Newsletter

October 2011

FEATURED ARTICLE

MySmartPlans Web Version Scheduled for 4th Quarter Release

By the end of 2011, MySmartPlans 2.0 users will be able to access all of their project information from both the MySmartPlans standard desktop application as well as a new web-based version.

The new version will boast the same powerful features and functions as the MySmartPlans desktop application, but will allow users the support & flexibility to access their projects from virtually any computer, anywhere. MySmartPlans web-based version will also provide mobile users access to critical dashboard information from any flash-supported mobile device.  With no installation required, retrieving your MySmartPlans documents on the go will be a snap.

Learn about the new features and functions of MySmartPlans 2.0 by joining us for 30-minute webinars held every Monday at 3pm CDT and Thursday at 10am CDT. Sign up to attend an informational webinar direct from this newsletter by checking out the Upcoming Webinars section to the right. 

TECHNOLOGY NEWS

MySmartPlans Announces: Complete Project Search Capabilities

As we announced in our last newsletter, MySmartPlans 2.0 has been officially released. While we added loads of new features with its release, we strive for continuous product innovations to provide our users the best experience possible.

One such feature we are proud to announce is Full Search Functionality for the entire project. Previously, keyword searches were limited to specific documents within the MySmartPlans dashboard, meaning several unique searches had to be performed in order to locate information. With the new feature, we are now able to offer users with a project-wide search function which provides search results in mere seconds, and identifies where the search words appear in each document.

FEATURED PROJECT

UMKC University Center Renovation: History Meets The Digital Era  

While the University of Missouri-Kansas City University Center Renovation may seem like a standard renovation, construction professionals working on the project are privy to some exciting pieces of history: As-Built drawings dating back to the 1950's. MySmartPlans was able to digitize multiple sets of the fragile, vintage plans and, in turn, disperse them to all project stakeholders via our customized dashboard, providing all stakeholders with critical information during the construction process.

Greg Silkman, DBIA, Manager of Facilities Planning & Construction at UMKC, recently had this to say about his experience employing MySmartPlans for several university projects:

"MySmartPlans has been a great addition to the way we do business in Planning & Construction. [MySmartPlans] has also drastically improved the delivery time and usability of the close-out information on our capital projects. Our maintenance staff is thrilled with how user friendly the information is accessed as well as available.

I think what I like most about this tool is how much easier my inbox is to manage. I no longer get those huge email files that I have to do something with. I simply open the project dashboard and review the uploaded documents. I am also thrilled with how user friendly it is.  You can’t mess it up, so all of our campus clients can use it and stay informed of their project. This has reduced the number of telephone calls we get asking questions. It also makes finding information much easier with the search functions that are built into the program.

Not only are we saving the university hundreds of thousands of reproduction dollars, we are making the as-builts and O&M manuals immediately available to our maintenance staff and laid out in a way that is easy to navigate. Imagine no more hanging files or volumes of binders to sift through. This isn’t a SharePoint site. This is a graphics/icon driven program that puts all of your information in a layout anyone can understand and navigate that is customizable for you."

CASE STUDY

Construction Risk Management 101

In the case study, “Construction Risk Management 101”, MySmartPlans examines the importance of risk management in the world of construction. Construction risk management has evolved over the years from a simple insurance purchase to a standard business philosophy. In a tight economy, a construction company's accuracy in implementing risk management strategies can be the difference in staying afloat.

Discover how MySmartPlans can be your companies shield against mitigating circumstances by reading our whitepaper "Construction Risk Management 101".

Read the full case study to learn more.

IN THE NEWS

MySmartPlans Featured on Constructech.com

"MySmartPlans Creates Central Repository"

In the quest for "one version of the truth" on projects, construction professionals have long turned to information technology to provide a bit of assistance. The use of project management and collaboration technologies is nothing new to construction, but the problem many have encountered is the fact such systems are only as good as the information that resides within them.

