Development of an Excel checklist for process support

Programming of a Microsoft Excel solution to support the processes of a real estate manager

CORPUS SIREO Asset Management Commercial GmbH (Heusenstamm), a full-service real estate service provider operating throughout Europe, offers its clients services relating to the management, acquisition and sale of real estate, ...

and commissioned eWorks to develop a customized software solution to support internal business processes: the "Checklist". During the first phase of the project, eWorks recorded the technical requirements of all those involved and developed a technical solution proposal that best met all needs and could be implemented with minimal effort. In the subsequent, second project phase, eWorks developed a design ("click dummy"), which was presented to the team and visually illustrated the intended functions and possibilities of the software. In the third and final phase of the project, the prototype was developed into a usable software product with the necessary flexibility and robustness of a production system.

In principle, both the programming of a web application and the development of a Windows application were considered for the technical implementation, as both approaches met the client's requirements of being able to be used on any workstation on the one hand, but also requiring as little installation effort as possible on the other. As a web server was not available and close integration with Microsoft Office was also required, an Office solution based on Microsoft Excel 2007 was favored. In addition, the architecture as an Office application also enabled the client to make minor changes to the software themselves if required. The usability of the Excel tool in the client's geographically distributed multi-user environment proved to be a particular challenge in this context, but this could ultimately be guaranteed by a mechanism developed in-house, so that in the end all of the client's requirements could be met with this solution approach.

eWorks designed and developed the "checklist" as an Excel 2007 workbook. The functionality focused on functions for importing and exporting data, which can import master data from other IT systems and make it available again. The actual data processing was carried out using numerous, convenient input masks and forms, which provide different views of the data and enable data records to be entered, changed and deleted. As a special refinement, an integrated file management and a connection to Microsoft Outlook or Microsoft Exchange for to-do and appointment management were programmed. All functionalities and masks were developed using VBA ("Visual Basic for Applications"), a stable and proven Microsoft technology for integrating individual functions into Excel workbooks and other Office documents.

The finished Excel tool was quality assured by eWorks and handed over to the client. The subsequent pilot test by various user groups was carried out in close coordination between the client and eWorks and revealed the final potential for improvement, which could be incorporated into the Excel application at short notice before it went live in order to give it the finishing touches for future day-to-day work. This optimized software solution serves as a product briefing for the future implementation of further application focal points in an SAP-based solution.

The project was carried out in close and trusting cooperation with the strategic real estate consultant "MAX.P GmbH" (Düsseldorf), which provided eWorks with constructive support and advice on all technical issues at all times.