The Top 7 Integrated Project Controls Software You Need to Know About

As the technology evolves, more and more integrated Project Controls software has come to the market to support the increasing demand of Project Controls.

Considering a variety of options we have, the question is, which Project Controls software to choose from?

Whenever I talk about the Project Controls software, I always get the question, what is the top Project Controls software that you recommend?

I am not in a position to recommend specific software, as I believe each software has its pros and cons. Some solve a particular problem you are currently facing but don’t have all the features you want.

A couple of years ago, I did a study on Project Controls software providers by running several interviews. You can check the collection of the video interviews with Project Controls software providers here.

In response to the interview question “What challenges Project Controls professionals are currently facing in the industry?”, AJ Waters from InEight said, “One of the biggest challenges I believe that the Project Controls industry is facing is “disparate systems”. A lot of folks have point solutions that will solve one of the problems that are out there but not a lot of them will talk to one another; so trying to get that information into a single report or a dashboard or some viewable, actionable step, is very very difficult.”

So, if you are looking for single Project Controls software that solves ALL of your problems, I am afraid that such software does NOT exist.

However, you need to assess several Project Controls software and select the one that satisfies most of the criteria you are looking for.

I have put together several video tutorials that help you with the selection process and features that you need to consider in your Project Controls software reviews.

Now to select the right software, you need first to know which options you have. In other words, what are the top Project Controls software that you can consider?

This post is the answer to this question.

I have listed the top 7 integrated Project Controls software providers and the product suits and solutions they offer, so you have your shopping list ready.

On this list, you don’t see Project Controls software solutions that help you manage only one aspect of the project. For example, Primavera P6 as scheduling software, or Sage as a cost estimating software. I only listed the integrated Project Controls software, which enables integration with various elements of the project – for example, integrating cost estimate, cost controls, scheduling, change management, contract management and so on.

One last note, the top 7 integrated Project Controls software list is in alphabetical order, and there is no ranking involved.

Now let’s dive in and assess the top 7 integrated Project Controls software in the market.

1. ARES PRISM

ARES PRISM is an integrated project controls software for projects, programs, and portfolios of growing size and complexity in a variety of industries.

PRISM integrates various aspects of the project, including cost and schedule, change management, estimating, earned value, contracts & procurement, and field progressing.

PRISM has processes that help collect, analyze, and report information regarding the measurement of performance by component, project, group, organization, system, program, or portfolio. It has one Central System that handles portfolio management, program management, project management (Small Projects – Large Projects), maintenance work, and initiatives PRISM is available as a cloud, web-based operation, or as a client, server-based technology. So whether you need a cloud-hosted setup of PRISM, or installation on specific machines, it is possible.

PRISM is developed using a modular approach. Each module can be used in a stand-alone fashion. However, when used in conjunction with each other, PRISM modules allow for the integration of the project data inside Prism product suite.

Here is the list of modules/ software that ARES PRISM provides:

PRISM Estimating

With PRISM Estimating, you can create conceptual estimates for feasibility studies resulting in a range of detailed estimates that help you develop control budgets.

PRISM Cost Management

PRISM Cost Management software supports cost management processes including budgeting, resource planning, time-phasing, progress, and performance measurement, earned value management, cost and schedule analysis, change management, risk tracking, funds allocation, forecasting, and reporting.

PRISM Engineering Management

The Engineering Management module of PRISM facilitates progress measurements and Earned Value calculations for engineering tasks, deliverables, and packages

You will be able to evaluate the engineering progress based on user-defined milestones, linked schedule activities, or hours expended.

PRISM Procurement

PRISM Procurement is the procurement software that provides the functionality needed to manage the procurement process. You can develop bid packages from requisitions, perform bid analysis, award and generate purchase orders, track shipments of materials and equipment, and record invoices and payments to complete purchase order transactions.

PRISM Procurement software can be integrated with the Cost Management module as a source for commitments in project reporting.

PRISM Contracts

PRISM Contracts software allows you to manage the contracts, whether you are an owner, an EPC, or a construction management company. This software enables you to create prime contracts, manage Request for Proposal (RFPs), perform bid analysis, and award committed contracts. You can also add contract changes and send updated commitments to Cost Management for project reporting, evaluate contract performance and calculate accurate progress, and finally, record invoices and payments to complete contract transactions.

