Planisware Orchestra

Great app !

Avantages :

I particularly appreciate the integration of different features : project management, ressources management, budget, time tracking. We also implemented specific features apart from project development like non-conformity treatment, executive committee decisions management, customised reports

Inconvénients :

My company find it a bit expensive but it worth it. Needs a real training to get the full performance.

Orchestrating a plan

Avantages :

It's a versatile tool with lots of options for customization. I can see large or small organizations getting great use from the functions, with a careful assessment of your individual needs. Lots of ways to visualize progress on projects. It also has paths for simplifying the user experience for different members of the team. What I/we perhaps like most about the software is the ability to not only plan the project, but assign resources (allocate) at different increments (hours, % of FTE, days) - and to have that information push automatically to the individual owners of those allocations for task management and time reporting.

Inconvénients :

UI still needs some sharpening (and I've seen the teams improve on this since we signed on). Limited integrations with other commonly used software.

NQI Orchestra Review

Commentaires : We started with a new version of Orchestra : 7.0. This version wasn't mature and we faced many bugs.
Ramp-up is not easy (Planning, budget and Ressources management). Owerall, this tool is good, there are good ideas and functions. Now, the next step should be to simplify the User interface. Some idea : include more batch actions, simplify Planning > Gantt (only one view), simplify Project Ressource Management by displaying ressources need more easyly >> too many clicks to display ressrouces need.

Avantages :

- Integration between projects and ressources - Customisation with the Designer - Possiblity to export lists

Inconvénients :

- "Clicodrome". Too many click to do something. No possiblity to do "batch" actions in lists. - Timesheet workflow validation too restrictive - In project Budget and project ressource management no possibility to express the ressource need by competencies. Only ressource type is available >> too restrictive as a ressource can have only one "type". Most of organisation have ressources that can do many activities in projets (Project management and business analysis for exemple). Assign ressources by type is too restrictive. Real need to asign ressources by competencies.

Simple efficient and scalable

Commentaires : We stard with Planisware Orchestra in 2011. First to manage IT projects and then gradually to manage all IT activities. This tool has evolved a lot since 2011 and allows us today to manage the entire activity, workforces load and budgets forecasting.

Avantages :

Capapcity to manage large organizations and numerous resources. Easy to use without too many concessions on advanced features. Scalable solution both in terms of users and functionalities. Great local support (France). Suitable for RUN and BUILD activities. Numerous intégration possibilities (flat files, datamart, Reporting Tools, etc.)

Inconvénients :

Agility is not perfectly managed. Kaban could be smoother.

Very good tool, easily and intuitive to use on main functions.

Commentaires : The main benefits are in the simplicity of navigation and use for the end-users: very good design and organization of the activity with fast access to the interesting information for the different level of the organization.

Avantages :

Orchestra is tool very appreciated by the users. Its design is clear and intuitive, which allows the different users to navigate inside the tool after 1 hour of training. Its use is also sufficiently simple for the occasional users (1 time per month or less) to re-find the menu without a new reading of the user guide. The access is simple and efficient from a location. We use it to manage the R&D activity of several laboratories in the world with more than thousand users and several thousands of projects follow by the system. The simultaneous connection of several dozens of users induces no difficulty. Each one can make his job: his creation or updated of project information. This tool offers the possibility to add specific modules require by additional needs. Support team is rather efficient and provides a good assistance for small difficulty or misunderstanding. Nevertheless, the new developments require very accurate specifications from the final user in order to reach quickly the new functions.

Inconvénients :

There are no clear dark points about this software. Some specific attentions must be brought to the recording time (storage of the data) for specific functions. This time can increases with the number of manipulated elements or for specific functions. It is not a real issue, except in the case of long set of data recording.

Orchestra Review

Avantages :

I enjoyed how easy the software is to navigate, it is easy to switch between information such as projects, resources and users etc. I also believe exports are a key feature that I enjoy the most. For the work that I conduct, these exports are a critical function. Being able to easily grab the information that I need from the system in a ready-to-use format is incredibly helpful.

Inconvénients :

Currently, there are only 3 individuals in our organization that are actively utilizing the system. Once we roll out the software to a larger audience I believe I will be able to answer this question more adequately. However, I believe being able to customize your own reports and exports from the system could be greatly improved. Additionally, I feel that the dashboard customization could be improved to provide more in-depth customization and more granular details.

Good PPM tool, cover all the functionnalities needed, good relationship

Commentaires : Transparency and consistency of our information.
Consolidation of the data for analysis or understanding
Be able to have a live status of our project and take decisions based on that.
Manage the resources and distribute the work, valorize this one.
End-to-end chain of information management

Avantages :

The fact to have a mix of settings and specific. It permits to be autonomous and start to have a first platform usable very fast. And after, with our specificity as a large company, be able to develop some interface with other tools. Interface is really user friendy. Good evolution of the tool with better and better user interface and features. Good interface with Google permits to us to use our Electronic Document Management System, SSO,... Cover all the needs with good features from the demand to Project management, Portfolio management, indicators,... Great relationship with NQI

Inconvénients :

It's inside their roadmap, but today, portfolio management can be better, Risk management also, Demand Management, on the Stakes part is not perfect We would like to be able to have little bit more global control on the projects, state, bulk modification as administrator or user. Some names are not consistent everywhere inside the tool and need to be align But I know, link to their roadmap, all this work in on going

Great customized and local solution for project management in our ISO 17025 accredited laboratory.

