All posts by chris.vandersluis

timecontrol

Birdview Link now a part of TimeControl

Birdview / TimeControl integration, Chris Vandersluis, Christopher Vandersluis, Christopher Peter VandersluisA few months ago, we were proud to announce a new Strategic Alliance Partnership with Birdview PSA.  This world-class project management system serves integrated project management functionality to clients worldwide.

Now, we are delighted to announce that in the recently released TimeControl version 8.6.1 we have included a bi-directional link to Birdview.  The TimeControl development team has worked with the Birdview technical team to achieve this new TimeControl integration.  This is now a part of both TimeControl on-premise and TimeControl Online

The Link was created using TimeControl’s Link technology and Birdview’s full function API.  With help from the Birdview team, the TimeControl developers were able to add Birdview as one of our standard out-of-the-box integrations making it available for on-demand or automatically scheduled integration.

The new Link moves Project, Task and Assignment information from Birdview from one or multiple Project Spaces.  The Link can be configured to check Birdview regularly and automatically add new projects to TimeControl when they appear.in Birdview.

Once in TimeControl, timesheet data is entered as always and the Link can return to Birdview both hours and estimate to complete (ETC).  The hours are posted in Birdview through the Time logs history function so that Birdview can use the hours with their own time and billing rates.

The combination of these two products produces a powerful system where the flexibility of TimeControl’s multi-purpose collection and analysis of auditable actuals can be used for Finance, government compliance, job-costing and other needs and the Birdview project management system can be updated without needing time entry in more than one place.

You can find out more about the new Birdview Link and see it in action on the TimeControl site at: Timecontrol.com/use-cases/birdview.

You can find out more about the link on the Birdview site on their Integrations page at: birdviewpsa.com/integrations/timecontrol/.

If you’d like more information how the TimeControl/Birdview combination would work for you, please contact HMS at: Timecontrol.com/contact.

timecontrol

TimeControl Online now upgraded to 8.6.1 for all SaaS clients

The TimeControl version 8.6.1 upgrade cycle is now complete with all TimeControl Online, TimeControl Industrial Online and TimeControl Project clients now upgraded for all clients with a small number of exceptions.  In some limited cases,  clients were upgraded only in their sandbox instances with their production instances scheduled to be upgraded in the next few weeks according to a set schedule by the technical department.

For all subscribers of TimeControl Online, TimeControl Industrial Online, TimeControl Project and users of the free TimeControl Mobile app, this update includes numerous new and enhanced features including:

  • Links to Birdview PSA
  • Links to Microsoft Planner
  • Scheduled Shifts
  • Start/Stop now available on Mobile
  • Start/Stop now available on Crew Timesheets
  • Material Debit/Credit
  • Timesheet Sign-off for employees when entered by others
  • So much more…

For a more detailed list of what is included in TimeControl 8.6.1, please visit TimeControl.com/features/latest.

 

timecontrol

You can take that to the bank!

TimeControl Vacation Banks, Chris Vandersluis, Christopher Vandersluis, Christopher Peter VandersluisIt’s the start of year and time for the HR department to be sure that it has reconciled and reset if necessary all time-off banks.  This is a part of TimeControl’s Banks features.

Since the very earliest days of TimeControl, there has been an ability to track time off.  This was in keeping with our commitment that TimeControl be able to track not just project and task time but also non-project time.  A complete view of the week’s activities has to track not just the time spent on projects, not just the time spent on non-project activities but also the time not spent at all.  Time off.

In some organizations, a completely unique timesheet is created for HR to track this kind of time.  It is often called an “exception” timesheet as it tracks only the exceptions or only the time the employee wasn’t at the office.  TimeControl handles all that within the same system.

TimeControl’s remarkable flexibility allows for multiple individual banks of time to be tracked.  There can be time for vacations, time for sick leave, time for personal time off and as many more banks as might be needed. There are nine banks by default.  TimeControl can then be configured to load up that time in different ways.  HR departments can manually empty and reset the banks at the start of the year. Or, banks can be loaded over time using the TimeControl Accrual function to enter time earned fore each category.  As time is earned, time goes into the bank. As time is taken, time comes out of the bank.

The Banks Detailed View and Detailed View report lets HR managers and supervisors see all transactions in and out of the banks at any time.

Once a year though, right around now at the start of the year, most HR departments do a review of the bank to make sure it is accurate and, if needed, reset to meet the organization’s rules.  Some organizations let time be earned and saved over the next year.  Some make that time be used or expire.  Each organization is a little different.

So, as people start thinking of their upcoming holidays, making sure they know how much time is in the bank is critical.

For more information on managing banks, go to: the TimeControl HR Solutions page at: TimeControl.com/use-cases/human-resources.

