Lindner Prater's Digital Evolution: From Shared Drives and Paper to Centralized Information Management

Customer ExperienceProject Information Management

August 06, 2024

Deltek

An interview with Mike Cock, Head of IT at Lindner Prater

Lindner Prater, part of the German-headquartered Lindner Group, is a UK-based specialist building envelope contractor with decades of experience in providing cladding, roofing and glazing for large infrastructure projects, stadiums and commercial buildings.

Some of their most notable projects include the exteriors of the Olympic Stadium in Stratford and Heathrow Airport's Terminal 4, as well as the 16,050sqm curved green roof on the Peacehaven Wastewater Treatment Plant. Most recently, their projects have included Co-op live in Manchester, Everton Football Stadium, Manchester Airport and London Bridge station.

As the Head of IT, Mike Cock oversees the IT operations for the entire UK business. In a recent conversation, Mike shared his experience working with Deltek since joining the organization in 2019. He discussed how they are enhancing and extending their utilization of the Deltek Project Information Management (PIM) solution.

From Shared Drives to Efficiency - Introducing Centralized Information Management

Before implementing Deltek PIM in 2015, the company, like many construction firms, managed its project information using shared drives and paper. This system was unsustainable as the volume of information and documentation produced and managed for large and complex infrastructure projects with multiple stakeholders continued to increase.

Lindner Prater responded by adopting Deltek PIM, a solution that streamlines project information management. By centralizing project emails, documents and design deliverables, this system has improved efficiency, fostered team collaboration and reduced risks.

When asked about the benefits of having a centralized project information management system in place, Mike said, "Having a single source of truth for project information is invaluable. Version management and control, a clear audit trail and the ability to provide access to project stakeholders means that anyone who needs to find information about a project can reliably access what they require."

Expanding the use of Deltek PIM - Implementing Deltek PIM Teamwork

In late 2023, the company chose to enhance its use of Deltek PIM by introducing the Teamwork module. Deltek PIM Teamwork is a collaborative platform that enables efficient coordination among project teams, both internally and externally. Benefits include streamlined file sharing, centralized document access for improved collaboration, and enhanced project visibility through version control and markup tools.

When asked about the main drivers for implementing Teamwork, Mike commented, "We had a business requirement to improve the way in which we managed the flow and control of project information with our subcontractor partners. This developed as a result of winning a significant project with HS2 and managing one of our largest-ever subcontract packages."

In April of this year, the company implemented Deltek PIM Teamwork after conducting a comprehensive review and RFP process. Ultimately, they determined that Deltek PIM, combined with the Teamwork functionality, offered the best solution for their needs, as other systems fell short of meeting all their requirements.

Mike shared his thoughts on the implementation process, "As with all IT change projects, there are a number of significant challenges. Creating a clear definition of requirements, translating that into a technical requirement, building the solution and then rolling that solution out into the business - all of these activities require input from across the business, and that can be difficult. We have an excellent consultant from Deltek whose knowledge knows no bounds. As a result of this, we have also made improvements in other areas of the business where he has identified positive change within the application."

Efficiency Expansion - Getting Even More from Deltek PIM

When asked about other areas of improvement experienced during the Teamwork implementation, Mike focused on one key example, the realization that they could enhance their contract management processes by utilizing the core system's current functionality. Mike confirmed, "We now manage eight different contract types in the system, and our commercial team are delighted!"

By implementing Deltek PIM and Deltek PIM Teamwork, Lindner Prater has benefitted in several ways:

• Efficient Information Management: PIM allows the team to manage project information and contracts and collaborate effectively with subcontractors.
• Long-Term Information Retrieval: The system ensures easy access to project information even years after project delivery.
• Paperless Office: No more archive boxes; PIM has helped the company streamline document management and version control.

Transform How You Power Project Success

Mike had some positive final thoughts about working with Deltek and utilizing Deltek PIM and Deltek PIM Teamwork, "Deltek consistently enables us to deliver our digital transformation strategy. At its heart, it allows us to capture project information reliably, securely and with a clear audit trail. We have developed the tools to provide automation and mobile capabilities, extending the reach of PIM across the entire project estate."

Lindner Prater's journey with Deltek exemplifies improved efficiency, streamlined processes and increased visibility. Deltek's solutions help project-based organizations get the holistic visibility and control they need to improve collaboration, reduce risk and drive efficiency.

• Customer Stories
• Project Information Management
• Architecture & Engineering
• Construction

Deltek