Earlier this month Hard Dollar released Project Portfolio Analysis, the newest module in its estimating and job cost accounting software suite. With this setup, users will have a host of tools -- estimating and budgeting, scheduling, and project portfolio analysis,among others-- all within one program.

In a recent phone interview with ConstructionSoftwareReview.com, Hard Dollar's CEO, Doug Nicholas, outlined the company's new Web-based module designed to inform small and medium-sized construction firm executives and managers about current projects. The new service, Project Portfolio Analytics, is a departure from SQL Server-based database analysis tools, but it will allow users to view more than 20 analytics, in a customizable format, without taking away resources from accounting and back-office operations.

"We noticed some of the market doesn't want to deal with SQL," Nicholas said. "However, they don't use database administrators, but have data 50-100GB range, so there needs to be someone monitoring it."

Once users sign up for Project Portfolio Analytics, all they need is a web browser to receive the following resources:

• cost item details
• forecast cost, cost per unit of measure and cost breakdown analysis
• man and equipment hours, man hour details, production hours per unit of measure, and work hours
• price breakdown
• productivity and performance, revenue and profit
• actual vs. planned vs. forecast man-hour and equipment hour details and costs

There are even more metrics intended for executives, such as a backlog and pipeline analytic and a maximizing profit margins tool. For more information on Project Portfolio Analytics, or just the company in general, hop on over to the Hard Dollar Web site.