This thing can do everything
User report from it.x Informationssysteme
it.x develops and implements Internet solutions and software. As an IT full-service provider, the main focus of the portfolio is on web-based projects in the field of marketing management solutions, individual application development, apps and process consulting. For our customers, we realize projects in all industries and a wide variety of project segments ranging from content management, media asset management, product information management and apps. Since 2008, Projektron BCS has been helping it.x to use resources optimally in projects and to manage and invoice orders.
it.x: Service Provider & Consultant
We have been an owner-managed IT company since 1995. In the beginning, we focused on software products in the field of document management and customer care, but since 2003 we have been focusing on Internet technologies. We were one of the first companies in Germany with PIM applications for configurator systems and multi-layered internet portals.
Today, we work at our Constance location for companies and organizations all over the world. We see ourselves as an IT full-service provider. Because in addition to consulting and implementation, continuous user support and system operation are also an important part of our services.
With our claim Smart Digital Solutions, we stand for services that meet the dynamic requirements of our customers: Every day we deal with enabling more technology diversity, while reducing complexity and being a reliable partner for IT and marketing in strategic decisions and operational implementations. We can only do this because we are open to innovations and all employees live and work digitally with their own personal skills.
Why an external project management tool?
In 2007, it.x had grown to 19 employees. From Constance, we handle a large number of new projects and maintenance projects every year, with durations ranging from three months to two or more years. Originally, it.x had a meeting once a week in which we informed each other about the status of projects and resources on the basis of Excel.
But the more complex and numerous our projects became, the more our process reached its limits. In the end, we felt a real sense of suffering. So we started looking for external project management software.
Our ideas about what the software should be able to do were clear: It should map the entire course of the project, from order to billing. It should map the resources and administer itself. It was also important to us that everyone involved in the project should understand what was happening at all times.
Why it.x chose Projektron BCS
At first, we simply searched the Internet of the year 2007. Our first favorite was not BCS, but Microsoft's Team Foundation Server. But on closer inspection, we quickly realized that although it was good, it was far too large and complex for our requirements. We became aware of Projektron BCS at the Systems trade fair in Munich. We saw the Projektron
booth. When BCS was presented to us, we spontaneously thought, "This thing can do everything!"
We were able to cover at least 80 percent of our needs without the need for any functional extensions. From then on, it was only a short way until we had BCS installed at it.x as of January 2008. Today, we still follow the best-practice approach when using BCS and largely do without special programming.
Projektron BCS in daily use for it.x
On a daily basis, Projektron BCS is mainly used by our developers, who book directly on tickets. Our support team processes the tickets using ticket statuses and depending on the effort involved. Ticket notifications often help to efficiently process even the smallest requests. Here we distinguish fixed price tickets and extension tickets, which are described in detail via configured ticket properties.
The features we use the most are ticket management, resource utilization and the evaluation of costs and time consumption. At it.x, we are particularly satisfied with the impact on workflow - the workflows have simply become more regulated.
We were also able to optimize this through the CRM functions in BCS. Here, Projektron BCS has replaced a .NET-based client-server solution. With the integrated acquisition and quotation management, we manage our acquisition contacts, coordinate all our order inquiries and orders with the key figures that are important for us, and can thus go into implementation efficiently and quickly.
Projektron BCS supports us right through to invoicing. The billing plan is configured according to our specifications and is one of our most important views in controlling with the display of payment dates, invoice amounts, linked contracts and tickets as well as the status of the respective invoicing.
The convenient functions for invoicing have proven their worth. Here, articles, invoice templates and, for recurring services, the hosting and maintenance contracts created with repetition make our work easier. Our secret tip: The invoice generator and the project invoice template. Processes remain traceable and all billable services are taken into account.
A special feature of it.x is: there are many partially agile projects where, in particular, supplements and material costs must be taken into account for complete invoicing. Here, Projektron BCS supports financial processes and is particularly helpful in our supplement management. All of this additionally leads to structured work distribution. Through assigned roles, everyone is aware of their own responsibilities. No adjustments were necessary to optimally pick us up here. Everything could be set up appropriately for us through configurations.
Support from Projektron also runs as desired. When we ask Projektron for support, it comes very quickly. Some suggestions for function enhancements were also implemented, so that our positive assessment of BCS has been even further strengthened by everyday operation. We always eagerly await new, great functions in the four BCS releases per year.
