TimeLog News

Danish Novozymes benefits from using TimeLog Extranet

Jamie Matthew Schmidt — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The following paragraph is an excerpt taken from our new case study with the Danish bio-pharmaceutical company Novozymes. Read full case study

"The daily use of the add-on module TimeLog Extranet has also been positively received and is primarily used by Novozymes' management to keep tabs on projects: "It has given management a tool that enables them to continuously monitor our projects, which provides them with a solid overview of the status of the department's different projects."

Furthermore, TimeLog Project's reporting tools are often used. Especially the workload reporting tool provides the project manager with the option of getting an overview of the individual project employee's current and future workload capacity. This is often used in combination with the frequently used status reports for Novozymes' management.

New: TimeLog Extranet opens up your Projects

Katrine Grytter — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The purpose of TimeLog Extranet is to improve communication between customer and supplier or other internal or external stakeholders. By adding TimeLog Extranet, customers are able to gain insight into various information concerning their project such as invoices, various reports and project status.

This means that the relation between customer and supplier is strengthened and more transparent because it is easier for the customer to, at any time, view the progress of the projects. TimeLog Extranet's industry focus is primarily consultancy companies or other companies that have or want a close relationship with their customers or other important stakeholders.
Read more about on the TimeLog Extranet page.

TimeLog - Microsoft Gold Certified Partner

Jamie Matthew Schmidt — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This year TimeLog has achieved status of Microsoft Gold Certified Partner. There are a number of different demands that must be met in order for a company to be able to call itself part of the Microsoft Gold Certified Partner Program.

Among other, the partner company must reach certain sales targets. On top of that a potential partner must have at least three specific customer references that adhere to the strict standards set by the Microsoft Competency Center.

There are many advantages to being a part of the Microsoft Partner Program. Including a wide range of product-, marketing-, and sales tools that strengthen the partner company's competitiveness.

Read more about the many advantages to being part of the Mcirosoft Partner Program her e.

Introduction to TimeLog Extranet

Jamie Matthew Schmidt — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The purpose of TimeLog Extranet is to improve the communication between the customer and supplier. By adding TimeLog Extranet, the customers are able to gain insight into different information concerning their project such as invoices, various reports and the status of the project. This means that the relation between the customer and supplier is strengthened and more transparent because it is easier for the customer to view the progress of the projects. The industry focus is consultancy companies or other companies that have or want a close relationship with their customers.

Gaining a quick Overview

When beginning to use TimeLog Extranet, the supplier has to create a log-in for the customer and at the same time decide how much information about the project the customer should be allowed to access. After logging in, the customer is able to gain a general overview of the project by looking at invoices, milestones, registered and invoiced hours and status reports. In other words it generates a general overview of the project, time line and costs.

Access to data 24/7&

Another advantage is that the customer always has access to the data which means that the communication between the supplier and customer is further strengthened. TimeLog Extranet is very user-friendly and does not require much training. It is also easy for the customers to use even though they have never tried TimeLog Project before. All your customers need is a link and log-in details. Then they are all set to use TimeLog Extranet.

Many languages, many possibilities

TimeLog Extranet supports many different languages which is an advantage if your company deals with international customers. All in all, the main objective is to provide the customer with an extra service which improves communication and strengthens the relationship between customer and supplier. The major benefit is that the customer is able to find data about: registered and invoiced hours, registered and invoiced value, project phases, active employees, milestones, invoices and status reports. This creates a better and more transparent relationship for all parties involved.

TimeLog Extranet Hints & Shortcuts

Jamie Matthew Schmidt — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

We have collected a few good tips from our support manager in our Help-Desk department, Thomas S. Gudmandsen. We hope that you can use these tricks of the trade to make the most of your TimeLog Project systems.

