improvement.

Cons

Some features are in concept for the enterprise client:
1. Allowing for *.xml format
2. Executive Dashboard On time % using inactive slots.
3. Connections to "Real Time" Database's. vs Imports.
3. Enterprise Pricing.

Alternatives Considered

Reasons for Choosing SmartPM

Switched From

Reasons for Switching to SmartPM

Pros

The quantity and quality of the analytical data provides a deep insight into the schedule status. It is very useful to be able to export schedule quality and change data to an Excel format. The reporting functions are great and continue to be improved.

Cons

There are times when the analysis of the uploaded schedules takes longer than expected.

The application runs through a web browser. Clicking the various links opens additional windows in the browser. After several minutes a user can have a dozen or so windows open. This can become confusing. Perhaps the UI could run in one window with functional back buttons.

Pros

Great people/company to work with, contently reaching out to ensure our success, gather feedback to improve their product and their customer support is very responsive. This tool has greatly improved our schedule quality and help identify potential delays early on so they can be mitigated.

Cons

The project setup process requires the XER file, and you cannot upload two schedules with the same data date, however I believe they are working to resolve both issues.

Pros

SmartPM has already provided us with actionable reporting on data we currently had but not effectively digesting. The benefits were almost immediate! With SmartPM our project teams are producing hire quality schedules and the reporting is meaningful in a way that we have never seen.

Cons

The amount of data being reported can be overwhelming. The real effort in a successful rollout may be in deciding what NOT to report.

Pros

Fast in responding specific needs. Good leaners of Construction needs

Cons

GRANT Chart. Not very dynamic, need improve on the view.

Pros

When we started using smartPM, our construction team realized the importance of the scheduling quality to be able to manage and control their projects. They are more interested in maintaining an updated schedule and learn how to control delays.

Cons

Training and follow up meetings are carried out in English, I feel that this has been the major issue for the implementation of smartPM in our company. The process has been slower than what it should.

Pros

- SmartPM can take data from the schedule and makes it easier to digest
- The graphs and tables allow us to get a better understanding of what is happening and is a great way to start conversations on near critical and critical tasks.
- The modeling feature is a game changer. You can create scenarios that you want to look at, and it will show the outcome without changing the actual schedule document.

Cons

- Would love to see the suggestions get implemented, or a message saying that it was received, and they are working on it or have decided not to move forward with it.

Pros

SmartPM allows us to visualize the vast amounts of schedule data generated. We can easily spot schedule issues much earlier that just looking at a Gantt Chart.

Cons

Some of the terminology used is confusing such as "Backdated Activities" "Should Start Should Finish"

Pros

This tool helped standardize our scheduling process and provides concise information for teams to have productive conversations.

Cons

Some of the tools within SmartPM require a lot of time and attention to detail to set up and use properly.

Alternatives Considered

Pros

The easy navigation and function to read P6 files easily. The staff support.

Cons

It does take some time and practice to get use to all it can do.

Pros

This tool runs a number of reports and analysis that can free up the team to use the data rather than dedicating their time to generating the data. These features allow key project reports to be generated quickly after update windows, allowing project teams to quickly review and act on the data.

Cons

The program is still in development, which leaves some important features still 'in the que' for future development. The support team is eager for these suggestions, and happy to try to find ways to overcome any current obstacles.

Pros

Visibility of actual progress and trending is a great benefit.

Cons

the chart view in the delay analysis is difficult to navigate

Pros

The hands on training that is provided to help superintends develop more accurate schedules.

Cons

It can be overwhelming at first to understand how to navigate all the functions of the system.

Pros

Automatic analysis of so many different KPI's

Cons

It takes a while to get to know how to operate the system

Pros

dashboard have cool info and we use some of the info in our client monthly report

Cons

we need to be very cautious in the order in wich we integrate schedule, would be cool it recognise date of schedule automatically to avoid bugg.

Pros

Smart PM is super easy to learn and very effective when trying to communicate what is going on in the schedule. It is so quick and easy to upload your schedules into the software and within minutes have all of the metrics at your fingertips. The Windows Analysis is a game changer. What used to take me weeks or months on some projects, now takes minutes or hours. I don't want to analyze any project without Smart PM anymore.

Cons

There are a few areas where Smart PM makes assumptions and changes dates in the schedule. I would say this is what I like the least about the program. I would rather the software tell me the assumptions it would like to make, but give me the option if I want it to make the changes so I can keep the data that I import pure. I do understand that Smart PM is working on a solution to this however, so this doesn't discourage me from using the program.

Pros

The dashboard is easy at a glance. you can see health, compression and the real end date in a single wiew

Cons

each evolution gives more and more clarity to the process.

Pros

I like the visuals gives quickly after each update

Cons

Takes some time to learn all the features

Pros

Fast schedule quality assessments and tracking.

Cons

There is nothing I would change about Smart PM. It is providing exactly what is asked and expected.

Pros

SmartPM has allowed me to streamline many scheduling analyses, including quality review, critical path analysis, and feasibility assessments. The number of hours that SmartPM has saved me has allowed me to dig into more robust analyses on the schedule.

Cons

I've absolutely loved the software so far - I've been very impressed by the number of additional functions that have been added in the last two years, including the Should-Start, Should-Finish report. Going forward, I would be interested in having more customizability into the generation of graphics and reports.

Pros

This product complements P6 where it gives the user the ability to see how the project updates compare to each other on one screen. The graphics are very good with planned vs. actual percent complete graphs. For projects with multiple interim milestones, it is particularly helpful in tracking to each milestone throughout the course of the project.

Cons

Smart PM has so many features, that it can be overwhelming in navigating through all of its features. In Smart PM's defense, they offer great online training sessions to help new and experienced users with the navigation. However, it does require some amount of effort by the users to learn from the online training and to practice what they learn.

Pros

Initially the quality checker was the most appealing aspect; ability for all our superintendents to run their schedule through the quality checker and see instantly where the problem areas are. This process used to take hours clicking through each activity trying to find the problems; now they get a report with one click.

Cons

Our superintendent peer group is having more trouble grasping the finer points of the project analytics and trends; we are working on training them to understand how compression and other factors equate to the reality they are experiencing on the project.

Pros

Ease of useFeaturesData/preparation for claims

Cons

space for Archived projects.