Deltek Cobra Implementation Services
Deltek Cobra comes with a default configuration that lets you get up and running quickly. However, it is a very configurable tool that can be tailored to your specific needs.
Some of the typical questions you need to consider when implementing Deltek Cobra are:
- How to approach integration with the scheduling engine? Cobra has a very flexible Integration Wizard that provides many options.
- How will baseline data be loaded into Cobra? Will cost and schedule be integrated on the schedule or developed separately?
- How to model costs (overheads, burdens pools, escalation etc.)?
- How to integrate with your ERP application to collect actual costs? Will costs be collected at the control account or work package level?
- How is forecasting going to be handled? Taking advantage of Cobra’s manual and statistical forecasting options or driven totally from the schedule?
- What types of business rules will be applied. Cobra offers many options covering such things as whether actual costs can be posted to a closed work package/control account.
- How will Cobra be operated? Run by an administrator or will CAMs and other program-roles have direct access to Cobra?
- How will Variance Analysis and Variance reporting be handled?
If you are loading data for projects that are already in in-progress you have to consider data migration issues as well.
Pinnacle’s implementation approach has been refined over many years on large and small engagements. Our approach emphasizes user-participation, is adaptable, and will guide you through the pros and cons of alternatives to each of the questions above. The goal of our implementation approach is successful adoption of the new system.
Deploying software applications usually involves the following phases:
- Requirements/Architecture – agree the basic requirements and technical approach. Includes role definitions, user-scenario development and technical architecture.
- Prototyping/Configuration – building prototypes to support decision making
- Development – build any custom migration, integration or reporting that is required
- End to End Testing – test the applications from end to end
- Deployment, Documentation and Training– iteratively deploy functionality to the users