Aconex has introduced a new approach to streamlining vendor document management on mining and energy projects.

Integrated within the Aconex system of online project collaboration solutions for the engineering and construction industries, the Supplier Documents module combines automation with powerful tracking tools to enable engineering contractors and asset owners to handle large volumes of documentation and easily track items.

Director of Product Rob Phillpot said, "Vendor document management is notorious for being a difficult, time-consuming process. However, to keep a project on schedule, it needs to be done efficiently and without error.

"During a mining, power, oil or gas project, there can potentially be hundreds of vendors submitting thousands of documents relating to installation and ongoing maintenance.

"Typically, contractors manage this process using a combination of spreadsheets, email, internal systems and many man-hours. As a result, a common scenario is that documentation isn't properly captured, time is lost chasing suppliers, and contractors are unable to provide their clients with accurate reports," he said. "All of which can add to project costs and adversely impact schedule.

"Aconex Supplier Documents has been built specifically to solve this problem. It speeds up processing and makes it easy for contractors to track the submission and review of documents from vendors.

"The result is improved information capture, better management of complex projects and greater control for all parties," said Phillpot.

A white paper outlining in more detail how Supplier Documents can benefit contractors and asset owners can be downloaded from www.aconex.com.

Over the past 12 months, Aconex has accelerated its investment in product development, enhancing its document management functionality and releasing its first set of web APIs to enable integration between its system and other software products used by its clients.

"Our goal is to help our clients to deliver successful projects by streamlining the large, complex flow of information and communication," said Phillpot. "To achieve this, we put unparalleled resources into developing new products, such as Supplier Documents, that replace the inefficiencies of traditional tools."

Aconex is the world's largest provider of web-based project collaboration solutions to the mining, energy and construction industries. From its 35 offices, the company services US$220 billion worth of projects across 65 countries. Delivered using the Software as a Service (SaaS) model, the system allows project members to access, distribute, track and archive their data in real-time, from any location and at any time.