What are the main offshore project management tools and software you use?

I currently use a solution and it's very effective. We utilise Asana on a business account and use this to track task assignments across timelines. It has customisable workflows so we can fit various scopes into the flow and early manage changes and updates. Full visibility and instant communications to the wider team to keep everyone informed. The team can comment on tasks, tag each other and share files related. We also use this with plugins and integrate to other tools like Microsoft Teams and SharePoint, it does also plug into google sheets and zoom too for cases where customers have input. Invaluable tool for team management and mission control.

In terms of communication, the tools used by the team should address its needs and be easy to use. Communication between the onshore-based team and the offshore team is crucial for the operation's success so it needs to be solid. From my experience the most effective solution is based on Office 365 and the communication tool in that case is Microsoft Teams. It not only allows for chat and video calls for people inside and outside your organization but also makes collaboration more efficient and structured.

We loved using simple project management platforms like Asana or Trello. They were like our project control center, making tasks, deadlines, and teamwork organized and easy to follow. Customizable boards and tasks simplified progress tracking, keeping us all on the same page effortlessly. We also found collaborative document tools like Google Workspace or Microsoft Teams incredibly helpful. They allowed real-time editing and document sharing, ensuring everyone had the latest project updates. Integrating these tools boosted efficiency and transparency, making workflows smoother for better project outcomes.

In industries such as Oil&Gas, manpower or workforce management plays a KEY role where its critical to manage them most efficiently, so that cost saving or optimization opportunities are not missed. This can be achieved by software platforms which can not only track the entire lifecycle of the manpower (known as crew in O&G) but also connects other integral pieces such as training, competency management, wellbeing etc. In todays time when technology is being leveraged more & more, cloud based solutions are making their way to positively impact the O&G crewing operations which accounts to almost or in some cases more than 50% of cost for the organizations. This is absolutely required for both SMEs & bigger organizations.

In the dynamic environment of offshore drilling operations, tools used for collaborations need to be simple and responsive. In recent years Office 365 has become the go-to solution because of online-offline collaboration capabilities. Sharepoint is used as one source of truth for all documentation with version control and synchronization. Since it became industry standard it is easy to implement and onboard when working with external stakeholders.

Using tools like Monte Carlo simulations or Decision Tree Analysis has been incredibly helpful. They offered a deeper analysis of risks, especially in complex scenarios, helping assess different potential outcomes and their probabilities. Also, integrating Project Management Software with built-in risk management modules streamlined identifying, tracking, and mitigating risks throughout the project. These tools significantly boosted our risk management strategy, ensuring proactive measures and better decision-making for successful project delivery.

I use comprehensive risk management tools like RiskWatch and methodologies such as Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) for offshore projects. Additionally, project management tools like Jira and collaborative platforms like Slack enhance communication and coordination, ensuring efficient offshore project execution while mitigating risks proactively

I've used risk turn and riskalyze but haven't promoted these internally. Part of the SAP GRC suite, there is a tool SAP Risk Management which helps us at a corporate business level to integrate to our contracts on SAP Business but these too are only high-level functional. The best form of risk management is having a team of professional plan, review and mitigate. We get far more specific and relevant content from discussing openly when it comes to risk management and use these session to share experiences for more in depth insights.

In a modern-day of fit-for-purpose software solutions using Excel or Google Sheets for Risk management seems outdated. Tools like OilfieldOS and GeoenergyOS can provide much better experience and results reducing the time needed for risk identification, mitigation, and monitoring. in OilfieldOS the Risk Register is directly connected to specific Operational Steps and will show up for the upcoming operation. It can also make it much easier to evaluate them in After Action Review and create Lessons Learned.

Consider the practical elements, the field teams offshore and the first hand information and feed-back from the in-situ location. I prefer to avoid spending too much time online and try to capture management functions by training and engaging with the offshore teams and they can report findings back to the software for HSE analysis and reviews for improvement.

The O&G industry faces a myriad of workforce challenges, including the need for reskilling, strategic workforce planning, talent retention & managing an aging workforce. These challenges are further exacerbated by safety concerns & the high costs associated with employee turnover. Effective workforce mngt is essential for sustaining operations & maintaining competitiveness. Cloud-based software provides a robust framework for addressing workforce challenges by offering real-time data integration, advanced analytics & seamless communication. across departments. These capabilities facilitate strategic workforce planning, enhance talent management, ensure regulatory compliance, increase retention, and contribute to a culture of safety.

While looking for the best communication and collaboration tools for offshore projects, teams need to take into consideration the specifics of such operations and the personnel involved. This means looking not only at functionality but also at user experience and technical capabilities in case of a slow internet connection.