It has long been stated that the successful use of technology is defined by the people, as well as the processes built to support it. MySmartPlans is one company that hopes to bridge this gap by combining technology with professional services to create the ultimate central repository of information for construction.

Read Full Article Here

______________________________________________

MySmartPlans CEO Recognized as AT&T Innovator of the Year by WIPP

Shelley  Armato, CEO and President of MySmartPlans, was recently honored in St. Louis by the group Women In Public Policy (WIPP) as recipient of AT&T's regional Innovator of the Year Award. The award is given to "women in business who have effectively leveraged technology for innovation and success". Regional winners from St. Louis, Los Angeles, Raleigh, NC, New York City and Maine will all be eligible to win the national award, which will be presented  at WIPP's National Conference. On behalf of the team at MySmartPlans, we would like to congratulate our fearless leader, Shelley Armato! 

_____________________________________________

MySmartPlans Mentioned In NSC Times, CenterPoint Zimmer's Monthly Publication

CenterPoint Zimmer’s decision to partner with MySmartPlans on the National Security Campus' (NSC) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) project in Kansas City has enabled them to consolidate large vats of loose documents and streamline work flow. “For other large projects we typically have had several file cabinets of documents. With MySmartPlans you don’t need to store all that paper, and it makes documents easy to find,” notes Barb Goans, project assistant on the NSC project for Zimmer. 

MySmartPlans software is not limited to document preparation. The comprehensive spectrum of MySmartPlans capabilities also allowed a variety of constituents from the project team the accessibility and luxury of an easily navigated support infrastructure.

The 1.5 million square foot NNSA project, located near Missouri Highway 150 and Botts Road in Kansas City, Missouri, will "protect some of the nation’s premier security assets," according to the GSA's website (www.gsa.gov).

INDUSTRY LEADERS

CONTACT US

877.568.1122

info@mysmartplans.com

mysmartplans.com

716 W. Pennway

Kansas City MO 64108

DISCOVER VERSION 2.0

Click 

MySmartPlans  Overview Brochure

to discover unique

features designed for

every step of the construction lifecycle

NEW USER?

Download 

MySmartPlans Getting Started Guide

for an in-depth look at

how to get started with MySmartPlans 

UPCOMING WEBINARS

Join Us For MySmartPlans 2.0 overview webinars, held every Monday at 3pm (CDT) and Thursday at 10am (CDT).

Sign Up Here

NEW PROJECTS

Children's Mercy Hospital Clinics on Broadway Floors 6-9

Kansas City, MO

WSKF Architects

Children's Mercy Hospital CMN Hearing & Speech Ultrasound

Kansas City, MO

WSKF Architects

Prairie Creek Elementary Addition

Spring Hill, KS

JE Dunn Construction

DLR Group

UMKC School of Medicine, 3rd Floor Renovation

Kansas City, MO

BNIM Architects

Barton County Memorial Hospital Clinic Addition

Lamar, MO

JE Dunn Construction

Hoefer Wysocki Architects, L.L.C.

MySmartPlans SUPPORTS THESE CHARITIES:

Women's Foundation of Kansas City

American Diabetes Foundation

Junior Achievement Middle America

Bowl-a-Thon

Enterprise Center of Johnson County

National Multiple

Sclerosis Society

Hope House "Hope Takes Flight" Golf Tournament

Heart & Stroke Ball for the American Heart Association

The Courage Coalition

Newsletter

August 2011

FEATURED ARTICLE

MySmartPlans Version 2.0 Released

We are pleased to announce that MySmartPlans version 2.0 has been officially released and is currently in use and running smoothly on live projects.

What's new in version 2.0?

• New version built on state of the art technology
• Redesigned user interface and update history
• Enhanced security features, roles, and permissions
• Color plan sheet comparisons (see Technology News)
• Enhanced support for multiple projects
• Web-based version
• New functionality for searching documents across project
• Enhanced planholder's list
• Integration with third party calendars such as Outlook Calendar, Google Calendar, Apple iCal, IBM Lotus Notes, and Yahoo! Calendar

Learn about the new features and functions of MySmartPlans 2.0 by joining us for 30-minute webinars held each Monday at 3pm CDT and Thursday at 10am CDT. The first webinar will be Thursday, August 11th. Reserve your spot(s) now by clicking here.