PRISM Field Management

PRISM Field Management allows you to obtain timely status updates from the field/site. With its field management software extension, PRISM Go, you can access the data and get updates directly from the field as long as you have access to the Internet.

You can define, status, and progress construction tasks, budget tasks and deliverables by hours and quantities, dynamically record actuals from field, measure and report progress and productivity, and create daily field progressing reports. The image below shows how each of the above software/modules integrates within PRISM.

Check more details about ARES PRISM at www.aresprism.com. You can also request a FREE DEMO here.

2. Cleopatra Enterprise

Cleopatra Enterprise is an integrated Project Controls software that enables you to do cost estimating, budgeting, planning, cost controls, and benchmarking inside the tool.

It is built on a database platform, which secures and stores the information about your projects in a central knowledgebase. This makes benchmarking, trend analysis, and forecasting much easier.

Cleopatra Enterprise is available as a cloud-based or on-premise solution and has an Excel-like user experience, which allows you to get acquainted with its possibilities quickly. Cleopatra serves both owners and EPC firms in a variety of industries such as the oil & gas, (Petro-) chemical, pharmaceutical, mining, infrastructure and construction industries.

Here are the list of product suits and services that Cleopatra offers:

Cost Estimating

Cleopatra’s cost estimating software enables you to create all kinds of cost estimates, from conceptual estimate up to a definitive estimate based on detailed quantities. As for the cost estimate classifications, the estimate levels in Cleopatra Enterprise are aligned with the AACE International’s recommended practices.

With its database platform, the Industry standard knowledgebase, including CESK, Richardson, RS Means, and Page & Nations are available in Cleopatra.

Cost Management

The Cost Management module of Cleopatra Enterprise provides Project Controls capabilities- including cost controls, cost forecasting, progress measurement, Earned Value Management (EVM), and change management.

The Cost Management and Cost Estimating modules are fully integrated within Cleopatra Enterprise. This enables you to close the loop between cost estimation and cost management. You can turn your final cost estimate into a Control Budget seamlessly. This feature will minimize data handling and reduce the number of errors in mapping your cost estimate to the budgets.

During the project execution, you can feed actual project data into your estimating knowledgebase and establish a good basis for benchmarking for future projects.

As for reporting, Cleopatra provides configurable dashboard reporting to display your project portfolio status in the form of live plots, cost reports, key metrics, and much more.

Cleopatra also provides Big Data analytics and in-depth project metrics analysis using its benchmarking module.

Benchmark

Cleopatra uses the cost data from its current and past projects to benchmark the cost estimates against comparable projects and historical data.

With Cleopatra Enterprise Benchmark capacities, you can extract metrics from the in-progress and completed projects, find trends in key cost drivers and ratios, and compare the project performance. This feature will help you increase the accuracy and reliability of future cost estimates. Here is how the Cleopatra modules integrate:

Check more details about Cleopatra here. You can also request a FREE DEMO here.

3. Deltek

Deltek is a project-based enterprise software and information solution that enables project management and collaboration.

Deltek supports various industries, including Accounting, Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC), Aerospace & Defense, Agencies, Energy, Oil & Gas, Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC), Government Contracting, Healthcare, Management & IT Consulting, Legal, and Research & Development Deltek line of products provides solutions across a wide variety of professions and disciplines such as ERP solutions, business development, human resource (HR) and talent management, professional services automation, enterprise information management, and project and portfolio management.

Here is the list of Project Controls related products and solutions that Deltek provide:

Cost Solutions

Deltek Cobra

Compliant with ANSI 748, Deltek Cobra is the Earned Value Management (EVM) and cost management software application.

Deltek WInsight Analytics

WInsight Analytics analyzes cost and integrates Earned Value performance into your management process. It tracks and reports on program performance to deliver deep insight.

Deltek PM Compass

PM Compass provides a single, centralized view of project information, allowing you to manage and update from a single place. It is the one-stop portal or “Command Center” for your portfolio, programs, and projects, allowing you to view program alerts, actions, status, potential risks, and even accounting and financial data.

