PST Newsletter

1. ManagePro 9.5 Releases June 30th - check out two of the goodies we've stuffed inside

I'll try and give you a short description of the major advancements in each new feature, and also include a section on business value.  And yes, for those of you tracking us on delivery dates and promises, we decided to hold off releasing for a few more days (we were debating on releasing this week and decided we would like to test a few more days), but any of you that would like an upgrade this week can do so, just contact Jona (pst@managepro.com or (707) 487-3000) and she'll give you a link to upgrade.

1.  Automated Pull Data from Excel, Project and any ODBC compliant database

Description:  This feature is configured and launched from the Syncrhronization menu.    You'll find an informative "How to use" document at the link -> http://www.managepro.com/pdfs/DataPull.pdf.  Bottom line, you now have the capability to pull numbers, dates, and/or text from any cell in an Excel file, any field in a Project file or an ODBC compliant (ex.SQL, Access, Quickbooks) database.  It's very powerful and literally can be used to connect to and get updates from almost any other application you have running on your desktop.  

Business Value:  The uses for this are huge, but here's a few examples to think about:  Pull monthly financial data on sales, profits, overhead, etc from your accounting package to populate your scorecard dashboard; pull marketing and sales data from your CRM application; pull key numbers from your customer support or help desk application; pull dates and % complete from outside project management programs, etc...  More than ever, ManagePro sits ontop of all your other data to help you manage.

2.  Graphical Output of Progress Update Results Timeline

Description:  Have you ever needed to create a graph showing the trend of the results values that contribute to your scorecards?  I have, and in the past it always meant exporting the values to Excel, cleaning it up, and then creating a graph in Excel.  No more. 

Now you can use the handy right click option of Results History and display a graphical timeline of the trend that is driving your scorecard results.  It gets better than that, because using the configure button within the Chart, you can configure the graph to track two different User Results fields, filter and color to your preference.

But it gets better, you can also add the graph to your quick reports - imagine you print out your strategic scorecard and underneath each record you include a timeline chart as well.  You add charts by simply clicking the "Include Progress Update Results Chart" new option in the Quick Report window. 

Business Value: Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words, and charts are a very effective means of displaying trend over time. The combination with a traffic light scorecard is really powerful.  I think you'll also find that it become even more valuable when you track two results in the same series of progress updates.  As an example I track number of web visitors and number of conversions.  Seeing how they co-vary is very helpful.  Being able to change to view web visitors and budget is a single change to the configuration file, and now I have that graph as well.  Any progress update can be set up to track up to 10 User Results fields.  If you don't know how to do that, let us help you. 

That's just two of the new features.  I also need to tell you about:

3. Addition of email notification to the WatchList
4. Intuitive new Time Card entry options
5. Expansive, new Time Report addition to the Quick Reports,
6. Drag and drop of email is now supported into your calendar and User Lists
7. Complete rewrite of the Gantt Chart print functions, now supports plotters and large paper size
8. Screen decluttering tab configuration, only display the tabs you work with
9. Customize which progress update or todo columns you want included in a report and their width...

And I haven't even touched what's coming out in MProLite with this release.  I'll send you a complete run down of all the new features on Monday, June 29th.   Be sure you're ready to upgrade on Tuesday June 30th!


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2. Membership Site for ManagePro and MProLite users

Our new Membership Site for users launches July 1st.  I'll provide all the details on how to join and how it works in the 2nd part of this newsletter that you'll receive on Monday June 29th.  But let me go over three important features while I've got your attention for a moment.

1. We've boiled down all of our best practices into a step-by-step sequence for getting your entire organization to work smarter.   In six steps we guide you through exactly how to get the most out of ManagePro in a way that benefits your people and your bottom line.  You get access to all of our "lessons learned" behind the six steps and as part of the membership site we'll work with you until you have each mastered and in place.

2.  We're really excited about offering an extremely cost effective coaching service.  Everyone is stressed to get a lot done, and with the coaching service we come along side, shorten your learning curve, catch you from getting into bad habits and accelerate your ability to get value out of ManagePro.  And our coaching service is supported by an online calendar, so you can schedule what time works for  you.

3.  Finally our Membership Site provides a user forum when you can ask each other what works, what doesn't.  You'll find that it's a lot of fun to be able to connect with other users and extremely valuable as well.

All explain how it all works on June 29th, catch you then.

 

 

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Hope you're finding new ways to improve your business and help your people be more effective with ManagePro this June, and look forward to an even stronger July.

 
Rodney Brim,  Ph.D.
CEO Performance Solutions Technology
www.ManagePro.com/Blog

PS. Remember to be looking for the 2nd part of this newsletter on June 29th, the release of 6.5 on June 30th, and the kick-off to our new Membership Site on July 1st.