December 2007 Monthly Customer Newsletter

In this issue of Connections

• University of Rochester Selects Construction Project Management Software from Meridian Systems
  
  
• Deadline Reminder: Meridian 2008 User Conference Early Bird Registration Discount
  
  
• Mark your Calendars for FIATECH's Upcoming Annual Technology Conference & Showcase

 Partner News

• Meridian Reseller Partner Profile - HardHat Technologies

 Customer News

• Customer Case Study:
  Adolfson & Peterson Construction

 Industry Research

• An Analyst Connection from IDC
  
  
• Read what IDC Sees as the Key to the Success of Engineering, Construction & RE Industries
  

• Meridian Systems Information Library
  
  
• SupportLink
  
  
• Prolog Training
  
  
• ProjectTalk
  
  
• e-Learning Center

• Using Set Groups in Portfolio Manager to Organize Your Projects Under User Defined Folders
  
  
• Viewing Workspace Access in Proliance

 Industry News

• New File Cabinets
  
• Call to Entry:  The 2008 Constructech Vision Awards
  

Customer Case Study: Adolfson & Peterson Construction

For more than 60 years, Adolfson & Peterson Construction (A&P) has provided a wide range of general contracting, construction management, design-build and facilities management services to public and private clients across the U.S. Headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, A&P has additional operations in Colorado, Arizona and Texas. The firm's core values center around the acronym, "WE CARE," which stands for Work Hard, Enthusiasm, Creativity, Absolute Integrity, Respect and Enjoy Life. These values have solidified A&P's reputation for delivering high standards of quality and superior project control. A&P has received numerous awards, including significant recognitions for outstanding workplace safety. With annual revenues approaching $800M, the company is highly-ranked on several 2007 ENR lists, including #72 on the Top 400 Contractors list, #44 among the Top 50 General Building Contractors and #8 on both the Top 20 in Correctional Facilities and the Top 25 in Education lists.

Check out this month's customer news to read how the Adolfson & Peterson uses Prolog^® software to increase profit margins and double its work volume without adding staff.

Corporate News

University of Rochester Selects Construction Project Management Software from Meridian Systems
PSS Group to deliver Prolog software and implementation services

Meridian announced that the University of Rochester selected Prolog software to standardize project management processes and to increase visibility across all campus construction projects. The University is working directly with PSS Group, a Meridian authorized reseller, who will provide Prolog software and manage the implementation process. Read more at the above link.

Deadline Reminder:  Meridian 2008 User Conference Early Bird Registration
Receive $200 off your full registration fee. Early registration ends, January 31, 2008

This year's user conference is taking place in Scottsdale, Arizona, April 29 - May 1, 2008 at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, the conference is expected to draw more than 450 registered attendees. Meridian customers, business partners, and staff will participate in forums for information exchange and professional networking. Register to attend and view our conference details at the above link.

Mark your Calendars for FIATECH's Upcoming Annual Technology Conference & Showcase
March 31 - April 2, 2008 at the Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans, LA

The goal of the FIATECH Annual Technology Conference and Showcase is to share and demonstrate emerging technologies that will significantly improve the capital projects industry. The conference presentations and the Technology Showcase will focus on new, emerging technologies solutions not currently in wide use in the capital projects industry but currently or imminently available. Take advantage of the early bird registration (which ends March 7, 2008) and save $100. Read more at the above link.

Additional Meridian News

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Partner News

Meridian Reseller Partner Profile - HardHat Technologies
HardHat Technologies is one of several Meridian value added resellers that are capitalizing on a growing market opportunity. Recent industry research projects that the U.S. construction and engineering industry could reach over $750 billion by 2011^* and HardHat is perfectly poised to take advantage of this opportunity. Read more of this article at the above link. 

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Customer News

Customer Case Study:  Adolfson & Peterson Construction
Adolfson & Peterson Construction uses Prolog software to increase profit margins and double its work volume without adding staff

At Adolfson & Peterson Construction (A&P), profit margins weren't keeping pace with the company's fast-growing revenues. Inefficiencies, poor collaboration and delayed communication were just some of the factors eroding profit. That's why, in late 2000, A&P put together an in-house committee - which it called Team Digital - to evaluate its current technology systems and devise a strategy for change. Team Digital determined that the optimal long-term solution would be the implementation of separate, construction-specific applications for accounting, project management, estimating and customer relationship management (CRM) that could run on a standardized SQL platform. Login to our information library to download this case study.

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Industry Research

Check out two new research papers from IDC...

An Analyst Connection from IDC: An Executive Perspective: Using ILM Technology to Align Real Estate and Facilities Portfolios with Corporate Objectives

Many of today's Global 2000 organizations drive their success from traditional "brick and mortar"-type industries that are dependent on physical infrastructure assets to deliver core products and services to market. Login to our information library to download this research paper.

Read what IDC Sees as the Key to the Success of Engineering, Construction & RE Industries
Bridging the Technology Gap: The Role of Infrastructure Life-Cycle Management in Controlling Risk and Improving Operations

This IDC Vendor Spotlight reviews the emerging market for infrastructure lifecycle management (ILM) applications and the impact this technology is having on program management at engineering and construction organizations. The ILM market originates from project and portfolio management, with a specific focus on capital asset project planning, execution and operations for building owners and their AEC industry service providers. Login to our information library to download this research paper.

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Product News

Meridian Systems Information Library 
Download product demonstrations, case studies, whitepapers, recorded webcasts, notable articles and more.

SupportLink
This password-protected support extranet-exclusively for customers-provides all the tools and information you need to find answers to your Meridian support questions. You'll find the latest information on our products, technical bulletins, documentation, product downloads and more.

Prolog Training
Interested in Prolog training classes? Be sure to check out the complete schedule of upcoming sessions taking place in a city near you. Prolog classes are being offered by the Meridian Global Partner Network. Click here to see the complete Prolog Training schedule!

ProjectTalk
ProjectTalk subscribers can log in here to access the hosted version of our full-featured project management, and collaboration solution.

e-Learning Center
Using a blended learning approach of self-paced and instructor-led on-line training, the e-Learning Center offers users a personalized curriculum based on role and learning style.

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Product Tips of the Month

Using Set Groups in Portfolio Manager to Organize Your Projects Under User Defined Folders
By John Meek, Meridian Support Services Technical Analyst

To help keep your projects organized in the Portfolio Manager you can create your own folders, name them, and use the ‘Extra Fields' tab to sort them how you would like. Read more at the above link.