TECHNOLOGY NEWS

MySmartPlans Announces New Color Sheet Comparison

MySmartPlans recently added a new feature called Color Sheet Comparison. Utilizing three different colors on plan sheets: red for items deleted from the previous sheet, green indicating new information, and black for information common to both sheets, project stakeholders can now be alerted to changes within seconds of plan viewing. By overlaying changes in color, errors are reduced by up to 80%, saving time and money across the entire project.

To find out more on this innovative technology, contact us here.

FEATURED PROJECT

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 

Purdue University has partnered with the American Society of Healthcare Engineers (ASHE) to conduct a case study on the 2E Surgical Services renovation for The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. MySmartPlans was chosen as the Project Information Management solution to virtually link study participants located all across the country to construction taking place in Little Rock, AR. ASHE chose Gregory Lasker, Assistant Professor of Healthcare Construction Management at Purdue University and his student chapter to conduct the case study in examination of the implementation of ASHE’s “Health Facility Commissioning Guidelines” (HFCG), published in 2010.

In addition to study involvement, MySmartPlans is providing Project Information Management services for all project stakeholders, including the general contractor and architect, Nabholz Construction and Polk Stanley Wilcox, respectively.

Read the full press release here.

CASE STUDY

The Benefits of Online Project Management & Collaboration for Closeouts

In the case study, “Using OCPM Technology for Construction Close-Out,” MySmartPlans explains how utilizing online collaboration and project management (OCPM) technology can improve efficiency, collaboration, and cost during close-out and after completion of a construction project. 

Read the full case study to learn more.

INDUSTRY LEADERS

IN THE NEWS

MySmartPlans CEO Spreads Courage

Shelley Armato, CEO of MySmartPlans and Marathon Digital Services, can mark one item off her bucket list, and that is to help women find the courage within themselves. 

During the last six months, the fruits of Armato's labor have blossomed. She founded The Courage Coalition, a not-for-profit women's organization aimed at changing the outlook for women in society. The coalition held it's first major event in June - Courage KC 2011 -  and was received with overwhelmingly welcome arms.

While more large scale events are planned on both a local and national level, The Courage Coalition is cultivating the community and spreading words of encouragement through monthly luncheons, held the third Tuesday of each month. For more information about The Courage Coalition, visit them on line at www.thecouragecoalition. 

CONTACT US

877.568.1122

mysmartplans.com

716 W. Pennway

Kansas City MO 64108

NEW PROJECTS

Fletcher Nissan

Joplin, MO

Crossland Construction

Black Corley Owens + Hughes Architects

Joplin R-8 Temporary East Middle School

Joplin, MO

Crossland Construction

PLJBD Architects

Univesity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences - Surgical Services Renovation

Little Rock, AR

Nabholz Construction

Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects

Overland Park Regional Center - Cath Lab Renovation

Overland Park, KS

JE Dunn Construction

Perkins + Will

MySmartPlans SUPPORTS THESE CHARITIES:

Women's Foundation of Kansas City

American Diabetes Foundation

Junior Achievement Middle America

Bowl-a-Thon

Enterprise Center of Johnson County

National Multiple

Sclerosis Society

Hope House "Hope Takes Flight" Golf Tournament

Heart & Stroke Ball for the American Heart Association

The Courage Coalition

Newsletter

June 2011

EXPLORE THE SOFTWARE

New Features Like You've Never Seen

If you haven't attended a MySmartPlans webinar in a while, you could be missing out on some of our updated functions! In order to ensure that our users are getting the latest technology on their dashboards, we are constantly adding new features to it. 

Many of these features save hours of time and effort when used to their full potential. The free, weekly webinar that we offer gives you the tools that you need to embrace these new features.

