7north’s initial project workflow consisted of project managers (PMs) using standalone versions of Project Plan 365, Microsoft Project and Microsoft Excel, all trying to collaborate on project work via email and using various cloud-storage strategies. But as 7north started to grow - from a startup to a full-fledged business, that scenario quickly became untenable. For example, 7north had one newly hired project manager working on an Agile plan, another working in Excel trying to simulate a Waterfall plan (while dreaming of Microsoft Project), and another was using nothing more than memory (we think). 7north was clearly losing the race to a rapid success.

The newly minted C-Level team realized that they needed to act fast, and needed some form of project portfolio management. In short, they needed to establish a Project Management Office (PMO) - but who had time for that? So instead of taxing their one-person IT department to death, they decided to find and implement a Software as a Service (SAAS) solution, one that worked for all plan managers and contributors, right out of the box.

After the "IT department" tried out Project Plan 365: Individual (PM) Plan on the 30-day free trial, the IT guy “bought-in” and subscribed to Project Plan 365: Business (PMO) Plan for a team of ten. The software was configured, and within days all plan owners were collaborating with team members tasked with work, and other collaborators were also pitching in to make things right. Within weeks, the C-Level team could see their complete portfolio of project data, all in one place. Portfolio views (dashboards) were populated by intelligent software that was monitoring project progress across the board. The team could even see data being updated in real time as the team got on with the work. Moreover, the 7north team was elated that they did not have to change the way in which they worked all that much (except perhaps for the one who was keeping everything in his head).

The manager who dreamt of MS Project, just about had his dream come true - after all, Project Plan 365 opens MS Project files natively and looks and behaves a lot like MS Project as well. And even more surprising (for the price), everyone could work on whatever platform or device they desired - even iPhones! The team could work on plans at the same time, update their own status and more. In addition, 7north's confidential and sensitive project data was now stored safely in their very own private cloud called Drive 365. Well, this was just what the doctor ordered, and 7north is now well on it's way to the top.