Avantages :

NQI Orchestra software really meets our first requirements i.e. find a customized and local solution for project management. Then quality module has been implemented and used as well. It's a robust solution. After almost 2 years of daily use by the project manager and the quality manager and around 15 users, we have managed almost 190 projects of 2 weeks to 4 months duration; I would like to highlight that it has never shut down. We really appreciate the activity Stream; it constitutes a really help in follow up. Since we have learned how to create and use the Dashboard module, we like it!

Inconvénients :

- Installation and updates are not "friendly": it requires to paste files directly into core folders. Without internal IT support, that would be difficult to manage. - We decided not to use the document module because once documents are uploaded in the software, it is not possible to access them without using the software. - Generally, there are too many information displayed and today, it is not possible to remove some of them to get clear visibility of seeked information: e.g. Gant diagram.

Implementing Planisware Orchestra in a small Biopharma

Commentaires : The Planisware Orchestra team is knowledgeable, very easy to work with and are very collaborative in gathering requirements, deployment and providing on-going support. In addition Planisware has a lot of experience with Planning and Portfolio Management. Planisware has forums to discuss and share experiences and expertise with other users, they also implement improvements to their tools by listening to the needs of their customers

Avantages :

Orchestra is an all inclusive tool that allows for project and portfolio to be fully captured, managed and reported from - it can be the single source of truth when fully leveraged.

Inconvénients :

Orchestra currently has limitations in reporting out gantt views. The planning/gantt view for timeline management is a multistep process which decreases efficiency.

Usage in DEKRA

Avantages :

The time sheet recording is really easy to use

Inconvénients :

The general ergonomie should be improve, especially the planning management (GANT). Agile should be more integrated into the software.

opinion Planisware

Commentaires : Experiencia satisfactoria pero deben mejorar ciertos aspectos.

Avantages :

Tiene una gran variedad de funcionalidades que se adaptan a diferentes metodologías, sectores e industrias. Puedes gestionar desde la demanda hasta la ejecución, pasando por la planificación, el seguimiento, el control y el cierre de los proyectos .Permite una integración rápida y sencilla con otras aplicaciones web, gracias a su arquitectura basada en contenedores. Las soluciones se pueden implementar en las instalaciones del cliente, en la nube del cliente o como un servicio alojado y gestionado por Planisware

Inconvénients :

Su precio es bastante elevado en comparación con otras alternativas, sobre todo si necesitas usar muchas funcionalidades premium o realizar muchas tareas al mes .Su soporte al cliente no es muy eficiente ni amable, ya que a veces tardan mucho en responder, no resuelven los problemas o no hacen reembolsos

My remarks

Avantages :

ease of implementation and great freedom of customization

Inconvénients :

it is not possible to manage time on actions contained in tasks

Voo - project & program implementation

Commentaires : global orchestra experience is good. This tool is gathering all functionalities to manage any project on a daily basis
but I would like to increase my organization compliance through a deepest positive experience, but "con's criteria" are constraints to that goal (poor documentation, poor reporting, unsucceed collaboration, too much click) I really hope that planisware will invest to improve propduct in that way

Avantages :

User-friendly, functionalities very complete

Inconvénients :

- poor documentation to become Orchestra expert and support daily usage - heavy weakness on standard reporting - sometimes too much "click" to realize a basic project operation - project stakeholders collaboration is not enough succeed

Works for basic project management or those new to project management

Commentaires : Planisware was not very responsive during implementation to completing tasks, following up on items requested or issues found. They either don't respond at all or don't respond quickly through their service desk requests for issues, questions, upgrade ideas, etc.

Avantages :

The ability to customize stages and gates is great as it allows for different types of projects in one organization or for different organizations to all have completely different set ups. The initial project tasks are easy enough to set up.

Inconvénients :

There are always way too many steps in each process. It may be easy enough to figure out the process but it seems like most could be completed with less clicks from the user.

Good value for money and support

Commentaires : Planning, resource/capacity and budget management.

Avantages :

It is user-friendly, the user interface is intuitive

Inconvénients :

The poor performance with Internet Explorer/Edge

VWFS

Avantages :

Fluidity of softwre and visualization of data

Inconvénients :

Flexibility of reporting and adaptative reporting to our business

Project Manager

Commentaires : Data is being used as "The One Source of Truth" across the organization

Avantages :

Ability for all to see the same information across the organization.

Inconvénients :

Reporting needs improvement (gantts, etc.))

Zach Review

Avantages :

Very easy to use for allocation tracking and moving people around projects

Inconvénients :

The software can be finicky at times when taking people off of projects which leads to additional maintenance time