For information on TimeControl Accruals go to: TimeControl/Features/Accruals.

For information on Vacation Requests, go to: TimeControl.com/Features/Vacation-Approvals.

timecontrol

Welcome to 2026 and an exciting year to come!

Welcome 2026, TimeControl, Enterprise Timesheet, Chris Vandersluis, Christopher Vandersluis, Christopher Peter Vandersluis2025 was a great year for HMS and 2026 is shaping up to be even more exciting!  There is a lot going on that we’ll be sharing with our TimeControl community in the coming days.

First of all, we are in the middle of the TimeControl version 8.6.1 launch.  The product is already available for TimeControl on-premise and TimeControl Industrial clients and in the next two weeks our TimeControl Online, TimeControl Industrial Online and TimeControl Project clients will get upgraded automatically and will be able to enjoy the new and improved features.  See What’s new in TimeControl 8.6.1 to see a list of what has changed.

Next, there has been lots of press about HMS and TimeControl lately.  We’ll talk about that more in a separate blog post but we were delighted to find ourselves in International Business Times over the holidays.

And there is so much more.  Look for a new blog post in the coming days about the link with the Birdview PSA project management solution.  The Link is now part of TimeControl 8.6.1 and we are working with Birdview to make sure everyone knows about it.

It’s going to be a very exciting year and it’s just getting started!

timecontrol

Merry Christmas and Happy holidays from your TimeControl team

TimeControl Happy Holidays 2025, Chris Vandersluis, Christopher Vandersluis, Christopher Peter VandersluisWe are nearing the end of a remarkable 2025 here at HMS Software.  It would not have been possible without the help of so many so we’d like to thank all of our clients, our colleagues and friends and wish you all a safe, healthy and happy holiday season.

HMS will have holidays hours over the next week as follows:

  • Wednesday December 24 HMS offices close at noon
  • Thursday, December 25 – Office closed for Christmas
  • Friday, December 26 – Office closed for Boxing Day in Canada
  • Monday, December 29 – Regular hours
  • Tuesday, December 30 – Regular hours
  • Wednesday, December 31 – Office closes at noon
  • Thursday, January 1 – Office closed for New Year’s Day
  • Friday, January 2 – Office closed
  • Monday, January 5 – Office opens with regular hours
timecontrol

TimeControl 8.6.1 now available!

TimeControl 8.6.1, Chris Vandersluis, Christopher Vandersluis, Christopher Peter VandersluisWe are very excited to announce the launch of TimeControl version 8.6.1.  This version of TimeControl includes a surprising number of exciting new features layered onto the already established TimeControl 8.6 architecture.  There are changes to be enjoyed in TimeControl on-premise, TimeControl Industrial on-premise, the free TimeControl Mobile App and as it is upgraded in the coming weeks TimeControl Online and TimeControl Industrial Online.

Here are just a few of the new and improved features to enjoy:

Included integration with Birdview PSA

Birdview PSAWe have an all-new integration with Birdview.  HMS and Birdview established a strategic alliance earlier in 2025 and the two development teams collaborated on adding a bidirectional link to Birdview from within TimeControl.  This allows this powerful project planning system from Birdview to integrate with the TimeControl multi-purpose auditable timesheet system making a powerful combination.  The TimeControl team was able to leverage the extensive Birdview API system to allow data to flow between both products.  As an added bonus, both Birdview PSA and HMS Software are Canadian-based so this is an all-Canadian solution. Find out more on the Birdview Solution Page.

New Integration with Microsoft Planner

With Microsoft announcing the end of life date for Project Online, we have several clients concerned about what direction to take for future integrations with TimeControl.  We support numerous project management systems of course. Microsoft is suggesting to its clients that one option is for them to migrate to Microsoft Planner.  TimeControl will now include an integration with Microsoft Planner.  We have supported every version of Microsoft Project since 1995.  So this update should be no surprise. Find out more on the Microsoft Planner Solution Page.

Increased Language Support

TimeControl timesheet list in Japanese, Chris Vandersluis, Christopher Vandersluis, Christopher Peter VandersluisWhile TimeControl has been multilingual since its very first version in 1994 (We are headquartered after all in a bilingual part of the planet), we have not supported 2-byte characters in our translations in the past.  With this version that now changes and we will include Japanese, Chinese, Turkish and Arabic as new languages out of the box.

Start/Stop

There are numerous enhancements to the Start/Stop functionality.  First of all, it will now be available in both regular individual timesheets and TimeControl Industrial’s Crew timesheets. It will also be available in the free TimeControl Mobile App for both individuals and crews.

