ProjectXpert 2017: Behind everysuccessful project, there is a plan.

Behind every successful building project is a plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Why use Gantt charts? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

The importance of using a project management tool designed for construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

The power of ProjectXpert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Our top 10 reasons for using ProjectXpert . . . . 7

Handy features of ProjectXpert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

The business benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

The software benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

First class customer support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Used by thousands of UK building firms . . . . . . 13

©HBXL Building Software Limited 2017.

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Please note

Every possible effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this documentis accurate at the time of publication, and HBXL Building Software Limited cannot acceptresponsibility for any errors or omissions, however caused. No responsibility for loss or damageoccasioned to any person acting, or refraining from action, as a result of the material in thispublication can be accepted by HBXL Building Software Limited and its authors.

Contents

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Why use Gantt charts?

Your Gantt will show you all the tasks involved in the project. It also shows who will be responsible foreach task and how long it will take.

It will show you visually if your build program is practical and any problems you might experience withlabour (under or over allocation) so you can problem solve before you start.

It will also help you work out which tasks need completing before others can start…and then work out a critical path.

As your project moves along it will evolve and a Gantt chart will help you monitor a project. You’ll beable to see immediately what should have been done by a certain date, and if you are behind scheduletake action to bring it back on track.

Importantly it provides better protection for you against litigation caused by delays. You can track actual progress v target and highlight changes which have impacted project delivery e.g. client changesto plans, bad weather or delays in supplier deliveries.

And as we mentioned earlier, communication is key to successful delivery of a project.

Behind every successful building project is a plan…

Running a building project is hard work. You have 10 balls in the air or 10 plates spinning all at once and you’re bound to drop one (or 3!) now and again. The problem is with building, they’re expensiveballs (or plates!) to drop.

To complete a project on time and on budget, you have to control a huge number of activities andensure they’re completed on schedule. Every ball that drops is likely to have knock on effects for therest of the project and it’s likely to be costly.

ProjectXpert enables you to see everything that needs to be done and when it needs to be completedby. And unlike a spreadsheet or scribbled notes, it shows you this visually. You have complete overviewof your projects and all their tasks.

Even smaller builder projects such as kitchen or bathroom fits, or back to back plumbing and heatingjobs can do with a good dose of planning to bring them in profitably and ensure you have full orderbooks throughout the year.

And it’s not just about organisation, it’s about communication. So many problems that occur on site(and with customers) are about communication, or rather lack of it. A clear Gantt chart shows everyoneelse what needs doing and when IN ADVANCE of when it needs doing. This gives the projectmomentum. Importantly it also communicates the impact of changes to the project on delivery.

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The power of ProjectXpert

ProjectXpert is aimed full square at building firms of all sizes. It’s not just the big players who have tojuggle multiple jobs. Maybe you have several extensions on the go at once? Maybe you do lots of smallinsurance jobs? Maybe you’re managing a 10 house site? For any project or projects you want to managemore efficiently, ProjectXpert puts you back in control.

Project planning for building firms.

Being tailor-made for the industry, ProjectXpert thinks the way you do. Simply list out the tasks, theirlikely durations when they start, when they’ll finish and if anything has to finish before another phase can start.

On top of which rather than simply listing costs like generic project management software would, itallows you to split the costs allocated to each phase into labour, plant and sub-contract. It also has lotsof functions specific to builders and will produce graphs and histograms to assist with cash flowmanagement throughout the job.

There are lots of reasons to use ProjectXpert, but hereare our top 10…

It’s easy!

And quick. Produce project build programmes quickly and efficiently

It’s designed specifically for construction projects (many project management tools aren’t)

It’s integrated with EstimatorXpress so that you can import your EstimatorXpress project into ProjectXpert to produce your ‘estimated build program’ in seconds

It shows clear reports on goals and achievements for the project team

Instantly see where resources are overloaded and forecast spend over time

Brings together multiple projects for optimal efficiencies across your entire workload

Keep track of actual versus your baseline build program

It comes with top notch support

It has cost effective licencing – and great pricing for additional users

1.2.3.4.

5.6.7.8.9.10.

The importance of using a project management tooldesigned for construction

There are of course many different project management packages out there on the market but most arenot designed for use on construction projects. Why does that matter we are often asked. Here’s why;

• Project management software designed specifically for construction is designed to be easy for abuilding firm to use – not someone building a sky scraper or a motorway!

• Software for construction works in days as well as weeks – after all not all jobs or phases go on forages. More often than not on small projects like extensions and renovation work different tradescome and go within days. And you need a package that can do that.

• Building projects need to breakdown organisation of build phases into materials, labour, plant,subcontractors by time and costs. Most project management software works on a top level ‘resource level’ and doesn’t break it down by resource type. The industry is unique in that way. And ProjectXpert is unique in that way too.

• On top of which, building firms often have multiple projects on the go, and you need a tool whichallows you to overlay projects to see the impact on your workforce, cashflow and just generalpracticalities of delivery.

• Not to mention of course you need decent support to back it all up. And HBXL do that too.

8 9

Mark up the % complete of your build phases

Add in essential tasks (sub-phases) for a phase to be completed

And of course there is easy printing!

