InLoox
Encyclopedia
InLoox is a software for project planning
, resource management
, project document management
, mind map
ping and project accounting
for Microsoft Outlook
.
, augmenting features for project management and collaboration. Gantt planning
functionality is combined with CRM
and accounting
funcationality. Main focus of InLoox are small and medium-sized projects.
companies work with InLoox. Since 2007 English, French and Spanish versions are available. Since August 2008 there is also an Italian version. In September 2008 a Russian language version was released.
and Microsoft
take a comparable approach with their joint venture „Duet“. But in contrast to Duet InLoox integrates the whole business process into Outlook.
Similar to Microsoft CRM, InLoox stores ongoing projects in a SQL
database. In 2007 the manufacturer InLoox decided to redesign the system from the core. Previous versions (2.x - 4.x) used Microsoft Exchange public folders
or Personal Folders (.pst) files for data storage. Microsoft’s announcements of moving away from Exchange public folders might have been be the cause for switching to SQL.
Since version 5 InLoox can be hosted on Oracle
, Microsoft SQL Server
or MySQL
respectively. According to manufacturer information there are interfaces to Microsoft Project
, Microsoft Exchange Server
and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server. InLoox 6 also supports Microsoft Project 2007.
The project management software InLoox now has the web application InLoox Web App. This web client enables project teams to connect via Internet and to work on projects together while being on the move. Neither a PDA
nor a "mobile edition"
exist to this date.
Project planning
Project planning is part of project management, which relates to the use of schedules such as Gantt charts to plan and subsequently report progress within the project environment....
, resource management
Resource allocation
Resource allocation is used to assign the available resources in an economic way. It is part of resource management. In project management, resource allocation is the scheduling of activities and the resources required by those activities while taking into consideration both the resource...
, project document management
Document management system
A document management system is a computer system used to track and store electronic documents and/or images of paper documents. It is usually also capable of keeping track of the different versions created by different users . The term has some overlap with the concepts of content management...
, mind map
Mind map
A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks, or other items linked to and arranged around a central key word or idea. Especially in British English, the terms spidergram and spidergraph are more common, but they can cause confusion with the term spider diagram used in mathematics...
ping and project accounting
Project accounting
Project accounting is the practice of creating financial reports specifically designed to track the financial progress of projects, which can then be used by managers to aid project management....
for Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Outlook is a personal information manager from Microsoft, available both as a separate application as well as a part of the Microsoft Office suite...
.
Basic concept
InLoox is integrated into the collaboration software Microsoft OutlookMicrosoft Outlook
Microsoft Outlook is a personal information manager from Microsoft, available both as a separate application as well as a part of the Microsoft Office suite...
, augmenting features for project management and collaboration. Gantt planning
Gantt chart
A Gantt chart is a type of bar chart that illustrates a project schedule. Gantt charts illustrate the start and finish dates of the terminal elements and summary elements of a project. Terminal elements and summary elements comprise the work breakdown structure of the project. Some Gantt charts...
functionality is combined with CRM
Customer relationship management
Customer relationship management is a widely implemented strategy for managing a company’s interactions with customers, clients and sales prospects. It involves using technology to organize, automate, and synchronize business processes—principally sales activities, but also those for marketing,...
and accounting
Accounting software
Accounting software is application software that records and processes accounting transactions within functional modules such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and trial balance. It functions as an accounting information system...
funcationality. Main focus of InLoox are small and medium-sized projects.
Number of installations
According to the manufacturer, the software is currently installed at 30,000 computers predominately in the German-speaking area. 20 percent of the German blue chip stock market DAXDAX
The DAX is a blue chip stock market index consisting of the 30 major German companies trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Prices are taken from the electronic Xetra trading system...
companies work with InLoox. Since 2007 English, French and Spanish versions are available. Since August 2008 there is also an Italian version. In September 2008 a Russian language version was released.
