MS Project Connector

Cardwell’s MS Project Connector Live for Connections Online IQ Users,

Automatically Synchs MS Project and Connections Online Projects

Cleveland, OHIO — January 31, 2011 — Cardwell, a strategy execution consultant and software developer of Connections Online software (COL), announces its MS Project Connector as part of the Connections Online IQ (COL IQ) Service, which is now live in beta. Going live with MS Project Connector means the “connector” syncs MS Project to department and enterprise projects within the Connections Online software. Connections Online clients can subscribe to the IQ service, which allows them to gain access to the MS Project Connector for seamlessly synching projects.

According to Karla Norwood, President of Cardwell, once a project is created in either Connections Online or MS Project, the Project Connector syncs with the new and updated project data.  Using the functionality of the MS Project connector, the project can sync back and forth between both applications each time the specified project is updated throughMS Project.

This “synching” back and forth allows project teams to update their own project work through the Connections Online interface.  The Project Manager can easily manage any project by pulling it into MS Project to update the data and then re-sync it. All updates are reflected in both “directions” – from MS Project using the connector and also from COL.

“Many IT departments and Project Management Offices are used to the sophistication of managing a project using MS Project, but typically only a few people use it because it is not very user friendly and it’s complicated,” states Norwood. “So if projects are run from MS Project, it is a lot of work for the project owner to keep it updated because they have to rely on emails, phone calls, etc. to keep the project tasks current that other people are accountable for completing. MS Project Connector, contrarily, makes things easier not only for updating, but also for reviewing status. Executives and project stakeholders can view the current status of the project “Just In Time” since the project is available online 24/7.”

For Cardwell’s Connections Online customers, as an example, they can create a project in MS Project and control it through MS Project.  The project team member now has the accountability to update their own work through COL’s interface – both people can use whichever is easiest to meet their needs.

In addition, if a vendor uses Excel or MS Project to implement its solution, it can now be synced with COL. The credit union can control its part of the project much easier.  Plus, the vendor is also accountable and can be asked to update accountabilities through COL or its MS Project plan.

“MS Project is the premier project management solution with every functionality imaginable for ‘going to the moon,’” states Jim Cardwell, CEO of Cardwell.  “With our ability to now sync it with MS Project Connector, MS Project becomes an ‘extension’ of our solution – which is a real ‘value-add.’”