Chris Vandersluis, HMS Software’s president will once again be speaking at the prestigious ProjectWorld Canada Conference in Toronto on June 3rd and 4th. He will be presenting a paper entitled “Cancelling a project without cancelling your career on Monday June 3rd and then will be part of a panel on when to apply Agile project management methods on June 4th. ProjectWorld / Business Analyst World Canada will be held this year at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. For more information on the conference, visit http://projectworldcanada.com.
Performance tips on TimeControl with Symantec
It’s impossible to test every combination of browsers and virus scanners when we release TimeControl. Our most common configuration in the office is either Internet Explorer or Firefox with AVG as the virus scanner. We know that the incredible number of possible virus scanning options, firewall options, network protection options and other settings in your operating system, server operating system and supporting technology can have an effect on TimeControl. As we hear good tips from clients or consultants who find settings that are a problem, we’ll pass them along here in the blog.
These notes are in no way an endorsement or condemnation of any product mentioned. We do not promise that these settings will work for you, for the version of the software you are using or that the use of these options will not compromise your security. Your system architecture and your network systems are your business. These notes will be simply areas we are recommending investigating if you believe they may affect you.
We’ve had a note from a client recently regarding the use of TimeControl 6 with Internet Explorer and Symantec Endpoint Protection 12.1.2015. One of our clients has reported that disabling the option: Network Threat Protection Settings-> Intrusion Prevention -> “Enable Browser Intrusion Prevention”, the performance of the TimeControl web pages increased dramatically.
If you have combinations of products and/or settings that you use that have improved (or degraded) performance of TimeControl, please send them along to support@hms.ca.
HMS Renews key technical alliances with Microsoft and Oracle
Microsoft / TimeControl Resources Portal
HMS recently renewed its Microsoft certifications in the Enterprise Project Management / Portfolio Project Management and t he Independent Software Vendor competencies. As a Silver partner in the Microsoft Partner Network, this renewal makes the 9th consecutive year that HMS has been officially designated as a Gold or Silver partner. Yet, the relationship with Microsoft was established long before this. With the first release of TimeControl for Windows in 1995, HMS became one of the first Microsoft Project Solution Partners and has had a continual relationship with the Microsoft Project team since.
The references between HMS and Microsoft are so numerous that HMS has recently established a central portal with links to a wide range of webcasts, links, white papers, factsheets and other collateral. This new TimeControl / Microsoft portal can be found at Microsoft.timecontrol.com.
Oracle / TimeControl Resources Portal
HMS has also recently renewed as a Gold Certified Partner in the Oracle Partner Network. The relationship with Oracle started from multiple directions in the 1990s. HMS was an Oracle Technology Partner and many clients had deployed TimeControl with Oracle Financials, JD Edwards and PeopleSoft ERPs. These products would all become part of the Oracle family. HMS became a Primavera technology partner in 1997 and there has been a continuous link between TimeControl and Primavera since. Primavera is also an Oracle company.
HMS and Oracle have many points of contact and to help clients navigate through the myriad links and materials available, HMS has created an Oracle Technology Portal with ties to many elements of collateral in the TimeControl site. This TimeControl / Oracle Portal can be found at
oracle.timecontrol.com.
We’re on our way to Rochester!
HMS Software will be at the Rochester PMI Professional Development Day in Rochester NY on Thursday, May 16th. If you are going to the PMI event or you are in the Rochester area and would like to meet members of the HMS staff, please let us know.
The event is being held at the Rochester Plaza Hotel, 70 State Street, Rochester, NY from 7:15 am to 5:00 pm. You can get more information on the event on the Rochester PMI Chapter page at: http://pmirochester.org/meetinginfo.php?id=12.
If you’d like to schedule some one-on-one time with HMS staff to see the latest version of TimeControl or answer your TimeControl questions, please email Ken Edwards at: ken.edwards@hms.ca.
AGI Automation finds TimeControl invaluable!
It must be the season for compliments and we feel particularly thankful for some of the remarkable letters we’ve been receiving from our clients lately. The latest is from AGI Automation. AGI is an automation services integrator working in the oil and gas industry. They’ve been using TimeControl for some time and have integrated it with their internal billing and payroll processes. TimeControl is a key element of the AGI project control process according to Garry Ingham of AGI. His letter “highly recommends TimeControl for any sized company looking for a project-driven, intuitive time entry system…”
Is it any wonder why we think of our clients as partners? You can read Garry’s letter in its entirety at www.timecontrol.com/resources/testimonials/tst_agi.php and you can find out more about AGI Automation on their website at agi-automation.ca.
What Value Recovery is saying about TimeControl
We’re Canadian. It’s natural to be somewhat understated and modest. But that’s becoming tougher around the HMS offices lately lately thanks to some of the letters we’ve been getting from our clients. One of the more recent from Value Recovery makes us blush.