Better Search

If you wish to make a search for a precise letter combination which is not necessarily the first letters in the project-, customer-, or client name, here is a tip. By adding a %-sign in front of your search criterion, you will see a list where the letter combination is a part of the search result. This can help you to find exactly what you are searching for in no time. Especially in companies with many departments and projects, this can be a very useful function. NB. remember that a quick way to make a super search is by using the F2 key.

Press F1 for Online Help

For those who are not aware of it, TimeLog Project also includes an online help. This help is updated regularly, therefore, if you have run into a problem you can look for help here. You will find the online help in the top right corner in all menus or when pressing the hot key F1.

Customize your terms of payment

If your company has customers that have different terms of payment than others, for example good customers with an extra long credit, you have the opportunity to adjust that as a default in the system administration. Go to 'system administration' choose 'finance/billing' and then 'payment terms'. Now it is possible to edit the periodicity and at the same time attach a single customer to the changed payment terms.

Service announcement for installed customers

Christoffer Lanstorp — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

NB! This message is only relevant for customers with an installed TimeLog solution. TimeLog customers with a hosted solution are not affected.

As part of TimeLog's focus on continuing improvements of the services we provide to our customers, we are currently working on a TimeLog Project 5.0 release. We expect to launch it during the summer of 2008. With regard to this upgrade, the coming version of TimeLog Project will be based on routines supported only by Microsoft SQL Server 2005.

This means that, if your company has an installed TimeLog solution, you will have to decide whether you want to upgrade to a Microsoft SQL Server 2005, which is a license-based solution or whether you want to use an SQL Server 2005 Express, which is free of charge. Please note that the free SQL Server 2005 Express version has limitations compared to the license-based SQL Server 2005 version. Among other SQL 2005 Express has a maximum of 1GB RAM usage and one processor. In very rare instances this can influence your systems performance.

To find the right solutions for exactly your business, we recommend that you use the links shown below and read more about pros and cons of both options.

You can read more about the advantages of upgrading to SQL Server 2005 here: (http://www.microsoft.com/sql/techinfo/whitepapers/why-upgrade.mspx)

You can read more about the advantages of upgrading to SQL Server 2005 Express here:
(http://www.microsoft.com/sql/editions/express/default.mspx)

TimeLog Support

If you have any questions as to how this upgrade might influence your installed TimeLog solution, you are more than welcome to contact TimeLog Support by e-mail: support@timelog.dk or by phone: +45 70 200 645

Future Trends: TimeLog Project on your retina?

Katrine Grytter — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The opportunities presented to us in futuristic sci-fi movies are now closer than ever to being part of today’s reality. Globalization, more sophisticated technological development and increasing consumer individualization have over the last few years accelerated with lightning speed. We are part of a revolutionizing era which, based on the number of inventions per capita, is comparable to the agricultural revolution more than 10,000 years ago.

A question however remains. How will the inventions of the 21st century take shape? This question inspired us to look more closely at the hot and future trends within this development of technology and what impact this may have on the future development of TimeLog’s products and the user experience. (excerpts of the article)

From physical limitations to web-based openness

When TimeLog Project saw its first light of day in 1997 the product was built around an Access-database. Since that year product development has been swift and since 2002 the product was re-programmed into a web application. The web application concept is one of today’s hot new trends. Some of the concept’s main benefits is its ability to open up to social- and user generated possibilities much more than previously imagined.

According to the Danish knowledge center, Innovation Lab, the computer is no longer the center of the IT universe. Instead the web has replaced the computer as the new center. This means that a shift from regular software to web-based applications is occurring. The early transition from Acess to web application technology has been a great success for a company like TimeLog. Time will tell whether we are able to integrate the user generated- and open source opportunities just as quickly and efficiently.

Another concept which is gaining momentum in business circles is Software-as-a-Service (Saas). Saas is a completely new way of building IT structures. It is a mindset which combines the interaction between systems and technologies and enables the user to combine individual packages suited to his or her specific needs. This approach promotes the focus on user-generated and open source mindset and stands in stark contrast to the closed product development approach and licenses.

