ProjectPartner

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Time Disciple Limited
Image:Timedisciple.gif
Type	Privately-held
Founded	1991 (as Pictdata Productions)
Headquarters	Auckland, New Zealand
Industry	Software
Products	Project management software
Website	http://www.timedisciple.com/

ProjectPartner is portfolio and project management software from Time Disciple, delivered via Internet or Intranet using the software as a service (SaaS) deployment model. It is currently nearing completion of its alpha testing phase, and is expected to be available from September 2008.

Building on the features of Time Disciple's previous time accountability tools, ProjectPartner competes against other professional resource management suites such as @task and Daptiv. The Flash user interface and Flex-driven SaaS platform mean that anyone with an Internet connection and web browser can use ProjectPartner. This ease of use, together with its competitive pricing, means that ProjectPartner is likely to appeal to a wider range of potential customers.

[edit] Features

In addition to timesheet recording of staff activities and Gantt charts of projects' tasks and timelines - features that are common to virtually all project portfolio managers - ProjectPartner adds detailed financial recording and reporting.

Resources (i.e. staff and contractors) can have costs associated with them to ensure accurate tracking of all expenses incurred in carrying out projects. ProjectPartner also supports different charge-out rates for different clients. When scheduling new projects, the availability of relevant resources can be automatically calculated, so while an expert charged at a higher rate would take less time than a lower-skilled employee whose time is billed at a lower rate, ProjectPartner can look at both and adjust the schedule accordingly. Expenses and revenues in multiple currencies are accommodated too, even within a single project.

This detailed management is reflected in the dashboard reporting, which shows itemised revenue and costs in an interactive analysis tab. In keeping with the underlying objective of project management software, this dashboard reporting allows managers to track profit margins and manage resources more efficiently.

[edit] Development

The drive to develop a SaaS product came as technology obsolescence inherent in the previous SQL model began to limit growth opportunities. With SaaS technology now mature enough to attract widespread market acceptance^[1], the decision was made in October 2007 to re-write the modular Time Disciple product as a single browser-based toolbox. The development and launch of ProjectPartner marks a decision to move away from the mature market of separate modules installed and supported on individual desktops. The SaaS business model, coupled with Adobe Flex-based development, will ensure ongoing growth for the company and opportunities for investors.

[edit] Time Disciple

Founded as Pictdata Productions in 1991, Time Disciple Limited is a New Zealand software development house with a focus on what they call "time accountability" software.

A controlling shareholding in Time Disciple Limited was sold in 2007 to iGlobe Treasury, a Venture Investment Fund (VIF) backed by the governments of New Zealand and Singapore.^[2]

Time Disciple's eponymous SQL-based suite of modular applications have been licensed to over 7000 desktops in New Zealand, Australia, the US and Europe. Current clients range from small businesses to local and national government departments^[3].