Why use a PPM integrator?

By Maëlys De Santis

Published: 16 November 2024

The PPM (Project Portfolio Management) integrator is the consultancy and expertise entity responsible for integrating tools published by third parties into a client company's information system. It acts as a facilitator between the publisher and the customer, the users.

Integration is based on a relationship of trust between the integrator and the company it supports. Support is provided throughout the product lifecycle: from audit to the implementation of tools and processes, right through to configuration and application maintenance.

Planisware Orchestra, Cesar, Planview... How do you choose your PPM software? To help you better understand what project portfolio management (PPM) is and the added value of a PPM integrator, appvizer shares its 10 advantages for successfully completing your PPM project.

SUMMARY

See all software Project Portfolio Management (PPM)

Advantage no. 1: a complete diagnosis

The integrator's mission is to guide customers through every stage of the PPM integration project, starting with a diagnosis of the existing system.

The integrator infiltrates the company's activities to fully understand its business, processes, workings, bottlenecks and so on. Its experts carry out a complete audit and raise questions such as:

What are your expectations?
What do you think you need?
How does your information system work?
What difficulties have you encountered?

The aim is to get an overall view of your project management and project portfolio management so that you can optimise them in the quickest, easiest and most relevant way for your business.

A good integrator won't hesitate to say "no" when they think you're not going in the right direction.

It is there to ensure the reliability of the integration project for all stakeholders.

This also involves anticipating risks, taking into account your company's weaknesses. Assessing the criticality of risks is an essential step in ensuring that your PPM project runs smoothly.

Advantage no. 2: expressing needs and defining specifications

The integrator's ability to listen to the customer's needs helps it to formulate them precisely. Combined with their knowledge of best practice and product expertise, this helps to avoid many mistakes that would otherwise cost you precious time.

Thanks to their business expertise, integrators can quickly identify what is best for each company. They can then draw up a set of specifications that identifies the requirements and defines the objectives to be achieved, before proposing an appropriate action plan.

Advantage no. 3: choosing the best tool

With an integrator, you can be sure that the final choice of your PPM software will be the right one. Why is that?

The integrator has a perfect knowledge of the tools.
Their added value lies in adapting their offer to the customer's specific needs.
They are able to offer customised configuration.
They also have a global view of the market and the products: they have an objectivity that a publisher does not have.
Their experience of past projects saves customers a considerable amount of time.
They play a valuable advisory role.

Advantage no. 4: training by expert consultants

The integrator also trains users in the tool that has been defined as meeting the company's needs. As experts in the tool, the integrator consultants pass on their mastery of the tool, the use of its functions, navigation and best practices.

Let's take an example. The CoPrime integrator is also a training organisation for the five tools it can integrate. It offers an adapted teaching design, both in terms of format (customised modules, workshops, seminars, professionalisation schemes, etc.) and methods (face-to-face or e-learning).

In this way, mastery of the tool is passed on in a personalised way from integrator to user.

Benefit no. 5: optimised resource management

This optimisation is made possible by improved management of information systems, and affects both financial and human resources.

Financial resources

The integrator's expertise and knowledge of PPM tools means that customers can avoid wasting a lot of time. The risk of error in choosing the right tool is reduced to a minimum. Your teams are up and running quickly thanks to the training they receive.

Automation and the very use of the solution streamline your processes and improve your performance.

Human resources

Having trouble seeing the connection between a PPM integrator and your human resources management? But there is.

The project carried out by the in-company integrator optimises a company's HR processes and unites employees around a common project. This may involve, for example

advice on the implementation of 360° feedback,
helping to overhaul project team appraisal systems,
participating in the design of a forward-looking employment and skills management system (GPEC).

Benefit no. 6: maximised user acceptance

Processes cannot be integrated into the tool without consulting, listening to and taking into account the demands of the project teams. After all, they are the end users who know best what the tool should or should not do.

Co-construction of the PPM integration project gives employees a sense of consideration and strengthens their support for the solution.

Benefit no. 7: successful integration into your environment

Successful integration not only involves the employees, but also begins with technical integration.

The integrator works hand in hand with your IT department. The aim is to simplify processes and work together on the basis of what already exists. To achieve this, the PPM software must be integrated and connected with your existing tools. Otherwise, there would be no point and the benefits would be much less in terms of bringing projects to a successful conclusion.

Taking into account, listening to and transforming our processes, integrated into the tool, were key factors in our choice.

Michèle Tlouzeau, Director of Resources, called on CoPrime to integrate CA PPM at Right Management.

Benefit no. 8: regulated data management

As you know, since 25 May 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR ) has governed the exploitation and use of personal data by companies hosting their data in Europe.

All companies collect, store and use their customers' personal data. Here again, the integrator can advise you on best practice and integrate PPM software into your operating system, helping you to become or remain compliant with the RGPD.

Benefit no. 9: good governance of PPM projects

Always good practice. Governance guarantees the long-term structuring and organisation of your projects. By helping you to find the tool best suited to the way your projects operate, the integrator also passes on methods to facilitate appropriate project governance.

Benefit no. 10: Putting people at the heart of PPM

Finally, using an integrator makes up for a much-vaunted shortcoming and puts people back at the heart of the business. The support we provide goes beyond e-consulting, involving local players. You meet experts with whom you can talk and who are available for your project.