Register for an upcoming webinar here.

CASE STUDY

$1 Billion Dollar Project Implodes

In this case study, “Deconstructing a $1 Billion Dollar Disaster,” MySmartPlans examines the breaks in communication that have become typical in the workflow of the multi-million dollar construction projects and how one example resulted in the loss of nearly $1 billion dollars.

Could the general contractor have prevented this disaster by using the MySmartPlans software to organize and share the project documentation?

Read this case study   to find out.

FEATURED PROJECT

Helping Joplin Schools Rebuild Before

the School Year Starts

MySmartPlans will be assisting in the build-out of Joplin East Middle School's temporary facility after a tornado significantly damaged the original school building and caused over $150 million in damages to buildings throughout the district.

The city's leadership is committed to having the facilities open for the first day of school on August 17, 2011, and, to accomplish this goal, they have partnered with Crossland Construction, who chose to use the MySmartPlans software to expedite the document management process and keep the project on pace.

MySmartPlans's Chief Operating Officer, Tim Harrison, said "I am glad that we are able to help the community of Joplin rebuild through this difficult time. Because the school district is on such a restricted time frame and there are so many variables within the current infrastructure, the reconstruction process is incredibly complex and time sensitive. MySmartPlans will be a critical part of the process to ensure milestones are being met and the entire project team is on the same page."

COMING SOON

MySmartPlans Premiering Version 2.0

MySmartPlans 2.0 is scheduled to be released later this year with revisions based on feedback we have gotten from our users to increase the general look and feel of the dashboard and simplify the user interface to make it more navigable.

Version 2.0 is compatible across multiple devices, including mobile devices, and includes a web-based version to allow users to access their account from anywhere.

The new interface supports multiple projects and infinite levels of document vaults. An updated framework boasts the ability to search multiple documents and support for streaming videos, as well as integration with third-party calendars.

Our new security engine provides further protection for your most classified documents and ensures that all of your sensitive information is handled appropriately. If you want a sneak peek of MySmartPlans 2.0 and would like to participate in testing our beta version, email our development team here.

INDUSTRY LEADERS

IN THE NEWS

CEO Shelley Armato on Kiplinger's

Shelley Armato, CEO of MySmartPlans and Marathon Digital Services, was recently featured on the front page of the Kiplinger's website. The story brought national recognition to both her personal and professional achievements.

The author highlighted Shelley as one of the nation's most successful female entrepreneurs in the construction industry, touting her boldness and dedication to asking the tough questions as her secrets to success. Read more about the article here!

CONTACT US

877.568.1122

mysmartplans.com

716 W. Pennway

Kansas City MO 64108

QUICK NEWS

Congratulations to Repro Graphix in Indianapolis, Indiana, for becoming our newest certified MySmartPlans reselling partner.

NEW PROJECTS

Overland Park Regional Medical Center Cath Lab Renovation

Overland Park, KS

JE Dunn Construction

Miller Nichols Library Classroom Addition

Kansas City, MO

University of Missouri-Kansas City

QTS Data Center - Santa Clara II

Santa Clara, CA

JE Dunn Construction

San Marcos 

High School

San Marcos, CA

Lusardi Construction

Four Partners Place Data Center

Norman, OK

JE Dunn Constuction

Northampton Crossing Retail Project

Virginia Beach, VA

Ionic DeZign Studios

Children's Mercy Hospital Hematology & Oncology Clinic

Kansas City, MO

Children's Mercy Hospital

Holy Cross College - Synthetic Track and Field Hockey Synthetic Turf Renovation Project

Worcester, MA

JJA Sports

MySmartPlans SUPPORTS THESE CHARITIES:

Women's Foundation of Kansas City

American Diabetes Foundation

Junior Achievement Middle America

Bowl-a-Thon

Enterprise Center of Johnson County

National Multiple

Sclerosis Society

Hope House "Hope Takes Flight" Golf Tournament

Heart & Stroke Ball for the American Heart Association

The Courage Coalition