Schedule Solutions

Deltek Open Plan

Open Plan is an enterprise application for planning and scheduling of medium-to-large and/or multiple projects. Open Plan allows you to do multi-project analysis, critical path planning, resource management, and Risk analysis. With user-defined validations and real-time schedule quality analysis, Open Plan makes it easier for you to implement company best practices, PMO standards, or simple reminders of issues.

Deltek Acumen Fuse

Acumen Fuse is a diagnostic scheduling software that identifies and resolves schedule deficiencies. You can drill down through multiple levels (e.g., Work Breakdown) or by any other code or user field to quickly pinpoint potential issues with your schedule. Conversely, it allows you summarize detailed results and publish to project dashboards, executive briefings, and PowerPoint presentations with a click of a button.

Deltek Acumen 360

Acumen 360 is a schedule acceleration and decision support tool. You can generate scenarios and run “what-if” analysis in minutes for quicker project completion or restoration of project slips and delays with Acumen 360.

Deltek Collaboration

Deltek Collaboration is a team collaboration tool that enables you to deliver projects through easy document sharing, instant feedback, and automatic notifications.

Risk Solutions

Deltek Acumen Risk

Acumen Risk is a schedule and cost risk analysis software. It provides cost and schedule risk analysis against native project plans, links schedule risk to cost risk to determine the impact of schedule delays on project cost estimates, and combines the risk analysis & register for determining the most cost and schedule effective risk response plans.

Check more details about Deltek’s Project and Portfolio Management Solution here.

4. EcoSys

As part of the Hexagon PPM portfolio of products, EcoSys is an Enterprise Projects Performance software platform that helps you manage your portfolios, projects, and contract data in a central hub.

EcoSys consists of three integrated products:

EcoSys Contracts

EcoSys Contracts is contract management software that helps you in procurement planning, vendor & bid management, contract budget & cost control, contract change management, claim management & resolution, field progress management, and contract administration.

EcoSys Projects

EcoSys Projects is an enterprise integrated Project Controls software that provides the means to manage the project’s cost, schedule, change, risk, productivity, and performance data in an integrated platform, accessible via any web browser.

Here are some of the capabilities of EcoSys Projects that enable you to do the following:

Creating high-level or detailed project plans and charters to monitor and track progress.
Integrating schedule and cost data to create time-phased baselines and cash flow forecasts.
Developing detailed estimates from historical project data and unit rate libraries and convert the estimates to control budgets.
Generating resource demand plans and comparing availability to capacity managed in EcoSys Portfolios.
Change Management
Reviewing and approving of the changes using the EcoSys standard change management process or your own, via the web browser, mobile app, or even from the email.
Controlling threats, opportunities, and issues using standard monitoring, analysis, and mitigation techniques.
Applying any progress measurement method to calculate Earned Value based on industry standards, including EIA 748.
Forecasting project outcomes by selecting from standard forecasting methods or override based on expert judgment and updating time-phased forecasts in accordance with updated budget and schedule forecasts.
Creating meeting agendas, capturing action items, assigning responsibility, and using workflow to manage progress and status.

EcoSys Portfolios

EcoSys Portfolios is Project portfolio management software used for the prioritization, development, and oversight of opportunities, projects, and resources.

Using real-time data, you can understand the big picture and then quickly drill into details to identify root causes and drive corrective action.

Some of the capabilities of EcoSys Portfolios are:

Portfolio planning
Capital budgeting and planning to manage annual spending throughout the year and avoid unplanned spending
Benchmarking & concept estimating to help predict future performance
Funds management through project expenditure
Resource planning to balance the resource supply and demand
Pipeline management to identify and review all business opportunities

To get more information about EcoSys, check their website. You can also request a demo.

5. Elecosoft

Elecosoft provides a portfolio of software to support the construction process. It is used in construction projects from early conceptual design planning right through construction and facilities management. Combinations of Elecosoft software products help you do project planning/ scheduling, cost estimating, CAD/design, visualization, information management, engineering, and maintenance. Furthermore, you can do 4D and 5D BIM by linking your project schedules with cost plans and 3D models.

Here is the list of products and solutions that Elecosoft provides:

Project Planning/Scheduling

Powerproject

Powerproject (formerly known as Asta Powerproject) is a construction scheduling software. You can create professional schedules, and perform estimates and analyses to decide how best to allocate resources and funding. It also has an integrated BIM module, allowing 4D planning, and a Site Progress Mobile app for progress reporting.