WEB 2.0 – Culture and Technologies

If we look at some of the tendencies within the next ten years Innovation Lab contends that focus will further shift from one-way communication to user-generated internet. In this context it is the Web 2.0 culture that is the foundation of this trend along with technologies such as AJAX, and others. (read the rest of the article here to learn more about AJAX, electronic circuits in contact lenses and tangible computing) Examples of the possibilities of this interaction can be seen in cases like Google Apps, YouTube and Flickr.

Technologies enable companies to minimize costs through for instance outsourcing, innovation and streamlining of cooperative processes, according to ComputerWorld, 29th January, 2008. In particular the Web 2.0 Technology AJAX is used to create dynamics in TimeLog Project which among other is utilized in the Super Searcher function and the TimeLog Help Desk add-on module.

TimeLog Project on your contact lenses?

One of the future bids for a new technological adventure could perhaps be based on a new discovery by American scientists at the University of Washington. They have recently been able to encapsulate electronic circuits in contact lenses. Consequently, we could within a few years be able to project systems like TimeLog Project straight on to the individual person’s retina. Hence, new concepts that can inspire sci-fi genre creators to develop new concepts that will intrigue their audience have been laid. One blink of the eye registers time, two blinks and

New faces at TimeLog

Katrine Grytter — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Once again we have expanded the TimeLog team with two new members. Our newest member is Ellinor Forje. Ellinor is going to help us improve and strengthen our Swedish profile. She is currently working as a Swedish translator on a part-time basis. Besides working at TimeLog, she is finishing a Master of Science in Economics and Business Administration.

Besides addding Ellinor to our team we have unfortunately said goodbye to our former receptionist Sofie Kaas. Sofie has moved onto new and exciting things. Therefore, we are very pleased to welcome Lasse Bertelsen as our new receptionist. With these new additions, TimeLog now consists of 20 competent and engaging colleagues.

TimeLog signs agreement with Danish Kuben A/S

Bjørn Herbst — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

TimeLog A/S has signed a company agreement with the Danish company Kuben A/S. The agreement includes buy and implementation of TimeLog Project in all of Kuben A/S’ companies.

The agreement embraces 300 new users. The solution includes TimeLog Enterprise, TimeLog CRM, TimeLog Help Desk and TimeLog KPI. It is expected that Kuben A/S' TimeLog Project solution is fully implemented by the first fiscal quarter in 2008.

The implementation of TimeLog Project is part of a larger replacement of Kuben A/S’ ERP-chain. The goal is to create a dynamic and more proactive IT infrastructure within the project-based departments of Kuben A/S. You can read more about

Kuben A/S at their website here. (Danish website)

New version of TimeLog Project with API eases the integration process

Katrine Grytter — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

PRESS RELEASE

Danish developed time tracking and project management system, TimeLog Project, has been released in a new version, where one of many new features is the API module that enables customers to re-use data from TimeLog project through integration with other IT systems.

This means that TimeLog's customers now are able to carry out integration tasks easier and at more affordable prices than previously.

"Previously this was problematic for small - and medium-sized companies due to high costs in the form of consultant and programming hours, which were too expensive compared with the companies' gains in that regard. But those costs become largely reduced with TimeLog API, and it is now easier to create smaller projects with a minimized degree of risk", TimeLog's CIO Jakob Mikkelsen states.

Software is more service than product

One of today's trends in the field of IT systems is the development of software that supports the concepts SOA and Saas. These concepts are common standards for programming, which makes it easier to integrate different IT systems in order to maximize the companies' gains from software acquisitions.

"With TimeLog API, TimeLog Project follows the current trend in IT systems that supports the concepts SOA and Saas. Common for this trend is the fact that IT systems are considered a service that makes data and functionality available to other IT systems, or services that use data and functionality from other systems", Jakob Mikkelsen explains.

