The client is a leading UAE-based manufacturer specializing in producing high-quality steel and building materials for various industries, including construction, energy, and transportation. By integrating advanced technologies and sustainability practices into its processes, it has established itself as a key player in global markets, exporting products to 70 countries.A case of how UBTI’s Power Platform solution gives steel manufacturers centralized oversight of all projects and tasks.
The Client
The client is a leading UAE-based manufacturer specializing in producing high-quality steel and building materials for various industries, including construction, energy, and transportation. By integrating advanced technologies and sustainability practices into its processes, it has established itself as a key player in global markets, exporting products to 70 countries. Known for its strong research and innovation capabilities, the company delivers tailored solutions to the most complex construction challenges, by supplying everything from steel rebar and wire rods to heavy sections and sheet piles across sectors.
Challenges Faced by the Client
In capital-intensive sectors like steel manufacturing, effectively managing projects, programs, and plans is critical to ensuring business continuity, safety, and resource optimization. A robust Project Management Office (PMO) tool acts as a strategic platform that helps teams manage dependencies, deliver on time, and avoid costly errors.
However, managing multiple project streams manually or using siloed tools led to process bottlenecks for the client. They faced several roadblocks:
- Lack of centralized visibility across projects and programs meant leadership teams couldn’t track real-time progress.
- No structured approach to task assignments – work allocation often lacked traceability and accountability.
- Inconsistent workflows across departments created confusion in execution timelines and ownership.
- Limited analytical capabilities, with little insight into delays, workloads, or trends.
Solutions
A model-driven Power Apps PMO tool was developed to tackle these challenges, integrating Microsoft Planner and Power Automate. Key features include:
- Modular Structure: Custom tabs like Business Case, Program, Project, Plan, and Admin guide users through the full lifecycle (from ideation to execution).
- Structured Project Lifecycle: 5 distinct tabs were added under project phases, namely Initiation, Planning, Execution, Monitor & Control, and Close-Out. This helps users track a project’s journey and manage updates systematically at every stage.
- Task Assignments Linked to Planner: Tasks created in the “Plan” section are directly pushed to Microsoft Planner, ensuring real-time assignment and status tracking.
- Multi-Role Collaboration: Each project supports stakeholder tagging under roles like PMO Analyst, CPMO Approver, Technical Lead, Sponsor, and Workstream Head. This structure encourages accountability while automating permissions and workflows tied to each role.
- JavaScript Integration: Specific functions were enhanced using embedded JavaScript code, enabling smart behaviors and form-level interactivity.
Solutions Benefits
- Report Generation: The tool on the home page can generate over 33 unique business reports, providing deep insights into project health, overdue tasks, and program-level KPIs.
- Centralized Project Oversight: One unified view of projects, tasks, and plans reduces dependency on scattered spreadsheets or emails.
- Faster Turnarounds: Automated notifications and structured workflows accelerate approvals and task execution.
- Enhanced Accountability: Every task is trackable, assigned, and monitored, reducing chances of missed responsibilities.
- Scalable Architecture: The modular approach and report scalability fit the solution for enterprise-wide adoption.
