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MERIDIAN SYSTEMS PROLOG V5 REVIEW

As a construction company that builds everything from schools to high-rises and residential homes, Pavarini South East Construction Co. needed construction project management software that enabled it to easily track requests for proposal and other documentation for multiple recipients.

The Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based firm, which makes about $200 million per year, opted for Meridian Prolog project management software because the software's Web-based collaboration features, coupled with other capabilities, best met its needs.  A Pavarini employee explained, "Prolog is a good tool for tracking change orders, requests for information, project letters and other documents -- especially those that require mass distribution or notification.  We're still looking to expand our use further."

Although the software is powerful, documentation is weak. Given Prolog's sophistication and power, the developer should provide a guidebook to augment its online and telephone support, he added. "They need to create a reference guide that anyone could pull off the shelf to get the information or guidance they need."

The user rated Meridian Prolog P3 version 5 as a 6.5 out of 10.

What kinds of construction projects do you mostly work on?
 
How long have you been using this tool?
 
Where did you obtain it?
 
How much did you pay?
 
How are you using this product?
 
Why did you pick this product?
 
Did you look at other tools on the market before picking this one? What was it you didn't like about them (or made    this product better)?
 
Comparing the way you work now with the way you worked before you bought this tool, what has changed?
 
Can you give us an example of a job where this tool really made a difference?
 
Can you estimate how much time or money you saved or other measurable benefits your firm realized using this    tool?
 
What are the best features (for your business) in this tool?
 
Do you think it's a fair value for the price you paid?
 
What would you change about the product if you could?
 
Are there features that you don't use? Why not?
 
Who would you recommend use this tool?
 
How much computer experience do you think someone needs to use this tool effectively?
 
Did it take much training (or studying) to learn to use this tool?
 
Have you ever called the company's support lines and asked for help? What was your experience like?
 
How would you rate the user documentation? Is it helpful?
 
When the next version of this software comes out, will you upgrade to it?
 
Overall, on a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate this tool?

What kinds of construction projects do you mostly work on?
We do all types of commercial construction, such as schools, high-rise buildings and residential.

How long have you been using this tool?
I have been using Prolog for about 10 years.

Where did you obtain it?
We bought it directly from Meridian Systems.

How much did you pay?
I do not know.

How are you using this product?
We are using Prolog for construction project management and our subcontractor database.

Why did you pick this product?
We selected Prolog because of its recognition in the construction industry.

Did you look at other tools on the market before picking this one? What was it you didn't like about them (or made this product better)?
Prior to buying Prolog, we used Primavera Expedition briefly. We wanted construction project management software with a better website interface module.

Comparing the way you work now with the way you worked before you bought this tool, what has changed?
Different aspects of our job have been assisted by Prolog.  It is a good tool for tracking change orders, requests for information, project letters and other documents -- especially those that require mass distribution or notification. We're still looking to expand our use of Prolog further.

Can you give us an example of a job where this tool really made a difference?
Prolog gives us the ability to create reports on pending change orders for managers to review and discuss at Operations Advisory Committee meetings.

Can you estimate how much time or money you have saved or other measurable benefits your firm has realized using this tool?
It is difficult to say, but it has reduced the time associated with double and triple entries on multiple forms. We now need to input data only once.

What are the best features (for your business) in this tool?
We really like the RFIs, change-order tracking, transmittal logs, subcontractor database and its ability to track issues.

Do you think it's a fair value for the price you paid?
I do not know how much we paid so I can't answer this question.

What would you change about the product if you could?
I'd like it to have an effective and user-friendly reference guide, tutorial or Help tab, as well as a little more flexibility in creating new, additional fields or modifying existing ones. I think Prolog should work with universities and schools to develop useful entry-level and intermediate level curriculums for this product.

Are there features that you don't use? Why not?
We don't use if for tracking projects' costs. We currently use a separate company-developed, specialized accounting system for that task.

Who would you recommend use this tool?                
Everyone involved on a project with designated access levels or rights depending on experience and use should use Prolog.

How much computer experience do you think someone needs to use this tool effectively?
If someone's at the level usually attained by normal computer and software use, learned from middle school up through college, they can use it.

Did it take much training (or studying) to learn to use this tool?
My experience is that Prolog is a vast software environment that individuals gradually learn via different components or modules over time. The administrator level requires a lot of training or years of practical use.

Have you ever called the company's support lines and asked for help? What was your experience like?
No, not personally, but I know others in the company have done so. I don't know what their experiences were like.

How would you rate the user documentation? Is it helpful?
It's poor. They need to create a reference guide that anyone could pull off the shelf to get the information or guidance they need.

When the next version of this software comes out, will you upgrade to it?
Most likely we will.

Overall, on a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate this tool?
6.5 out of 10