Improving Flexibility and Efficiency in Project Planning: How Plan Ahead Uses XER Schedule Toolkit
Improving Flexibility and Efficiency in Project Planning: How Plan Ahead Uses XER Schedule Toolkit
About Lauren Thompson & Plan Ahead
Name: Lauren Thompson
Job Title & Company: Regional Planning Manager at Plan Ahead
Industry: Planning – Construction/Engineering
How Scheduling and Project Planning Fit Into My Daily Work
As a project planning consultancy, planning is at the heart of everything we do. Scheduling and project planning form the core of our daily activities, supporting clients across the construction and engineering sectors with accurate, efficient, and insightful programme management.
Before Using XER Schedule Toolkit
Challenges & Limitations
Before adopting XER Schedule Toolkit, we were using Acumen and, when necessary, internal checks within P6. These tools supported our need for quick, relevant programme integrity checks and comparisons to aid forensic analysis. However, the main challenge was the lack of flexibility. Different projects have different requirements, and the tools we were using couldn’t easily adapt — a one-size-fits-all approach simply wasn’t sufficient.
Existing Solutions
While Acumen and P6 offered some capabilities, they didn’t allow us to tailor our checks or outputs to the specific needs of each project, specifically relating to the contract conditions. This often resulted in additional manual work and a less streamlined process when producing detailed programme insights for our clients.
Your Experience with XER Schedule Toolkit
How We Discovered XER Schedule Toolkit
I was first introduced to XER Schedule Toolkit at the Project Controls Expo. One of the developers of the software was part of our consultancy, which gave us valuable insight into how the tool worked and its potential.
Why We Chose XER Schedule Toolkit
Given our close connection to the development of the software and our in-depth understanding of its capabilities, we decided to adopt XER Toolkit more broadly across our projects in place of other solutions. The ability to create a scoring criteria that relates to the Contract conditions you are working under way ideal.
Getting Started
The Toolkit was incredibly easy to get started with. The user-friendly interface and intuitive setup meant we were able to begin using it in earnest right away, with minimal learning curve.
Favourite Features
What stands out the most is that XER Toolkit produces the outputs we need — and often in a better format than we were previously able to achieve. It’s straightforward, flexible, and delivers the level of detail and clarity our clients expect. Finally all parties can see where the schedule may be failing the required standard and the solution is clear.
The Impact & Results
Improvements Noticed
Since adopting XER Schedule Toolkit, we’ve seen a noticeable improvement in efficiency. The software is easy to use, and we’ve been able to customise it to a certain extent to meet the unique needs of each project, allowing for more targeted and effective outputs.
Time Savings & Efficiency
The improved usability has resulted in significant efficiency gains. We can now quickly generate high-quality programme integrity checks and comparisons, helping us to deliver faster, more accurate insights to our clients.
Recommendation
Would You Recommend XER Schedule Toolkit?
Yes, I would absolutely recommend XER Schedule Toolkit. It’s easy to use and provides quick, reliable outputs and insights that enhance the quality of service we deliver to our clients.
Advice for Those Considering It
If you’re considering the Toolkit but are unsure, I’d say it’s a smart investment. It allows you to efficiently analyse programmes and generate insights that are both client-ready and adaptable to the needs of individual projects — all while saving time and maintaining quality.
Final Thoughts
Lauren Thompson and her team at Plan Ahead adopted XER Schedule Toolkit to improve flexibility and efficiency in delivering schedule integrity checks and programme comparisons. Previously limited by the rigid nature of Acumen and P6 internal tools, they needed a solution that could adapt to the diverse demands of different projects. With XER Toolkit, they’ve been able to streamline their processes, improve output quality, and customise reports to suit individual project needs. Lauren recommends the Toolkit for its ease of use, adaptability, and ability to support a consistently high standard of service for clients.