Planisware Orchestra

Great app !

Vorteile:

I particularly appreciate the integration of different features : project management, ressources management, budget, time tracking. We also implemented specific features apart from project development like non-conformity treatment, executive committee decisions management, customised reports

Nachteile:

My company find it a bit expensive but it worth it. Needs a real training to get the full performance.

Orchestrating a plan

Vorteile:

It's a versatile tool with lots of options for customization. I can see large or small organizations getting great use from the functions, with a careful assessment of your individual needs. Lots of ways to visualize progress on projects. It also has paths for simplifying the user experience for different members of the team. What I/we perhaps like most about the software is the ability to not only plan the project, but assign resources (allocate) at different increments (hours, % of FTE, days) - and to have that information push automatically to the individual owners of those allocations for task management and time reporting.

Nachteile:

UI still needs some sharpening (and I've seen the teams improve on this since we signed on). Limited integrations with other commonly used software.

NQI Orchestra Review

Kommentare: We started with a new version of Orchestra : 7.0. This version wasn't mature and we faced many bugs.
Ramp-up is not easy (Planning, budget and Ressources management). Owerall, this tool is good, there are good ideas and functions. Now, the next step should be to simplify the User interface. Some idea : include more batch actions, simplify Planning > Gantt (only one view), simplify Project Ressource Management by displaying ressources need more easyly >> too many clicks to display ressrouces need.

Vorteile:

- Integration between projects and ressources - Customisation with the Designer - Possiblity to export lists

Nachteile:

- "Clicodrome". Too many click to do something. No possiblity to do "batch" actions in lists. - Timesheet workflow validation too restrictive - In project Budget and project ressource management no possibility to express the ressource need by competencies. Only ressource type is available >> too restrictive as a ressource can have only one "type". Most of organisation have ressources that can do many activities in projets (Project management and business analysis for exemple). Assign ressources by type is too restrictive. Real need to asign ressources by competencies.

Simple efficient and scalable

Kommentare: We stard with Planisware Orchestra in 2011. First to manage IT projects and then gradually to manage all IT activities. This tool has evolved a lot since 2011 and allows us today to manage the entire activity, workforces load and budgets forecasting.

Vorteile:

Capapcity to manage large organizations and numerous resources. Easy to use without too many concessions on advanced features. Scalable solution both in terms of users and functionalities. Great local support (France). Suitable for RUN and BUILD activities. Numerous intégration possibilities (flat files, datamart, Reporting Tools, etc.)

Nachteile:

Agility is not perfectly managed. Kaban could be smoother.

Very good tool, easily and intuitive to use on main functions.

Kommentare: The main benefits are in the simplicity of navigation and use for the end-users: very good design and organization of the activity with fast access to the interesting information for the different level of the organization.

Vorteile:

Orchestra is tool very appreciated by the users. Its design is clear and intuitive, which allows the different users to navigate inside the tool after 1 hour of training. Its use is also sufficiently simple for the occasional users (1 time per month or less) to re-find the menu without a new reading of the user guide. The access is simple and efficient from a location. We use it to manage the R&D activity of several laboratories in the world with more than thousand users and several thousands of projects follow by the system. The simultaneous connection of several dozens of users induces no difficulty. Each one can make his job: his creation or updated of project information. This tool offers the possibility to add specific modules require by additional needs. Support team is rather efficient and provides a good assistance for small difficulty or misunderstanding. Nevertheless, the new developments require very accurate specifications from the final user in order to reach quickly the new functions.

Nachteile:

There are no clear dark points about this software. Some specific attentions must be brought to the recording time (storage of the data) for specific functions. This time can increases with the number of manipulated elements or for specific functions. It is not a real issue, except in the case of long set of data recording.