Jeff Riley, the Accounting Manager at Value Recovery says that not only did TimeControl meet all of their requirements for US Government DCAA compliance but that the product and service from HMS was “First Class”.
Thanks Jeff. We’ think you’re pretty darned first class yourself!
Value Recovery is a US-based firm that specializes in Asset Management and Recovery services for both the public and private sector. You can find out more about them at www.valuerecoverygroup.com and you can read Jeff’s letter to HMS in the TimeControl Client Testimonials page.
It’s a bird, it’s a plane… It’s a .. a… Tweet!
Yes, it’s true. HMS is about to embrace Twitter around here. We’re often on the leading edge of technology and in fact, HMS was an early explorer of Twitter. However, we weren’t an early adopter and we’ve now decided that with so much going on around here with new versions new customers, new collateral and new partners, that Twitter is the best way to keep everyone informed of what’s new so we’re evolving with the times!
So, stay tuned on the HMS and TimeControl websites. Over the coming weeks you’ll see the What’s New feed on the main page replaced with a live Twitter feed. And, if you’re already looking forward to our next tweet, you can follow HMS at: Follow @HMS_TimeControl
Testimonial from Murray and Roberts
HMS continues to receive wonderful accolades from its clients. One of our more recent is a letter from Murray and Roberts, one of South Africa’s leading engineering and construction companies. Murray and Roberts has been a TimeControl client since early 2012 and are clearly delighted if their letter is any judge. HMS is delighted to count Murray & Roberts among the satisfied clients in our TimeControl family. You can find out more about Murray & Roberts at murrob.com.
If you’d like to read their letter just click on Murray & Roberts Testimonial on the TimeControl website.
Meet HMS staff in London Ontario Friday, April 26!
If you are attending the PMI Southwest Ontario Chapter Chapter’s (SWOC) Symposium event on April 26th you will be able to meet some of the HMS staff in person! This annual event is being held at the
Lamplighter Inn & Conference Centre at: 591 Wellington Road, London, Ontario from 8am to 5pm.
If you are interested in meeting HMS staff in person or talking to us about TimeControl or other HMS Services and are in the area, then please let us know. If you are attending the symposium and would like to make sure we organize an appointment with you, please email Ken Edwards at ken.edwards@hms.ca or give us a call at our GTA office at 647-478-8332
For more information on the symposium, go to: www.pmiswoc.org
Free TimeControl Hosted Trial site update
We’ve had a free hosted trial site for TimeControl for ages. We’ve recently made some major changes to the site to improve the TimeControl timesheet evaluation experience for prospective clients.
Aside from putting the free hosted timesheet trial onto some hot new and highly performant hardware, we’ve also updated the data, upgraded the trial to our newest version 6.5 including the new TimeControl Report Designer and added and updated a range of evaluation tools for those looking for timesheets that are project-based.
Some of the key resources for evaluating TimeControl include:
The site has been populated with evaluation data so users can immediately log into the system and see data in all the main features. Users can instantly add a timesheet, approve that timesheet, do a report, do timesheet analysis and even post a vacation request. The look and feel of the TimeControl 6.5 timesheet system is highly intuitive. Evaluation users are given Administrator privileges so no part of the evaluation TimeControl system is restricted. Users should remember however that this data is open to anyone so it is not the place to post anything confidential. The Free TimeControl Hosted Trial site data is refreshed every night. Users registering for the evaluation will have access to the system for 2 weeks following which they must re-register to continue their access.
Users may register for the free Hosted TimeControl Trial at freetrial.timecontrol.com.
The evaluation site references the free TimeControl Online Learning Center which has a collection of videos showing the basic functions of TimeControl being performed. Each video is only 3-5 minutes long so it’s a fast and easy way to see how to add a timesheet, add a vacation request, edit an employee’s record, approve timesheets, report on time and more.
The TimeControl Online Learning center is now directly accessible from the TimeControl Trial site dashboard. The dashboard has been tailored for a trial and one of the things we’ve done is highlight learning and evaluation resources right on the front page.
The TimeControl Online Learning center is now directly accessible from the TimeControl Trial site dashboard. The dashboard has been tailored for a trial and one of the things we’ve done is highlight learning and evaluation resources right on the front page.
HMS has put numerous resources and tools for choosing a timesheet into the Timesheet Buyer’s Guide. This solution portal includes materials such as a Return on Investment Calculator, an Evaluation Guide which leads users through TimeControl the Free Hosted TimeControl Trial site from registration through all the basic functions. The Guide has a click-by-click format with screen shots and descriptions of what users will see as they go through the system.
There are also references to numerous white papers, webcasts and more. The Timesheet Buyers Guide is free and does not require registration.