GENERAL NEWS
From the MD ’ s desk
By Brett Marlin
As I write this article , the staff in the office are all preparing for us to host the latest Time Adventure Challenge ( TAC ), our eighth TAC event , which takes place on Sunday 3 September . It honestly feels as if the first one was just the other day .
I remember it so clearly , but when I went back to look at the date we started , I was shocked to see that the first event was actually in 2014 . There was a hiatus of two years during 2020 and 2021 due to Covid , but we are back as strong as ever . It really is quite amazing that something which was initially done as a once-off could still be going strong after 10 years . It really is a testament to our staff who organise the event and how well they do it that we just continue to get so many participants year after year .
The TAC was conceived on the back of us wanting to change up our annual “ thank you ” to our consultants and clients , where we had previously given out calendars that were becoming obsolete in the current electronic age . The Time directors agreed that we would take over the concept of the defunct Nandos Challenge , but rather than just hold the event , we would donate all the entry fees to charity , which we have done , the most evident being the Disabled Society wheelchair basketball court and the outdoor gyms that are dotted around the town . The reason for the success is how the corporate and private individuals have taken on and supported the event . Thank you so much from all of us at Time .
In an effort to provide our clients with the best possible service level in terms of project management , we have changed our project management software and upgraded it to the latest web-based construction project management program , Procore . This is certainly going to take us to the next level in terms of services and management of our projects , where we now have incorporated all facets of the
construction process into one integrated program . We are now able to manage our projects in real time and have up to the minute information that is used by not only the project manager but also the consultants , contractors and clients . Procore will be used from the initial planning of a project to the construction process where daily diaries , site instructions , request for information , payments , budgeting , programming and drawing issuing is done online , to a post construction snagging and project closure .
The use of Procore also ties in with our green strategy as all queries , construction instructions , issue of drawings , budgets , payments and collaboration between all the parties is done online and in real time , so there are not reams of paper and wasted time , as communication is instantaneous . It is going to take a bit of time to get everyone up and running , but it won ’ t be long before our clients see the benefit .
Taking the technology forward , it ’ s quite amazing how we have gone from having our own server with all the programs installed on the server including our email , to the server being almost obsolete . We are now running most of our software in the cloud . Currently , we run all our accounts ( AccPac ), property management ( MDA ), project management ( Procore ), payments ( Foreflow ) and our email server remotely . This has real advantages when travelling , but also has its own challenges in term of internet stability and bandwidth . This is something that we not only need to address in our developments , but also Government and Bofinet in managing the cost and availability of a stable internet service in Botswana and Zambia .
ABOUT TIME , the quarterly newsletter of Time Projects Editor : Brett Marlin
Managing editor : Faye-Marie Cloete Email : faye @ novacomms . net Cell : + 267 7137 6232
Contributors : Chevon Barrowman , Kagiso Sebetso , John Kelly , Michael Hughes , Mmika Selei , Heinrich Malan , Roy Mapharing , Rorisang Macheng and Tapiwa Modise
Tel : + 267 395 6080 | Fax : + 267 390 0160 | Email : time @ time . co . bw | Website : www . time . co . bw
ABOUT TIME is published on behalf of Time Projects by Nova Communications ( Pty ) Ltd . The opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the authors and people interviewed and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editor , publisher or Time Projects . While all precautions have been taken to ensure accuracy of information , the editors and publisher cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies which may inadvertently have occurred .
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ISSUE 55 - SEPTEMBER 2023