And there is so much more

Improvements in the link with Oracle Primavera, a new Sign-off module, a new Shift module to save default schedules, alternate users in the free TimeControl Mobile App, Material Debit/Credit in TimeControl Industrial and even more.

You can see the full list of new and enhanced features at www.timecontrol.com/features/latest.

Availability

The launch of TimeControl 8.6.1 will happen in phases.  The on-premise version for TimeControl and TimeControl Industrial is available now for all clients with an active TimeControl Support agreement.  Simply go to www.timecontrol.com/support/ and click on Updates.  You will need to log in.

For subscribers to TimeControl Online, TimeControl Industrial Online and TimeControl Project, updates will be scheduled automatically in mid-January.  Subscribers will be informed from inside the application of when the upgrades for their system will be scheduled.

For more information contact HMS at info@hms.ca.

 

timecontrol

TimeControl named Most Reliable Timesheet Solution Provider

Silicon Review Magazine has awarded TimeControl it’s Most Reliable Timesheet Solution Provider Award.  The magazine listed HMS Software, publishers of TimeControl as the top listing of their 2025 finalists.

We are delighted at TimeControl’s recognition and think of it as a testament to the TimeControl Team and our partnership with so many of our customers.

Along with the award, the magazine featured an interview with our President, Chris Vandersluis which can be found here.

You can download a PDF of the article, by clicking download.

timecontrol

HMS and Birdview PSA form strategic alliance.

Birdview, Birdview PSA, Chris Vandersluis, Christopher Vandersluis, Christopher Peter VandersluisWe are very excited to announce a new Strategic Alliance between HMS Software and Birdview PSA.  Birdview is a Canadian-based project management software publisher and the Birdview and HMS teams have committed to creating a new link between TimeControl and Birdview in the upcoming release of TimeControl.

The link between TimeControl and Birdview would see the project, task, resource and assignment information transfer from Birdview into TimeControl and then the timesheet hours and estimate to complete transfer from TimeControl into Birdview.

Both technical teams have already engaged in the work.

Aside from another link with a global project management software supplier, there is an additional bonus in having both HMS and Birdview be Canadian suppliers, making an all-Canadian solution for our existing and prospective clients.

You can read the full press release on the Alliance here. To find out more about Birdview, go to birdviewpsa.com.

For more information on this link, contact HMS at TimeControl.com/contact.

timecontrol

TimeControl welcomes new dealer for Spain and Turkey

PRM Yazilim, Chris Vandersluis, Christopher Vandersluis, Christopher Peter VandersluisHMS is delighted to announced the appointment of PRM Yazilim as a TimeControl Dealer for the countries of Turkey and Spain.  PRM joins a large network of TimeControl strategic, alliance and reseller partners around the world, making the technical reach of TimeControl more global.

“I’m very excited by the addition of PRM Yazilim to our TimeControl Dealer Network,” explains Chris Vandersluis, President of HMS Software.  “As a company with strategic project management experience spanning decades, we are already highly aligned on our technical background and prospective clients.”

PRM operates as an Oracle Primavera P6 Specialized Partner and providing a full range of Oracle Construction and Engineering offerings, training and consulting services.

“We possess a vast experience in the fields of project controls, scheduling and risk management,” says Nihat Yıldırı, General Manager of PRM.  “Our team can really make a difference when customers are looking for ways to transform their project processes. We are here to work with business partners who need someone who understands their business and pains. We have represented Primavera project management solutions in Turkey since 2003”

TimeControl will add to PRM’s extensive representation of supply and deployiment of project and portfolio management solutions.

“Including TimeControl in the products we offer is a natural extension of what we already do,” explains Yildiri. “TimeControl’s link to the Primavera project management solutions is already established and has been in existence for decades.  We believe that we can extend what we already do with our clients and prospective clients who need Primavera to include TimeControl’s multi-purpose and auditable timesheet system in a win for everyone.”

Adding TimeControl to Primavera for PRM will bring to their clients and prospective clients extra functionality and process ability including Crew timesheets, Material, Equipment and Production realization to Field Data Collection, Unlimited Rate Codes and management and much more.  PRM expects to offer TimeControl, TimeControl Online, TimeControl Industrial and TimeControl Industrial Online as well as TimeControl’s free mobile app for Android and Apple devices.

Information on PRM can be found at https://www.prmyazilim.com/en/ or contact HMS at https://www.timecontrol.com/contact for more details.

 

We PRM, representing Primavera project management solutions in Turkey since 2003, has vast experience in all project oriented industries and continues to work with several companies for addressing project management needs. Since 2009 when Primavera Systems acquired by Oracle, we are operating as an Oracle Primavera P6 Specialized Partner and providing full range of Oracle Construction and Engineering offerings, training and consulting services.