Week 4 - Record

Within the design process, keeping track of important records and making them organized and available take away stress and confusion. The Document Locator is a simple record-keeping system to enhance collaboration for architecure firms and to improve business efficiency and reduce risk. It integrates specialized features for architectural firms to improve the management of computer-aided design (CAD) files, drawings, project files, financial documents and communications.

Document Locator possess a great control to project execution as it allows document sharing and markup, business process automation, and access from remote locations. "While new design tools have advanced individual productivity by hiding complexity behind visualization, higher-level modeling and computation, they don’t address the urgent need to improve complex collaboration among the various individuals who are involved in the design and build process," commented Carl Azar, vice president of marketing and product development for ColumbiaSoft.[1]

Financial and legal risks associated with projects are also integral part in an architectural firm. In order to avoid miscommunications, missed deadlines and incomplete project records, innovative collaboration tools are employed to foster colaboration across the project lifecycle and beyond delivery. Therefore, it is crucial to keep a record in in terms of the collaboration process.

Document Locator addresses the need for collaboration by introducing tools that allow for real-time document sharing, including review and approval of documents, designs and communications. By expediting, monitoring and automating review cycles, Document Locator enhances project efficiency for project managers and members. In addition, Document Locator improves accountability by maintaining strict control over information and creating an audit trail of document transactions and communications, keeping everyone focused and informed. The business process automation capabilities built into Document Locator help keep projects on schedule and support overall productivity with document-centric workflows that integrate project information, details, plans and critical steps across all project participants. [2]

Document Locator provides access to core operations through integration with Microsoft, Brava! and AutoCAD. It involves: managing communications records, remote Access,document workflow and security.

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Reference:

[1] [2] "COLUMBIASOFT ANNOUNCES ENTERPRISE DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT SOLUTION FOR AEC INDUSTRY - Document Locator Enhances Collaboration for Architecture, Engineering & Construction Firms, Improving Business Efficientcy and Reducing Rick", ColumbiaSoft Corporation,viewd on 13 April, 2008, <+record+architectural+project+collaboration&hl=zh-CN&ct=clnk&cd=5&gl=au">http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:-tuFUegogooJ:www.documentlocator.com/Company/News/9_05_07/>+record+architectural+project+collaboration&hl=zh-CN&ct=clnk&cd=5&gl=au