Tracker Suite 5.1 for Projects Released

Automation Center Upgrades Tracker Suite for Projects, Providing More Powerful Project Management via Lotus Notes

Version 5.1 Enhancements Include New Resource Management Capability, 100% Web-Enabled Architecture, Import/Export Support for Microsoft® Project

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL (January 31, 2002) - Automation Centre ( www.Acentre.com), a leading provider of advanced team collaboration software, today unveiled a significant upgrade for Tracker Suite® for Projects, the company’s comprehensive project management suite of products for the Lotus Notes®/Domino® platform. Now known as Tracker Suite® for Projects 5.1, the solution’s feature improvements include a substantially better resource management capability, enhanced project workflow tools, better meeting coordination, a 100% Web-enabled architecture, and much more.

Tracker Suite for Projects 5.1 (fully described at www.TrackerSuite.com/Projects) is a total Professional Services Automation (PSA) solution that automates the key functions driving the business services lifecycle. Comprised of eight distinct yet integrated modules, Tracker Suite for Projects 5.1 enables project managers, supervisors, senior executives, and others to utilize human resources more effectively, reducing the total cost of labor and improving execution of projects across the extended enterprise.

"Today, resource managers and project supervisors have to have a much broader perspective on resource utilization than ever before,” said Steven Birchfield, president of Automation Centre. Tracker Suite for Projects 5.1 gives these executives improved flexibility in allocating talent, new capabilities for collaboration, and greatly increased mobility via the software’s new Web orientation. Tracker Suite for Projects 5.1 is a total solution regardless of project complexity, plus its familiar Lotus Notes/Domino interface gets employees up and running in no time."

New Resource Management, Workflow Features

Among Tracker Suite for Project’s 5.1’s major upgrades is an improved ability to manage labor and other corporate resources. Using the suite’s Project Tracker ( www.TrackerSuite.com/Project) and Personnel Tracker ( www.TrackerSuite.com/Personnel) modules, for example, managers can easily assign personnel to projects, view updated head counts, and track percentages allocated or utilized on various assignments. Integration with Tracker Reports (www.TrackerSuite.com/Reports), now improved with graphical reporting capability, allows generation of up-to-the-minute reports for real-time management review.

To optimize project workflow, Tracker Suite for Projects 5.1 now offers an enhanced Tracker Workflow engine that lets users prepare for anticipated projects. This valuable feature allows managers to see problems before they occur, giving them the opportunity to speed up or slow down processes and keep their departments running efficiently.

100% Web Enabled, Including XML Support

For greater mobility as well as increased integration with core systems, Tracker Suite for Projects 5.1 now offers XML Web support and total Internet capability. The suite’s e-based Tracker Mail module ( www.TrackerSuite.com/Mail) supports the powerful filing, calendar, and scheduling features of Notes, allowing coordinators to send To Do items, appointments, and meeting invitations in seconds to any Web-enabled contact point.

Also via Notes, users can use the Intranet, Internet, or other external system to coordinate and accelerate reporting of key internal processes. Time Tracker ( www.TrackerSuite.com/Time), Expense Tracker ( www.TrackerSuite.com/Expense), and Purchase Tracker ( www.TrackerSuite.com/Purchase) provide fast, efficient gathering of information using intuitive "In" and "Out" box interfaces. Customer Tracker ( www.TrackerSuite.com/Customer) lets users maintain and share detailed customer contact, service, and sales data.

Complete Import/Export Capabilities

Adding to the versatility of Tracker Suite for Projects 5.1 is its import/export support for Microsoft Project, enabling MS Project users to communicate and transfer data easily with other parties. What’s more, Tracker Data Warehouse, the suite’s single-point repository and business intelligence engine, provides total import/export integration with legacy Microsoft SQL server and Oracle database systems. With Tracker Data Warehouse and Tracker Reports, it’s easy to generate trendline and other work performance summaries for management analysis.

Easy Interface With Tracker Suite Modules

Tracker Suite for Projects 5.1 easily integrates with all modules in the Tracker Suite family of professional services automation products, including Tracker Suite for HR, Tracker Suite for Sales, and Tracker Suite for IT. Custom application services can be implemented upon request.

Automation Centre is demonstrating Tracker Suite for Project, along with its other Tracker Suite automation products, at the company’s Lotusphere 2002 Product Showcase exhibit, Booth #116. Interested parties will also find a full explanation of Tracker Suite for Projects and Automation Centre’s other office automation products at www.Acentre.com or www.Trackersuite.com.