Research analysts clearly state that a “project management” tool that automates the schedules, handoffs, and budgets for design, construction, remodels, and special projects can streamline communication and work across internal resources and third-party contractors. The retail industry is making a massive shift from Excel spreadsheets and homegrown technology to packaged applications for managing the entire lifecycle of properties. A 44% year-over-year increase in technology adoption shows a real desire by executives to connect-the dots amongs once disparate processes and embrace a holistic approach to managing this aspect of the retail operation.

ecVision^® XpressCommerce^® addresses all of the challenges enterprises are faced with, enabling them to streamline and refine the business processes of store construction projects starting with site development to grand opening. The Store Construction module helps companies reduce the time and cost it takes to open new stores, improve the overall execution of the business processes, and better manage corporate governance and compliance requirements. Specifically, this product is a central, Web-based resource for all project information and communications. Licensed as a SaaS (Software as a Service) solution, the Store Construction module can be quickly implemented with little involvement of IT resources. The primary features of this product include:

• Task and Role Assignment: Appropriate access is established for roles and company hierarchies are easily configured to ensure each user has the access and permissions they need.



• Process Tracking: Provides instant access and real-time visibility into the entire workflow process that is contained in one centralized system. This level of automated tracking of project status and automated reports benefits every team member.



• Rule/Alert Exception-Based Management: A user-friendly wizard creates alerts that are routed to the appropriate party via the system, email, or both. Alerts are automatically generated based on each client's business rules, and include an automated escalation feature to ensure proper managerial oversight and true exception-based reporting to reduce missed milestones.



• Detailed Reporting Based on Tasks and Progress: The Reporting Tool enables users to create, run, save, schedule, share, print or export comprehensive system and ad-hoc reports with tabular, summary, and drilldown capabilities. Dashboards present effective, appropriate analytics to the source data to display clear, actionable information to make smart business decisions.



• Streamlined Communication and Collaboration Hub for all Activities: This feature establishes a centralized repository for collaborative discussions—a vast improvement over distributed email messages. Attaching "discussions" to a specific issue ensures that all relevant information is instantly at-hand. This feature shortens the time it takes to resolve problems, makes for more effective negotiations, and creates an easy-to-research database of past discussions/negotiations.



• Master Records: Masters are data files used throughout the system to eliminate redundant data entry by sharing information across all business functions. They can be created within the system or by importing data to build master records for each Store, Supplier, Contractor and Product, as needed.



• Floor Planning and Visual Merchandising: Provides the ability to attach floor plans, architectural designs, and plan-o-grams to ensure consistent in-store merchandising and design aspects are relayed.