Powerproject is quite popular in Europe, similar to what Primavera P6 is for the rest of the world.

It is available in stand-alone, enterprise and cloud versions.

Estimating

Bidcon

Bidcon is a cost estimating software built on an SQL server. It is designed for projects of varying sizes. It can be integrated with BIM and Powerproject, providing a 5D environment for costing and estimating.

In addition to these Project Controls software solutions, Elecosoft also offers software for Engineering, CAD/Design, Information Management, and Site Management. For more information, please check elecosoft.com.

6. InEight

InEight is Construction Project Management Software that supports projects from design to estimate and from field execution to turnover. InEight provides you with real-time information and insights, assisting you to manage risks, improve operational efficiency, control project costs, make educated decisions, and collaborate easily with all project stakeholders.

If you are looking for software to support you in managing your construction projects, read on more about InEight.

InEight has been developing software solely for the construction and capital projects industries for three decades. Through their collaboration with Kiewit’s construction and engineering expertise, they’ve tested the software against Kiewit’s real projects before offering their solutions to the market. InEight supports contractors, owners, and engineers working in Infrastructure, Oil & Gas, Mining, Building, Utilities, and Specialty industries.

Here is the list of products and solutions that InEight provides:

Project Planning & Scheduling

InEight acquired BASIS to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) in developing project plans.

InEight Basis uses Artificial Intelligence to assist and guide you through the project planning process. This construction planning software can capture insights and learnings from previous projects and use the stored knowledge to make informed suggestions during the planning process. InEight Basis also allows project team members to give their expert opinion through a very simple-to-use scorecard.

BASIS provides a balanced combination of Artificial and Human Intelligence to deliver a plan calibrated by historical knowledge, productivity rates, and standards and validated by experts in the field.

Project Cost Management

InEight Estimate

InEight Estimate is construction estimating software that can be used to create top-down or bottom-up estimates for projects of any size, across all construction markets and disciplines. You can also do benchmarking and trend analysis using InEight Estimate.

InEight Control

InEight Control helps you with budget management and real-time forecasting based on actuals received from the field. It brings together the critical budget, as-built, and what-if-forecasting tools, giving you control over every aspect of project cost management. InEight Control can be integrated with your scheduling software and ERP systems, as well as internally within other InEight software.

Connected Analytics

InEight allows you to have more visibility into the project’s progress and performance, using KPIs and metrics with access to real-time cloud-based reports and dashboards.

InEight Report

InEight Reports allows you to collect data from active projects and create reports, KPIs and project dashboard templates, and reports.

InEight Explore

InEight Explore enables you to perform detailed interactive analysis on your project. You can tailor standard dashboards with custom visualizations, metrics, and KPIs, without leaving applications. You can also connect data from InEight’s software to your own external reporting tools to blend information with your enterprise data sets.

Project Administration

The Project Administration solution of InEight facilitates contract management and change management processes for you.

InEight Contract

You can integrate field contract management activities with contract financials using InEight’s Contract management software.

You can manage your detailed contract information from supplier selection and buyout through closeout. This includes scope, budget, payments, accruals, issues, change orders, subcontractor communication, and much more.

InEight Change

With InEight Change, you can incorporate approved change orders in construction contracts, assess the impact of change requests on the budget and profit, and ensure the correct actions are taken to comply with every approved change.

Field Execution Management

The Field Execution Management solution of InEight is construction scheduling software that allows seamless planning and execution between the office and the field to help you meet deadlines, increase collaboration, and find business efficiencies.

InEight Plan

With InEight Plan, you can develop work packages and daily execution plans along with the required resources, such as labor, equipment, and materials.

InEight Progress

InEight Progress provides a mobile solution for a construction daily report that you can use to create and receive work plans, communicate to your crew and capture results at the end of the shift. It is the mobile complement to InEight Plan.

In addition to the above solutions, InEight comes with software on Document Management and Virtual Design & Construction.

To get more information about InEight, check ineight.com. You can also request a demo.

