The implementation of Deltek PIM — a one-stop software hub for built-environment consulting businesses – has enabled a Western Australian engineering firm to branch out across Australia.
Now with offices in Brisbane, Newcastle and Karratha, Engenium operates in the mining and resource sectors with core services that include project management, engineering and construction management.
Founded in Perth in 2003, the firm has also doubled the number of employees over the past two years, thanks in part to “increased efficiencies in finance and payroll, and detailed project and resource reporting”, according to [A1] Gareth Whittle, Engenium’s Corporate Services Manager, who oversaw an internal project that sought a new software system to underpin its expansion plans.
Before rolling out Deltek PIM, Engenium used various project management software tools, but the management team wanted to combine those functions into one streamlined system and add new tools at the same time.
“Engenium required strong, robust project management software that could handle our growth strategy, with an efficient and reliable accounting package to handle back-of-office requirements, and real-time staff use and resourcing,” Whittle explained.
“We wanted to mitigate loss of productivity, failure to deliver on schedule — due to both under-resourcing and time to on-board — and a document management system that didn’t require VPN access to a local server, like our previous system did, but rather just relied on an internet connection for anytime access.”
One of the key shortcomings of Engenium’s previous software solutions was a lack of real-time resourcing that talked to project accounting, business intelligence dashboards, and automated time and cost approval workflows, adding to the degree of difficulty around scaling-up both the number of employees and the volume of live projects.
“The key difference between Deltek PIM and our previous systems are the resourcing module, document management system, approval workflows, being able to raise purchase orders in the system, and the web query access to our live data,” Whittle said.
“Deltek PIM is a one-stop hub for the business — seamlessly linking all departments along the project lifecycle, from the original lead to project delivery to ultimately getting paid.”
Across its four sites, Engenium now has more than 250 live projects under management in Deltek PIM, and the firm is confident it can maintain and even enhance its reputation for “responsiveness and good value for money”, Whittle said.
“Every client has expectations around cost, schedule and quality,” he said.
“Engenium’s cost-control processes, procedures and software all greatly assist our project team to maintain a live view of the project’s schedule, budget, scope and customer health.
“The data gathering, management and analysis of these key areas provide concise project dashboards that alert the Project Director or Project Manager of any pending issues, which leads ultimately to fewer surprises for the client.”
And the most surprising benefit of the new project software system? Whittle said it’s been the level of support from Deltek’s implementation team, from the first meeting to the go-live date and beyond.
“Engenium hopes to have a long relationship with Deltek, and we, look forward to new releases in coming years,” he said.
Find out why project control matters for AEC firms and how you can implement it for your business. Download your copy now.