This results in more opportunities for small - and medium-sized companies as they now can take part in the extra value that integration opportunities offer, which has previously been reserved large-scale companies that have enough economic strength to invest in expensive and advanced software products.

However, Jakob Mikkelsen emphasizes that " the disadvantage of SOA and web service is that the company's IT system is turned into small 'islands that are able exchange data. However, often duplicate data is found and 100 per cent is rare."

The launching of TimeLog API is part of October's release of the 14th larger version of the time tracking and project management tool, TimeLog Project 4.4, which is developed specifically for small - and medium-sized companies.

Hot Keys in MacOS 2007

Anders Brandstrup — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I've recently purchased a foxy MacBook Pro and I'm adjusting fine to the new world. It's just like learning French: Horse is called "cheval", and it's like that all the way.

My one great problem was that the F-keys are used for hardware functions, and I needed them to navigate my way through TimeLog Project. A problem I now have solved.

The problem is that I am used to navigating with the F-keys in TimeLog Project. F12 takes me to the weekly timesheet, F7 to the main manu, F3 to TimeLog CRM and so on and so forth.

On a Mac, the F-keys are used on other functionalities. F3 - F5 control the volume, F12 is for Dashboard Widgets. Each F-key has an important functionality that would be hard to live without.

I searched for a solution and found it in System Preferences located in the Apple menu. Here, I click on Keyboard & Mouse in the group called Hardware.

In the settings for Keyboard & Mouse I tick the check box located next to "Use F1-F12 keys to control software features". That means, which is also what Apple writes as shown below, that the software - in this case TimeLog Project - uses the F-keys. If you want to use the F-keys for hardware functions you have to press and hold the Fn-key while using the F-key.

That saved my day. At least that was what I thought. Because F9 and F12 still functioned as hot keys to MacOS and still didn't work in TimeLog Project. Yes, they are controlled by software, but that is the software implemented in MacOS called Dashboard & Exposé.

If I want to navigate my way around them to be able to use the F-keys in TimeLog Project I once again have to visit the System Preferences, and in the group Personal I select Dashboard & Exposé. Here I can change my Keyboard Shortcuts so they now require me to press and hold the Ctrl and Shift-key and press F12 if I want to view e.g. my Dashboard.

Consider whether or not it's worth the effort to make the hot keys work in TimeLog Project. That I will leave up to you. The most important thing is that, if you desire to do so, the possibility of converting the shortcut functionality to be used with a mac is available to you.

TimeLog Project 4.4 is now released

Jakob Mikkelsen — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

We have been working hard on developing TimeLog project further to please our customers for quite some time. Therefore, we are happy to introduce the newest and biggest version in the company's history: TimeLog Project 4.4.

Read about some of the many new and improved features e.g. focus on user experience, further developed GANTT charts, more utilisation of data opportunities with TimeLog API, optimized graphical design layout, new analysis tools that offer more options to analyse profitability for the company and more features with regard to the add-on modules TimeLog CRM and Help Desk.

User experience has been a main priority in the new version, and has been notably improved. We know that a system like TimeLog Project is not worth more than the data it contains, and as the most important data is added by a company's employees through their daily use of the system, we are always focused on making their daily work as easy and efficient as possible.

TimeLog Project's GANTT charts have gone through a graphical and functional brush-up. In addition, TimeLog Project's GANTT charts have been optimized and now work in a common web browser. This means better prints, presentations and communication.

WebServices / XML. TimeLog Project is launched with an API so it becomes possible to import data from TimeLog project into other systems. Thus, TimeLog Project can be part of a network of IT systems, which is known from for instance SOA (Service Oriented Architecture) and SAAS (Software As A Service).

The graphical design in version 4.4 has also been significantly enhanced. For instance, the page width has increased from 800 to 900 pixels. This provides more space for data which is why more data has been included in a number of lists and tables.

