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Orbit
Architects, a 13 person Architectural and Interior Design practice
based in London have purchased Workspace mini from Union Square
Software, with additional modules for document control and timesheet
management. Workspace mini is a practice management solution
designed specifically for medium and small sized architects, engineers
and consultants. It enables practices to achieve all the benefits
of world class practice management in an out-of-the-box solution,
significantly reducing the time and cost associated with the
project.
Mark Lucas and the other Orbit Directors recognised a need to improve
access to information and quality control within the practice.
Mark comments, “We have spent some time developing QA procedures
within the practice and realised that we needed an information
management system that could formalise and control these
procedures. Despite simplifying these structures as best we can,
fee earners tend to subtlety manage information in their own way,
developing breaking down filing structures; which makes information
sharing a challenge.” Orbit needed a system that could
provide uniform access to knowledge; as the practice is starting to
grow again this is an ideal time to implement a new system.
Orbit assessed a few systems but Workspace mini proved to be the
perfect solution. Mark comments, “Workspace mini is simple
to use with a clear interface which we thought would appeal to
users. Also the system mirrors our existing processes which makes
the transition to using the system much simpler than some other
products we looked at. Workspace mini has been designed with the
way Architects actually work clearly in mind; it will enable us to
improve project delivery by increasing efficiency in information
access.”
Workspace will improve internal communications and enable Orbit to move
to self service information retrieval. Orbit will also be able to
use Workspace to demonstrate standardised procedures and help them to
achieve ISO 9001 accreditation. Workspace will eradicate many of
the information management issues that Orbit currently suffer from such
as misplaced emails, duplicated information and inconsistent filing
structures. Issues that all currently distract fee earners and
dilute efforts away from design work.
On the decision to implement Workspace mini, Mark was impressed with
the structure of the out-of-the-box solution; “Workspace mini
delivers the right amount of pre configured functionality and
customisable features, enabling the product to be implemented in a very
short time and with little consultation. Previously we were
deterred from implementing a practice wide solution due to the cost but
this solution enables us to achieve our goals within a realistic
budget.”
Director at Union Square Software Will Yandell comments, “We are
delighted to have Orbit Architects on board. The continued
success of Workspace mini represents the desire by practices to improve
the way they are working. Until now there has not been a solution
that can address all the information management requirements of a
practice at a reasonable cost. With the recent launch of
Workspace mini 2010, which makes available more Workspace modules in a
pre configured format and the launch of Workspace Project Accounting,
practices can integrate all aspects of their operation under one
system. We are looking forward to working with Orbit and other
practices in the industry.”
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About
Union Square Software
Based in Nottingham, UK, Union Square Software is the author of
Workspace. Workspace has been developed to provide organisations from
across the construction supply chain with real competitive advantage
through the pragmatic introduction of portal technology which enables
effective Knowledge Management. Workspace provides a range of solutions
for project centric organisations including: corporate database,
enquiry management, email management, document control and project
collaboration.
Union Square is taking part in the CARE Construction Adventure
Challenge 2010. For more information visit www.carechallenge.org.uk/constructionchallenge
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