Frequently Asked Questions
Product Related
What is Aceicon Project Server (APS)?
APS is enterprise project management (EPM) software solution that enterprises can use to manage their project portfolios. The software is available as full licensed version for in house installation and use or as a service so companies can subscribe to it on an as needed basis.
APS can be used for complete project management and team collaboration needs. Project can be managed, tracked and controlled using the software. Team members can view their tasks and update their task status. Managers can review and merge status updates. Customers and stakeholders and executives can view project status online. Resources can be managed at the enterprise level and assigned to projects from resource center. Multiple projects can be managed in the software. APS can used by globally distributed teams as it is available 24X7 and has multiple language and time zone support.
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How does Aceicon Project Server help in collaborating with team members?
Aceicon Project Server provides a common platform for project manager, customer, team members for project management, review, status monitoring and discussions. Managers can create or publish their plans in the server. Team member can access the server and review their task assignments. They can update task status and these can then be merged by project manager into the project plan. Issues and risks can be raised by project team for review of project manager, customer.
APS has inbuilt features that help in team collaboration like messaging, forums, smart alerts etc. Messaging provides a private mailbox to each user that he can use for communicating with other team members. Forums are available for discussion on various project related topics. Alerts or messages can be setup to notify users of task assignment, changes, status updates and other such functions.
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How do I import a Microsoft project plan file (.mpp) into APS?
This can be accomplished using ‘Import MS Project’ menu in the Project Center module of APS. This menu brings up an easy to use wizard to import mpp file. The wizard imports the project including tasks and resources. Login ids are automatically created for the resources in the project.
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Do I need to use Microsoft Project software for working with APS?
No. You can create a project in APS itself, there is no need to import mpp file. However, if you are already using mpp files for building your plans, APS allows you to import these files so that you don’t have to build the project again.
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Can I manage multiple projects in APS?
Yes, APS is designed to handle this. You can work on multiple projects as long as you are assigned to these projects. You can easily switch from one project view to another.
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How is resources assignment to projects done in APS?
In APS, resources are managed and controlled at enterprise level. Only a resource manager (or a person with appropriate role permissions) can view all enterprise resources. He can review their project assignment, availability, and assign them to projects. Project manager can’t use any of the enterprise resources on his own. He can only use those resources in the project that have been assigned to the project by the resource manager.
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Can I add tasks in a spreadsheet mode like in Excel?
Yes. Task Center allows you to add tasks using inline editing in spreadsheet as in MS Project.
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Can I setup project calendar with holidays for correct and easier scheduling?
Yes. You can setup a calendar for each project. Project calendar is automatically used when scheduling tasks.
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How do I track project progress?
As a project manager, you can view and update the tasks yourself. However you can set permissions for your team members to to view the current status of project and their tasks. Team members can be given access to send their task status to their manager. Tasks status sent by team members are not merged into the plan until you accepts these updates. Project managers can baseline their projects to monitor variances at the project level. Project Status as Green (On track), Yellow (Warning State) and Red (Danger State) can be defined at enterprise level or project level and APS automically reports the project status as variance from baseline based on the definition. Once updated, project manager can lock the project for further edits. This blocks any unnecessary/unwanted changes from going in until next reporting period. Executives or senior management can review the projects in Dashboard or project center with graphical indicators to help them identify delayed projects to focus on. Dashboard also provides executives a summary of the project with status, issues, risks etc.
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How do I manage issues and risks?
APS has inbuilt module that allows you to do issue and risk management. In addition, issues and risks can attached to tasks, timesheets, status reports objects for communicating the associated issues and risks with these objects.
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As a project manager, can I request status reports from my team?
Yes. Project managers (or a person with appropriate role permissions) can request status reports from their team members. APS comes with form to make these requests and users see these requests in their status request inbox so that they can respond to it.
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Can I give textual reports about my project progress?
APS comes with Status report module that allows users to give status reports of their work. You can include highlights, lowlights, next period objectives, issues and risks in the report. You can attach Status reports to timesheet or vice versa for easier communication.
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Can I report my weekly hours using timesheet?
APS allows reporting your weekly hours using timesheet. Users can add import their tasks from the plan or add ad hoc tasks.
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As an executive, can I view summary of all projects running in our enterprise?
APS Dashboard allows multiple views of the same data. Executives can be given access to Enterprise summary view of the dashboard. In this, they can view multiple projects summary with graphical indicators. Executives can also be given access to Project Center, Task Center and Issue and Risks modules for them to drill down into details if they like.
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Trial and Signup
How can I evaluate your product?
We advise looking at the Quick tour videos, screenshots and then registering for a trial. Upon acceptance of registration, you are mailed access details of the Demo version of the product. This has limited features but enough to give you complete understanding of how the product features and operations. You can access the Demo version on internet using your browser and check it out at your convenience. At present, demo version is available for use for 15 days and for limited projects and users. During the trial of our product, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us by one of the mediums as indicated on the
Contact page.
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What is the process to sign up?
If you have decided to sign up for our product, we request you fill up the form on
Buy page and someone will contact you to complete the formalities. Note: If you have just evaluated our product, you can send us an email to get the account directly converted to a paid account and continue to use the data you already added. However if you evaluated our product sometime back, we will need to provide you a fresh registration and database.
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Data and Security
Where is my company's data stored?
In house installation of the product can be done on the server of your choice. The hosted version is housed on a high end server in a world class data center. Your data is stored on our server and privacy and security is ensured.
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How can I be sure that my data shall be kept private?
Hosted version - We are committed to keeping your data private and secure. We do not share or distribute your data except as provided in the our Terms of Use or may be as required by law.
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How frequently is my data backed up?
Hosted version - Your data is backed every night and stored in a separate location. In case of issues, most recent backup data can be restored.
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Implementation
What is the implementation process?
Hosted version - Upon your sign up, we provide you admin access details for using the software. Using these details, you can define roles and add users who will use the software. You can also setup other project management related items like company calendar and variance definitions etc. The whole process of implementation can generally be completed within 24 hours.
In House installation and implementation - The process here is to install the software first and then configure it as per the organization needs. The time to complete the process varies depending upon the specifc needs of the organization.
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Is any training required to use the product?
Our product is very easy to use and it can be picked up very easily. The product has an inbuilt user guide to help you. In general, trainings are not required to use the product. However, if you feel need of training, we can provide training at a separate cost through internet sessions.
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Licensing
How is licensing charged?
Hosted version - The charges are for usage per user per month. The charge is only for "active" users. An Active user is one who account is active and can access the product. You can add as many users as you like but at any point in time your active users shouldn't exceed the number of user licenses you purchased. You can yourself deactivate some users when a project is over and add new active users for new projects keeping the number of licenses the same.
In house licensed version - Please contact us for queries regarding this.
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Do you prorate license charges based on numbers of days of use?
Hosted version - Minimum charge is for a month, we don't prorate based on number of days of usage in a month.
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What is your refund and cancellation policy?
Hosted version - We do not offer refunds. The minimum commitment for the hosted service is 1 month. You can cancel your service any time. We don't prorate and issue refunds based on number of days of usage in a month.
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