Additionally, TimeLog Project 4.4 offers several new report opportunities that enable the customer to analyze company profitability in even more detail. You can now e.g. create reports that show employee key figures. This enables the company to get a clear overview of each consultant's performance.

The modules TimeLog CRM and TimeLog Help Desk have been restructured and a number of new features have been added. TimeLog CRM has a new design which provides more space for data. Additionally, TimeLog Help Desk has been improved and the new version makes it easier to create and maintain the company's active support cases.

If you would like to know more about these and the many other new features in TimeLog Project, please download our "New Features and Improvements" as PDF, which will provide you with a thorough walk-through of all the new features and functionalities. You can also download "New Features and Improvements" here.

TimeLog recognised as high-growth company

Jamie Matthew Schmidt — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

TimeLog has been recognised as one of Denmark's leading growth companies.

Each year Børsens Forlag, Denmark's leading business newspaper, recognises the leading small- and medium-sized growth companies in Denmark. In order to become recognised as a high-growth company certain requirements have to be met. One of the main requirements is that the company has to make a twofold increase in turnover or gross profit over the previous four years. In 2007 TimeLog has been recognised as a high-growth company, and hence the company can pride itself as one of the fastest growing companies in Denmark measured on turnover.

Great Q2 in FY07 for TimeLog

Søren Lund — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

With a growth in turnover of 60 percent in the second quarter of 2007 compared to the result same time last year, TimeLog continues its rapid growth development of the past three years.

On top of the successful turnover growth, TimeLog has also increased its number of users and customers that actively use the system by 18 percent from the first to the second quarter of 2007. The company has experienced this impressive growth rate both in its domestic and international markets and has over the past year signed contracts with companies such as Swedish Xeratech, Danish 3F and Dutch Evident Interactive.

Bacn - a new term online

Anders Brandstrup — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I discovered a new word today. A word I have missed and to which I predict a great future: bacn. It is pronounced like "bacon" and is a term that covers all automatic messages and notifications received from various online services from which you, for instance, get an invitation from LinkedIn, a notification from Google Calendar, account status from Groupcare or various newsletters. All the emails you receive daily that are not personal messages but cannot be characterised as spam either.

Bacn is better than spam as it provides you with information from sites you subscribed to that in some way or another is relevant to you but which you do not need to view straight away.

The use of bacn is likely to increase - perhaps even boom - in the near future, and that will require you to learn new routines and become better at using filters in your email program if you want to avoid being overloaded with information. It will also require the companies sending information to limit the amount of bacn they send out if they want to attract the attention of their recipients.

Bacn is a word so new that you know it was created at the conference PodCamp Pittsburgh.

Consultancy firm A-2 selects TimeLog Project

Bjørn Herbst — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

After a long-term screening of EPM systems the consultancy firm A-2 A/S has selected TimeLog Project to keep track of the company's projects and manage consultant hours.

A-2 is expected to be fully implemented at the end of August.

Visit A-2's website

A-2 is a Nordic consultancy firm with offices located in Oslo and Copenhagen. A-2 assists well-known medium- and large-scale organisations, and has 23 professional consultants at its Copenhagen office and 10 consultants located in its Oslo office. Together they account for more than 380 years of relevant consultant- and management experience from both the private and public sector.

A-2 is known for getting things done on time, at the right price and with the right quality criteria. The consultancy's areas of focus are e.g. operational management, IT management, sourcing, courses and education.

Continue where you left off

Anders Brandstrup — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Increasingly more people are becoming aware of the advantages of web applications. One of the greatest advantages is that you are able to work from any internet-accessed computer leaving out depending on pre-installed software applications. Here is a tip on how to shift from one computer to another and continue just where you left off.

Google provides a plug-in to Firefox, the Google Browser Sync. By using this plug-in you are able to save your Firefox browser settings: Bookmarks, history, cookies, saved passwords.