7. Oracle

Oracle offers a comprehensive and fully integrated stack of cloud applications and platform services. Among the long list of industry solutions that Oracle offers, Oracle Construction and Engineering products provide an extensive cloud-based project management platform that enables you to do collaborative project delivery, capital planning, cost control, enterprise project portfolio management, document management, payment management, and supply chain financing.

Here is the list of Construction and Engineering products that Oracle offers:

Project Delivery & Control

Oracle Aconex Products

Oracle Aconex products are cloud-based solutions for managing information and processes between companies on complex construction and engineering projects.

You can use these suit of products for collaborative project delivery- including document management, workflow automation, bid management, issue management, handover management,field management, and project controls.

Aconex also offers BIM file management and process control, field inspections and issues management and the creation and management of digital operations and maintenance manuals.

As a cloud-based solution, Aconex allows project members worldwide to create and review documents and other project information from any location. This includes RFIs, drawings, 3D models, contracts, reports and more.

A real-time dashboard allows you to set your KPIs and monitor essential activities from a single screen. It also supports third-party integrations, which allow you to sync data within applications simultaneously.

Aconex supports construction and engineering projects across multiple industry segments but is primarily designed for asset owners, developers, architects, engineers, general contractors, government contractors, heavy/highway construction firms and mining, power, and oil and gas companies.

Project Planning & Scheduling, Risk Analysis, & Project Controls

Oracle Primavera Products

Oracle Construction and Engineering’s Primavera software suite offers an easy-to-use cloud and on-premise applications for planning, scheduling, managing, and delivering projects, programs, and portfolios.

Oracle’s Primavera software suite includes Primavera P6, Primavera Cloud, Primavera Portfolio Management, Primavera Analytics, Primavera Unifier, Primavera Submittal Exchange, and Primavera Gateway and Integration.

Primavera software products applications spans over project scheduling, cost and project controls, portfolio management, construction document management, analytics, and risk analysis.

Projects & Resource Management

Oracle’s Instantis Enterprise Track

Oracle’s Instantis is enterprise project portfolio management (EPPM) software that helps you improve strategy execution and financial performance with more effective work and resource management. This end-to-end solution provides a top-down approach to managing, tracking, and reporting on enterprise strategies, projects, portfolios, processes, resources, and results.

With Oracle’s Instantis Enterprise Track, you can plan and execute project portfolio strategies centrally, manage demand and resource utilization across project portfolios, and monitor, report, and analyze work and project portfolio activity, status, and metrics.

Payment & Supply Chain Management

Oracle Textura Products

Oracle Textura cloud collaboration software solutions streamline and automate construction payment management and subcontractor pre-qualification process to improve project outcomes for general contractors, owners, and subcontractors.

To get more information about Oracle products and solutions, check oracle.com.

In Summary:

Here you go…Now you have the details of the top 7 integrated Project Controls software providers.

With this list, you may be wondering how you can select the BEST integrated Project Controls software for your projects or programs.

Well, in other posts I have covered in detail the steps you need to follow to select the BEST Project Controls software. Please check the resource section for more information.

A final note ….

If you have used any of the integrated Project Controls software that is listed here, please comment below and tell us about your experience.

If you’ve used other integrated Project Controls software that is not listed here but worked great in your projects, please share below.

Please comment below with any questions or comments you have on the topic.

If you found this blog post helpful, please give it thumbs up and share it with your connections. Thank you.

Resources:

For more resources on this topic, please check:

Project Control Academy – Video Interviews with Project Controls Tool Providers
Project Control Academy – How to Select The BEST Project Controls Software For Your Organization
Project Control Academy – Top 5 Features to Consider in Your Project Controls Software Reviews
Project Control Academy- The 5 -Step Proven Process in an Effective Project Controls Software Implementation
AACE® International Recommended Practice No. 94R-18- COST CONTROL SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

About the Author, Shohreh Ghorbani

Shohreh is the founder and director of Project Control Academy, the leading provider of comprehensive online training programs in Project Controls. Shohreh has served tens of thousands of professionals and several international corporations build their technical Project Controls knowledge and shave off years of trial and error in learning the vital skills in controlling their projects.

Shohreh is a licensed project management professional (PMP) recognized by the Project Management Institute (PMI) and holds a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering.

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