Store a baseline of your build program to provide a snap shot of the original

Create a critical path to define which phases tobe completed before others can start

Identify the relationships between phases (dependencies)

ProjectXpert builds the chart as you go. It's really quick!

Assign resources (such as materials, labout or plant) to each taskto see where resources are over or under allocated

Track "built versus program" changes

Add in milestones - certain goals that need to be achieved

List the tasks that you need carried out by typing them in.Give each a description, start date and duration

Handy features of ProjectXpert

Enter comments as text toannotate the build program

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The business benefits

For any size building company

Whatever the size of your business, ProjectXpert will put you in complete control of all your daily,weekly and monthly tasks. The software is equally powerful for individual jobs or multiple jobs on the go at the same time so you know exactly what is going on and YOU stay in control.

Total business control

Manage your projects; don’t let your projects run you. Juggling resources, materials, finances andtradesman, there is always something to do and someone to speak to. When you’re in control of eachproject through effective planning you’ll reduce your stress levels and avoid complications such as over-ordering or unscheduled deliveries (or quite simply forgetting to order something in the firstplace!) A healthy business is dependent on clear thinking and fresh perspective. Too many hours spent working can be detrimental to both your health and your business.

Build your build programme – fast

Either build your build programme from scratch using the Project Builder Wizard (really easy!) orimport an existing job into ProjectXpert from EstimatorXpress for a professional Gantt chart – superfast!

EstimatorXpress, HBXL's estimating package, will associate your estimate to build phases inProjectXpert, itemising the work in detail. It also has lots of functions specific to builders and willproduce graphs and histograms to assist with cashflow management throughout the job.

Run profitable projects with fantastic efficiency

You might think that your spreadsheet and word processing systems are man enough for yourrequirements, but are they as profitable as they could be? Imagine being able to merge all the jobs you have on the go and see whether you can better utilise your labour, how your material is beingdistributed, where your equipment is on any one day. Or see the impact of changes on the program to completion? ProjectXpert has the tools to keep you budget and improve the profitability of yourbusiness.

Track changes to the project to avoid misunderstandings

Track tasks, finances and amends. Easily manage your project and track any agreed changes to the workin your build programme as the project progresses. Store a baseline to provide you with a snapshot ofwhat things should have been happening and when versus any changes later made to the programme to show 'as built versus programme’.

Impress customers. Stay on schedule. Stay on budget

Impress clients by supplying a professional build program at tender stage with your quote. Won the job?Most problems on site are the result of lack of information or miscommunication. Keep everyone inthe loop and manage expectations by determining whether you can work to the dates required.ProjectXpert will improve communication between you and your customers, your contractors and not to mention the bank manager.

Provides protection against client litigation

Let’s be honest. We will live in a litigious age. Protect yourself from litigation (being sued!) caused bydelays. Create a baseline of your project as a snapshot in time and then record on top all the detail ofthe delay e.g. late deliveries ordered by the client, poor weather, changes to plans or specification whichimpacted the project. ProjectXpert will record all this for you. And then if push comes to shove withyour client, you can demonstrate everything very clearly.

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The software benefits…

Easy to use

Templates to set up your build program fast

Draw tasks quickly with your mouse or type them in

Convenient drag and drop

Easy printing

Precise scheduling

Create phases and subtasks

Create and edit links either by typing or with your mouse

Critical path in a click

See the knock on impact at the end of the project

Customisable

Include your company logo

Change your bar or font colours

Customise your print

Add annotations to the chart

Share

Share the file between you, with additional multi-price licensing

Use ProjectXpert to read other project files such as those created in Microsoft Project

Export all your data to Microsoft Excel

Integrates with EstimatorXpress

Exclusive to our software is X-Connex® data sharing technology which exchanges information about ajob between software products.

Import an EstimatorXpress project into ProjectXpert to produce Gantt charts even quicker.

Also import your projects associated labour, material and plant costs.

As you make amends on the job then export back to EstimatorXpress to reschedule all your deliveriesand management reports.

Great value!

It’s cheaper than Microsoft Project

No ongoing subscriptions like Cloud applications – it’s yours!

First class customer support

We understand that moving from manual methods of project management (paper based, spreadsheet,or even magnetic bars on the office wall!) can seem a bit daunting.

We place first class customer support as our top priority which is why we provide an online supportdesk, telephone support, video tutorials and much, much more to get you started.

You can

• Call us on 0117 916 7899

• Visit the online support desk Help.hbxl.co.uk

• Email us at support@hbxl.co.uk

Used by thousands of UK building firms

We have more successful Building firms, Contractors and Trade Subcontractors using our range ofsoftware throughout the UK than any other building software, and are the winner of multiple awardsyear on year and that’s why we won Best Project Management in the UK Business Awards 2017 forProjectXpert.

We’re ready to helpTRIEd and TRUSTEd

Visit www.hbxl.co.uk Call us on 0845 1234 065or 0117 916 7898

Our website is packed with information, samples, videos and case studies, alongwith a full calendar of events and webinars you can sign up for – plus instant waysto arrange a complimentary 14 day trial or no-obligation online demo.So visit www.hbxl.co.uk today!