In other words, you can open a number of tabs, log on to different web applications, and create bookmarks for all sites used at work. When you come home, you can open Firefox and Google Browser Sync will reopen the same tabs, synchronise your bookmarks and log on to the web applications you were working on.

Obviously, you can select what is to be synchronised and additionally there is a number of security settings you should keep an eye on.

If you are a sucker for web applications and want to make it a part of your everyday life there are a number of ideas and tips for your new lifestyle in the article Living online, with web apps at Fortuito.us.

The benefits of TimeLog Help Desk - an interview with Support Manager Thomas Gudmandsen

Katrine Grytter — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

To improve TimeLog's customers and users' knowledge about TimeLog Help Desk, we have asked our own support manager, Thomas Gudmandsen, about his opinion of the new feature. Thomas has beta-tested the module and is now using it on a daily basis.

1. Can you briefly describe the main functions of TimeLog Help Desk?

TimeLog Help Desk is a service and support tool used to register and manage all incoming and ongoing customer tasks. The module is a standard module that is customized to fulfil the needs of each individual company. The module reflects TimeLog's service and support area through several support types. Defining those support types enables us to categorise all incoming customer tasks, which allows us to prioritize and allocate resources more efficiently.

2. Can you mention some of the advantages you derive by using TimeLog Help Desk?

Our Help Desk Module provides an excellent picture of our ongoing tasks including important information such as case number, date of creation, deadline, owner, status, and is able to sort this information in a vast number of ways.

TimeLog Help desk is closely connected to TimeLog Project, which means that all customer data is at hand whether it is information such as contacts or incoming service agreements. A thorough search filter enables us to search in every little corner of the module's database and valuable information about previous customer tasks can help us minimize the service process on support cases.

Besides decreasing the service process the module also contains a number of useful report tools used to make reports, for instance about time expenditure per case/customer including financial reporting. The reports can also be used proactively to view workload on different service and support areas or on individual employees. Held together with the report for response quality, we are able to see the areas where we need to allocate more resources in order to live up to our high quality standards.

3. How does TimeLog Help Desk assist you in your daily work?

TimeLog Help Desk has provided me with a clear overview of all ongoing support cases and their status. It is very easy and quick to create new support cases and with the built-in notification feature all concerned employees are automatically informed about new tasks.

Additionally, I am continuously informed each time a support case changes status and afterwards the customer can be informed automatically when their support case is solved. The use of notifications reduces the time we spend on each support case, which is important if we want provide good service to our customers.

4. How does TimeLog Help Desk differ from other similar systems you know?

The greatest difference I have noticed is the report tools. Systems which I have worked with previously have not been able to create experience reports and you had to use another program in order to create the most simple reports. TimeLog Help Desk is a standard system I can adjust to fulfil the exact needs of our support department. I believe that TimeLog Help Desk is an elegant way to unite support with all other tasks in our business.

sha@timelog.de

TimeLog consolidates Sales -and Marketing

Katrine Grytter — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

As of the 1st August, 2007, TimeLog has hired Jamie Schmidt as Marketing Consultant responsible for all of the company’s marketing –and communications activities.

The hiring of Jamie Schmidt is part of the company’s ambitious growth strategy at home as well as internationally focusing on optimizing TimeLog’s marketing –and sales activities and strengthening the market position in our key markets. With the hiring of Jamie Schmidt, TimeLog’s marketing –and sales organization consists of seven dedicated employees solely focused on reinforcing the company’s market share and ensuring a strong dialogue with our existing customers.

Jamie Schmidt has several years of international experience with Oracle, the world’s largest enterprise software company. His latest position with Oracle was as Marketing Consultant focused on marketing the company’s database –and software application software in the Nordic region. Furthermore, Jamie Schmidt has previously worked at Oracle’s regional EMEA office in London, UK, working with marketing the company’s Outsourcing and Support products across Europe.

Please feel free to contact Jamie via phone: +45 2758 6698, or email: jmm@timelog.dk