When organisations invest in new project controls software, they often believe the hardest part is choosing the right tool. The reality is very different: the true challenge lies in making the software work for your people, your processes, and your wider organisation. Too often, companies underestimate what it takes to implement a solution effectively – and the consequences can be costly.
In our conversation with Paul Vogels, CEO of Primaned, he reflected on the pitfalls he has seen organisations fall into, and why a full-service provider can make the difference between a tool that becomes a business asset and one that is abandoned after a year.
Many organisations still take the easy route of purchasing a licence for a well-known tool without considering how it will be integrated. This shortcut approach usually leads to:
If you are wondering whether project controls software is a “nice-to-have” or an essential investment, this blog explores why it has become a must-have for modern project organisations.
Organisations often believe that they can manage an implementation alone. They ask a scheduler or internal project manager to take ownership, sometimes (typically) alongside their daily responsibilities. While the intention is good, the results are rarely successful.
Project Controls is a specialist field. Internal staff often have a limited scope, based on the way their organisation has always worked. What is missing is the broader perspective of best practices seen across dozens of similar projects. Without this outside experience, shortcuts are taken, critical stakeholders are not involved, and the end result is a tool that does not deliver on expectations.
“We see companies every year who start with a ‘we’ll do it ourselves’ mentality.” Paul Vogels mentions. “A year later, they come to us for a repair project because the implementation never truly got off the ground.”
Attempting a rollout or migration without expert guidance often leads to setbacks. The following blog ''Why Migrating from One Project Controls Tool to Another Is Rarely Just a Technical Switch'', will help you understand what’s really involved in a successful migration. Spoiler alert: it's not just about data exports and imports.
The cost of failed or incomplete implementations is more than financial. The risks stretch across your organisation:
In sectors such as energy transition and infrastructure, there is little room for error. Even a single flawed dataset or delayed project can have significant financial and reputational consequences.
To prevent these pitfalls, Primaned has developed a full-service approach that covers the complete project controls journey including continuous improvement programmes:
By combining these five disciplines, organisations gain a holistic and future-proof implementation. Change management and adoption are often bigger hurdles than the technology itself. Discover practical strategies in our blog on how to overcome resistance to software adoption.
A fragmented approach often involves contracting and managing multiple vendors, such as one for software, one for implementation and one for training, and so on. This places the burden of coordination on the client, which can lead to delays, inconsistent results, and duplicated work.
Primaned removes this complexity. As Paul Vogels explains:
‘’Instead of multiple vendors, we provide an one-stop-shop for all your needs. C-suite leaders and project controls managers do not have to choose between different training providers, consultants, or software brokers. ‘’Our clients focus on their business outcomes, while we deliver the integrated system and adoption that makes those outcomes possible.’’
Primaned is a boutique consultancy. We are fully focused on project controls, with 40 years of experience. Our five business units specialise in software implementation & integration, BI and Data Analytics, training, consultancy, and temporary project-centric knowledge and capacity via PROCON Professionals.
Unlike global brokers or large IT firms, we bring:
Gasunie: A full-service implementation that began with a project controls scan as part of the Integrated Resource Management (IRMA) programme. This provided a clear picture of the existing processes and gaps. Primaned supported the transition from MSP and P6 towards Oracle Primavera Cloud, including pilot projects, workshops and extensive key-user training. The implementation also covered integral resource planning, the setup of Power BI dashboards and the foundation for risk management. By combining processes, tools, training and BI integration, Gasunie achieved a unified approach to project controls across its organisation.
BAM: A guided transition journey from P6 on-premise to P6 in the cloud and subsequently to Oracle Primavera Cloud. Primaned supported BAM throughout this multi-phase migration, ensuring technical accuracy while minimising disruption. Alongside the technical rollout, BAM invested heavily in staff training and process redesign to embed new ways of working. This approach improved adoption rates and allowed BAM to scale its project controls practices in line with its growth.
Dura Vermeer: Specialised support focusing on planning and risk management to strengthen project performance. Primaned consultants embedded directly into projects, helping to optimise integrated schedules and align risk management with planning deliverables. Dura Vermeer’s approach shows how targeted expertise within a full-service framework can deliver significant impact without requiring a complete organisational transformation.
Alliander: Selected Primaned after a tender process to implement an integrated project controls system for all mid-stream energy projects as a pilot for the enterprise rollout. The solution combined planning and risk management in a single platform, providing greater transparency across the portfolio. Alliander valued Primaned’s ability to bring together multiple disciplines within project controls, supported by proven implementation methods and sector-specific expertise.
Curious to read more about how Dura Vermeer has transformed its way of working with Oracle Primavera Cloud? Explore their full story here
As projects become larger and more complex, especially in the energy transition, the tolerance for errors is shrinking. Major contractors are becoming increasingly hesitant to bid for projects where the risks are too high. This means that project organisations must be better prepared with reliable, integrated and scalable systems and processes.
To borrow the words of U.S. President John F. Kennedy: ‘’Repair the roof while the sun is shining.’’ The time to invest in the right partnerships, tools and processes is now, before the storm hits, so take a close look at your current ways of working.
Choosing the right software is just the beginning. To ensure it delivers value, you need a trusted partner who understands not just the technology, but also your people, your processes and the challenges of your sector.
A full-service provider like Primaned gives decision-makers peace of mind: one partner, one commitment, one outcome. Controlled, predictable and successful projects.
Are you preparing for a major software rollout? Talk to our experts about how a full-service approach can secure adoption, reduce risk and protect your ROI.