Planisware Reviews

“Portfolio project and resource management tool for global organizations large and small

Pros

Throughout the various software iterations Planisware has demonstrated a commitment to customer feedback resulting in a platform that requires minimal customization. This reduces the costs associated with implementation consulting and maintenance providing a more efficient and costeffective solution.

Cons

During the implementation process it is crucial to consider longterm product support. Having a proficient team trained by the vendor as super users is essential for efficiently supporting the organization and maximizing the benefits of Planisware Enterprise.

“New Planisware implementation in additional business unit

Pros

The best aspect of Planisware Enterprise is its versatility and ability to be customized according to specific needs. It offers a complete solution that can be tailored to fit the requirements of different business units. Additionally its integration capabilities allow seamless connectivity with external applications such as SAP further enhancing data management and collaboration.

Cons

The high level of customization available in Planisware Enterprise can sometimes be overwhelming and confusing for users. The user interface particularly in version 6.1 relies heavily on tables and lacks visual elements out of the box. Additionally a lack of field definitions can make it challenging to understand how different components fit together and should be utilized.

“powerful and never shuts down

Pros

To address our initial requirements, NQI Orchestra genuinely provided a tailored, locally-hosted project management solution that fit our needs and on top of that we implemented and actively use the quality module as part of our workflow, overall it has proven to be a very stable and powerful platform. After nearly two years of day-to-day operation by the project manager, the quality manager and about fifteen other users, we have handled close to 190 projects ranging from two weeks up to four months in length and I feel it is worth emphasizing that the system has never experienced a downtime. The activity stream has been especially valuable to us since it significantly aids in tracking and follow-up across tasks and updates. Having learned to build and leverage the Dashboard module, we now enjoy using it and find it improves our visibility into ongoing work.

Cons

Installation and update procedures are not user-friendly at all: I had to manually copy files into core directories which is difficult and without dedicated internal IT support that process would be hard to maintain. For that reason we opted not to rely on the document module because once files are uploaded into the system they cannot be retrieved outside the application making external access impossible. In addition, the interface tends to present an excessive amount of information at once and currently there is no option to hide or remove certain elements to gain a clearer view of the data we need--for example the Gantt chart can become cluttered and difficult to read.

“customizable and evolving but portfolio management lags

Pros

As a user I like that the product provides a combination of general settings and specific customization options which allows us to be autonomous and to roll out a first, usable platform very quickly and then, given our particular needs as a large company, to develop interfaces that connect with other tools. The interface itself is noticeably user-friendly and I have observed the tool's steady evolution with progressively better user interface design and an expanding set of features. Because it integrates well with Google, we are able to leverage our Electronic Document Management System and Single Sign-On, among other things. In my experience it addresses most of our needs with solid capabilities spanning demand intake through Project Management, Portfolio Management and indicators and I also like the strong relationship we maintain with NQI.

Cons

I recognize that several of these items are included in their roadmap but at the moment I find that portfolio management could be improved and the same is true for Risk Management and certain aspects of Demand Management, with the Stakes functionality in particular not yet ideal. It would be advantageous if I, whether acting as an administrator or as a standard user, could exercise slightly more global control over projects, their states and perform bulk modifications when necessary. Furthermore some terminology and naming conventions are inconsistent across the tool and need to be aligned although I understand and accept that, linked to their roadmap, work to address these issues is currently ongoing.

“pretty good for all users

Pros

I find it to be a very well-regarded tool among our users and from my experience its interface is both clean and interactive which enables a wide range of people to feel comfortable navigating the application after roughly an hour of hands-on training. Occasional users, those who access the system maybe once a month or less, are still able to relocate menus and key functions without having to reconsult the user manual so the learning curve remains shallow for infrequent use. Access from a single site is easy and responsive and in my organization we rely on it to coordinate R&D activities across multiple laboratories worldwide, with the platform supporting well over a thousand users and tracking several thousand concurrent projects. I have observed that dozens of users can be connected simultaneously without causing operational issues and each person can perform their tasks independently, whether creating new entries or updating project information. The product also supports the addition of custom modules to address specific needs and the support team has been reasonably responsive, offering useful help for minor problems or misunderstandings. That said when we request new functionality I have learned that very precise and detailed specifications from the end user are necessary to accelerate delivery of those enhancements.

Cons

Havent seen any glaring flaws with the software but I have noted that particular attention should be paid to data write times for certain functions, as the time required to record information can grow with the number of elements being processed or for some specialized operations. In practice this has not represented a critical problem for us, yet it can become noticeable when very long sets of data are being recorded so I consider it a caveat rather than a fundamental limitation.

“Great integration of many features

Pros

What I particularly value is the way it brings together a range of capabilities project management, resource management, budgeting and time-tracking and on top of that, our team has implemented bespoke functionalities beyond typical project work, including non-conformity handling, executive committee decision tracking and customised reports.

Cons

My company considers it somewhat pricey yet I believe the investment is justified. But achieving its full potential requires proper hands-on training to use all features effectively.