PROJECT MANAGEMENT PROCESS: CELOXIS
Celoxis is world online Project Portfolio Management software available for use by SaaS companies and project managers. A large number of customers around the world ranging from average sized to Fortune 100 companies deploy the software. The software offers a comprehensive online project management features including integrated tools to manage company resources, time sheets, collaboration, expenses and the flow of work.
Celoxis is licensed and available at an affordable price per month per user for the hosted version. Once purchased, the hosted version offers a thirty-day trial account with sample data project that can be used to evaluate it. Online and PDF format documentation and flash videos present the features of the product. Celoxis is appropriate for use by international teams as it allows users to configure it with personal information and the company setting too. The software is also adaptive to different users since the user can personalize it by adding charts and reports relevant to each user. Further, it provides instant accessibility to needed functions (Celoxis, 2017).
The software is easy to use as it enables one to create a new project by using pre-defined template or information from a CSV file or Microsoft project. It is also simpler and quick for individuals to create tasks with interfaces provided. Users of Celoxis can track tasks that are assigned to them in their dashboard and then update or even document their status. It is thus effective as it offers a means of communication between users and managers. Time and expense module allows users to manage the time they spend in performing tasks and the cost involved in performing the tasks. The software also offers a platform for the user to create discussion, track formal communications, store and share information (Celoxis, 2017).
Another feature is the workflow management module that allows admin to manage users and their status from the start to the end. Almost everything can be reviewed in Celoxis in form of a report. It has over forty pre-defined reports to visualize the progress of the project in all perspectives like resource usage, time completed and time remaining, and budget among others. Celoxis also has impressive capabilities as it gives one an opportunity to create a custom field for tracking project portfolios. Further, it can be accessed from mobile phones like Blackberry, Symbian, Android, and iPhone (Oliveira, Tereso & Machado, 2014).
According to Oliveira, Tereso, & Machado, (2014), with the complexity in technology and increasing competitive markets, it is important to use project management software to control your scope. They can help manage the time, resources and cost in a very efficient way. The tools will help the user to compare the value of the decision and the value of resources used. In sum, it measures the economic efficiency of a proposed technological decision. Tools can be difficult to use for some users, and according to Burke, (2013), it is necessary to offer training to users. Just like any other technology use, they are prone to security threats. Unauthorized people can have access to information and use it for their personal use or malicious activity. It is also possible for malicious companies to gain access to reports for other businesses and use the reports to make decisions that will get them capture a significant market share and make the other firm stand at the brink of making losses.
In conclusion, Celoxis has substantial capabilities to help the user manage projects since it has many project portfolio features. Its user interface is intuitive, which allows people to use it with ease and intelligently. It can accommodate a lot of users making it possible to manage thousands and thousands of projects. Further, a user can customize data in any form they wish since data is available in reports. Also, the mobile interface allows one to use the software without necessarily accessing a PC. The software also allows the user to use API in case they have other systems that they would want to pull or push data.
References
Celoxis (2017). All-in-one Project Management Software. Retrieved from http://www.celoxis.com/
Oliveira, J., Tereso, A., & Machado, R. J. (2014). An application to select collaborative project management software tools. In New Perspectives in Information Systems and Technologies, Volume 1 (pp. 467-476). Springer International Publishing.
Burke, R. (2013). Project management: planning and control techniques. New Jersey, USA.