Technology and strategy
The complete integration in Outlook can be seen as a specialty of InLoox, enabling the use of calendar, contact and email data for project management. The manufacturer claims to having recognized that the integration increases the acceptance of users for project management software in corporate environments. However, InLoox is by far not the only solution automating and streamlining business processes with the use of Microsoft Outlook: SAPSAP AG
SAP AG is a German software corporation that makes enterprise software to manage business operations and customer relations. Headquartered in Walldorf, Baden-Württemberg, with regional offices around the world, SAP is the market leader in enterprise application software...
and Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
take a comparable approach with their joint venture „Duet“. But in contrast to Duet InLoox integrates the whole business process into Outlook.
Similar to Microsoft CRM, InLoox stores ongoing projects in a SQL
SQL
SQL is a programming language designed for managing data in relational database management systems ....
database. In 2007 the manufacturer InLoox decided to redesign the system from the core. Previous versions (2.x - 4.x) used Microsoft Exchange public folders
Microsoft Exchange Server
Microsoft Exchange Server is the server side of a client–server, collaborative application product developed by Microsoft. It is part of the Microsoft Servers line of server products and is used by enterprises using Microsoft infrastructure products...
or Personal Folders (.pst) files for data storage. Microsoft’s announcements of moving away from Exchange public folders might have been be the cause for switching to SQL.
Since version 5 InLoox can be hosted on Oracle
Oracle Corporation
Oracle Corporation is an American multinational computer technology corporation that specializes in developing and marketing hardware systems and enterprise software products – particularly database management systems...
, Microsoft SQL Server
Microsoft SQL Server
Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database server, developed by Microsoft: It is a software product whose primary function is to store and retrieve data as requested by other software applications, be it those on the same computer or those running on another computer across a network...
or MySQL
MySQL
MySQL officially, but also commonly "My Sequel") is a relational database management system that runs as a server providing multi-user access to a number of databases. It is named after developer Michael Widenius' daughter, My...
respectively. According to manufacturer information there are interfaces to Microsoft Project
Microsoft Project
Microsoft Project is a project management software program, developed and sold by Microsoft, which is designed to assist a project manager in developing a plan, assigning resources to tasks, tracking progress, managing the budget, and analyzing workloads.The application creates critical path...
, Microsoft Exchange Server
Microsoft Exchange Server
Microsoft Exchange Server is the server side of a client–server, collaborative application product developed by Microsoft. It is part of the Microsoft Servers line of server products and is used by enterprises using Microsoft infrastructure products...
and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server. InLoox 6 also supports Microsoft Project 2007.
The project management software InLoox now has the web application InLoox Web App. This web client enables project teams to connect via Internet and to work on projects together while being on the move. Neither a PDA
Personal digital assistant
A personal digital assistant , also known as a palmtop computer, or personal data assistant, is a mobile device that functions as a personal information manager. Current PDAs often have the ability to connect to the Internet...
nor a "mobile edition"
Windows Mobile
Windows Mobile is a mobile operating system developed by Microsoft that was used in smartphones and Pocket PCs, but by 2011 was rarely supplied on new phones. The last version is "Windows Mobile 6.5.5"; it is superseded by Windows Phone, which does not run Windows Mobile software.Windows Mobile is...
exist to this date.
Articles, partly in German language
- Are Public Folders Dead? Windows IT Pro, 10/2005
- Begin thinking now about Exchange's future, TechRepublic, 12/2005
- Durchblick garantiert, Impulse, 09/2007
- Manufacturer's press release, InLoox 5.0 press release, 10/2007
- Project and Business Process Management Tools, Slipstick Systems Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center, 03/2009
- Projekte im Alltag Alltag in Projekten, GPM-Magazin PMaktuell, Issue 1/2008
- Projekte im Blick, c't, 18/2006
- CNET Review, CNET editors' review, Jan 2010
- Office 2007 für Chefs, Office 2007 für Chefs, Markt + Technik Verlag, 2009
- The Little Black Book of Project Management, The Little Black Book of Project Management, Mcgraw-Hill Professional, 2009