Impact faster

Frequently asked questions about Altus PPM and Projectum xPM

For more answers – e.g. on pricing, GDPR, migration and AI in the PMO – see our full FAQ.

• Why do you offer two alternative solutions for project and portfolio management, Altus and Projectum xPM?

  We see ourselves as neutral consultants for our customers and try to find the most suitable project and portfolio management solutions for each customer with a focus on the Microsoft and Atlassian world.

• What distinguishes Altus and Projectum xPM from other project and portfolio management solutions? What are the unique selling points of each?

  In short, for Microsoft 365 including data storage exclusively in the Microsoft environment of your organization, there are no other solutions internationally with a complete range of functions for portfolio, project, product and resource management including scenario planning and time recording as well as historization and recovery of all data that are true standard products.

• Is there a demo version for Altus and Projectum xPM that we can test ourselves?

  Yes, we can provide you with Altus and Projectum xPM Essentials for testing in your Microsoft 365 environment within one day.

• Which customers are already using Altus and Project xPM?

  In addition to our customers Amer Sports, KWS, LAPP, Stadtreinigung Hamburg, Accompio, SteelcoBelimed (Miele), KPT, Rohde & Schwarz and KUKA in the DACH region, more than 400 companies worldwide use the two solutions. VOLVO, Heineken, Nordea, Hempel, SBM Offshore, Aalborg, Vattenfall, Convatec, European Energy, Bavarian Nordic A/S, FLSmidth & Co, Opal, Mater, Melbourne Airport, BeyondBank, Glencore, KBR, SA Power Networks, Pymble Ladies College, Life without Barriers and many more.

• Can I use Altus and Projectum xPM to plan our resources?

  Yes, both solutions have a built-in resource management function. You can plan resources both at task level and at project level. If desired, the project manager can visualize their requirements for each project with one click to the respective team leader, who can then easily assign the appropriate resources. The special feature is that you can also balance out which projects fit into your project portfolio from a resource perspective at a high level by simply moving them around.

• How much training is required for Altus and Projectum xPM?

  Altus and Projectum xPM are very easy to use. So simple that our customer Volker Jach was sent away by his project manager after just a few minutes with the words "That's obvious" after he tried to give him a brief introduction (see recording of the KPT customer presentation in the References section). Altus also contains video tutorials in the product.

• Can I integrate Altus and Projectum xPM with Microsoft Teams?

  Yes, both Altus and Projectum xPM can be integrated with Microsoft Teams. For example, you can create a team channel for each project or program and then display the associated documents within the app or access the application itself via Teams. Projectum xPM also includes Teams-integrated time tracking, which you can also use with the Microsoft Teams mobile app.

• How can I migrate data from existing project management systems?

  Migrating data from Project Online to Altus is particularly easy. You can simply activate the existing connector and the project data will be available in Altus within a short time. You can then specify which projects you want to use in Altus and see them in the reports provided. We also offer simple ways to transfer data for many other PPM solutions. As Altus can not only migrate the data once, but can also synchronize it over a longer period of time or even permanently, you can also migrate step by step.

• Can I also transfer my employee data, including absences, from our existing system?

  Yes, the easiest way is to synchronize the user data from the Active Directory or Entra Id to Altus and Projectum xPM, so that all users are automatically authorized according to their role and are available as resources for planning. If desired, additional data such as absence times or departmental affiliation can also be transferred from existing sources such as the HR system. All this can be done without proprietary additional tools.

• Can Altus and Projectum xPM also be integrated with Outlook or Exchange?

  This is our specialty. We have been offering integrations between project and scheduling solutions for over 25 years, including in conjunction with our Allocatusproduct . Probably no other company in the world has so much experience with the most diverse use cases, such as the transfer of absence times from the Outlook calendar, the visualization of tasks and milestones in the Outlook calendar or the task list or time feedback from the Outlook calendar.

• Can our existing time recording system be integrated into Altus or Projectum xPM?

  Yes, as an alternative to the Altus and Projectum xPM project time recording systems supplied, you can also integrate your own time recording system, such as SAP CATs. You can also integrate attendance time recording.

• Can Altus and Projectum xPM be adapted to our organization?

  Yes! One of the great strengths of Altus and Projectum xPM that many views such as Gantt, Kanban and Roadmap can be highly customized with just a few clicks.

• Can I also use Altus and Projectum xPM internationally?

  Yes, both solutions come in English as standard. Together with the manufacturers, we offer translations for all common languages on request. Users can then decide for themselves in which language they want to use the application.

• Can I use my own project templates in Altus and Projectum xPM?

  Yes, with Altus, depending on the planning tool used, and with Projectum xPM in its own scheduler, several templates can even be combined in a simple way. However, Holert's AI-supported planning function makes it even easier.

• Can I define my own project types in Altus and Projectum xPM?

  Yes, you can define which data should be recorded for each project type and the process according to which it should run through the project life cycle. This allows you to effectively manage projects in different areas such as customer projects, development projects and internal projects, projects of different sizes and projects that are implemented using different methods, e.g. agile, hybrid or V-model.

• Which reports are included with Altus and Projectum xPM?

  Both Altus and Projectum xPM come with a variety of reports that cover all typical project and portfolio management issues. These are updated regularly and can be easily adapted to your own requirements. The special feature is that the reports take account of authorizations on request, i.e. each user only sees in the reports what they are allowed to see. We also offer a function that allows you to historicize the entire data (!) and restore it at any time.

• Can I map idea management with Altus and Projectum xPM?

  Yes, both Altus and Projectum xPM have idea management as standard. In Altus, business challenges can also be defined against which ideas can be collected. Ideas can then be evaluated with AI and, if selected, converted into project proposals or projects via definable process steps.

• Can I define who sees which data, e.g. resource utilization in Altus or Projectum xPM?

  Yes, depending on the respective roles, you can define exactly who can see what. This is possible at table level, e.g. projects, resources, but also at field level. In other words, you can define very specifically who can see and, if necessary, edit what, in which role and at what time?

• How will Altus and Projectum xPM be further developed?

  Altus and Projectum xPM continuously develop their solutions and provide new versions at regular intervals. The special thing about Altus is that the upgrade process can be fully automated on request. Both manufacturers and we provide regular information about the planned new developments and involve existing customers in the planning at regular customer events.

• How can non-project-related tasks and employee absences such as vacations be included in Altus and Projectum xPM for meaningful capacity planning?

  Both Altus and Projectum xPM allow the recording of line activities and other non-project-related activities. In addition, absence times such as vacation, parental leave, sabbaticals and much more can be recorded. This can be recorded in the PPM solution or automatically integrated via other data sources such as HR systems. You do not need any additional tools for this; it is part of the scope of delivery, including the resource management function.