Hi

We are a small Internet Marketing company that has just reached the stage where we need to introduce a software package that we can all share to:

• Help the Project Manager manage his projects and resources
• Probably get the commercial staff to use it for quotes and planning
• Get everyone to use it for time sheets
• Etc

Naturally it goes against the grain spending too much but we don't want to have to use our own tech team to build one.

Advice please from people who have introduced one and how you went about choosing.

The team is 7 today but will grow over the next, say, three years to about 15 so it needs to be able to expand. At the moment we are 50:50 split between commercial and technical (PM in between) and this will grow in much the same pattern as we mix larger projects with CMS sites and Email systems from the growing sales team.

Thanks in anticpation

Tony Addison

Not sure if this is what you're after my friend.

As a company, we help to run and manage your business... online. It's part of a 6-step-process.

One of the processes is implementing a software package that our team created, and owns. Here is an explanation of that product:

Including contact management, a fully integrated e-mail system, plus accounting(General Ledger, Sales Ledger, Sales order processing, stock control...), document filing, diaries, other collobarative tools all online, accessible 24/7 from anywhere in the world.

As the system is web-based, there is no installation, or support issues. The good news is that for a limited period the system is being offered free of charge for a whole year, for less than 10 users. From after the first year, the ongoing cost is £60 pound a month for support, and development of the product.

There is also a income oppurtunity here, as referalls will be rewarded with half of the support fee being paid back to the referer once the £60pound support charge comes into effect after 12 months.

As well as that, there is another step, setting up the internet marketing department. Now you are already participating in this type of advertising, so we may not be able to offer much. However we have another product that ties in all of your networking sites, a place to store all passwords, tonnes of resources, and a place to store your affiliate links ect. This is additonaly all online..

If you would like to talk you can phone 01923 234 170, visit the blog on www.ips.co.uk (6 steps on the right). You don't have to participate in all 6 steps :) or you can e-mail myself, or Chris on  

Is this what you're possibly after?

I'm unsure of pricing but I've used INNATE some time ago. They've been around for years.

They use web based spreadsheets to store your data on a SQL Server or Oracle and can synch with MS Project. There's also web based reports ideal for remote collaboration.

http://www.innate.co.uk/

Thank you all for your replies and comments. We had already looked at Synergist (one of the more expensice), Pro Ad (used by a couple of our design partners and mid range) and the open source "project open".

Innate was new to me and thanks for the link. We are just starting to have a closer look at that and I'll let you know how we get on.

The problem for a small company has been cost related. Buying at the top end (could be as much as £2000 per head) does give you a system configured to work pretty much how we do. Using open source means a lot of changes and configuration - resource time we can ill afford. Unfortunately mid price, so far, does work how we want it to and is unlikely to be configurable to do so.

What I have found is that there is a lot out there that can do it, just needs someone to have done an e-consultancy report on the project. Ashley?

I'll let you know how we get on.

Thanks again

Tony Addison