Launching Linked Items in Pims

Pims launches a brand-new integration between different products within the Pims R4 suite. The Linked Items feature is characterized as groundbreaking.

“Historically, the integration between Pims products has been limited. The introduction of the Linked Items feature represents a significant step towards enhancing collaboration and interoperability across Pims Products,” says Pims R4 Platform Manager, Aleksandr Narožnij, in Omega 365 Lithuania.

“The Linked Items feature is designed to offer super flexibility based on the clients' needs. Super-users can configure which Pims products items they want to be able to establish links to other products’ items,” he says. 

Aleksandr Narožnij, Pims R4 Platform Manager

Intermodular

The concept of linking entities within Pims was first proposed in 2021. Initially, the concept was tested within the HSE module. Subsequently, alternative approaches were explored within Workflows, Risk Management, and custom Quality Management solutions. While these trials showcased the potential of Linked Items, they were confined to specific modules. 

“The true power of Linked Items emerged when the core functionality was generalized and integrated into the Pims General intermodular area, making it accessible for use across all Pims products,” says Narožnij.

Happy about the developer team’s effort

Øyvind Vik, president of Omega 365 USA, praises the new feature. 

“The Linked Items feature brings an incredibly effective and flexible way to integrate documentation and other information elements in Pims R4. Integrating previously siloed data facilitates better understanding, analysis, and decision-making, essentially enhancing the overall functionality.”

President of Omega 365 USA, Øyvind Vik

Vik is also  pleased with the developer team’s effort. 

“The product teams have collaborated closely with clients to solve common use cases and now offer this capability as part of our standard product. It is a great example of our continued commitment to innovate and invest in our software products, bringing increased value, quality, and efficiencies to our clients and their team members,” Vik adds. 

“Within the Pims R4 product teams, we quickly  recognized the significant opportunities of this universal concept, enabling the seamless linking of records across different Pims products,” Narožnij says.

This marked a pivotal moment, introducing Linked Items across all Pims products, breaking the silos and creating a more cohesive and interconnected environment within the Pims R4 suite.

High demand for Linked Items feature

“Linked Items connects Pims more closely and is one of the  most requested features by clients,” says Trygve Ålbotsjord, Department Manager at Omega 365 Solutions in Stavanger, who has worked extensively on the concept with clients. He is pleased that Linked Items is now included in the basic package for Pims. 

“Deviations, change management, risks, queries —everything is connected to documentation,and a lot of these should naturally be linked together. Linked Items  offer a comprehensive solution, where you  can navigate into one module, upload documents, and link them to others. The nice thing about it is that you don't break any of the access controls. Opening a linked document requires access to the document,” says Ålbotsjord. 

Developers work closely with clients

Ålbotsjord believes that the creation of Linked Items is part of the company's genuine commitment to client satisfaction and fostering cooperation between modules in Pims. 

“The key to success lies in the deliveries, and quality is the best way to sell,” he says. 

“We need to be forward-looking and delve into the details behind the client's questions. It's crucial that we challenge our clients and ask them about the best solution. The developers invest time in understanding the client's processes. We ensure that developers are closely involved with the client, fostering ownership,” says Ålbotsjord, who acknowledges the strong collaboration and communication between developers from Norway to Lithuania and the US.

“Linked Items also provides an overview in the other direction. It's also possible to enter a document to see which module it's linked to, for example, that it's linked to both a change and a risk.”

He is confident that it will be well received. 

“It won't solve everything, but it will probably solve 90 percent of cases. The clients will save a lot of time,” says Ålbotsjord.

Team effort across countries

The evolution of Linked Items involved various individuals at different stages. According to Pims R4 Platform Manager Aleksandr Narožnij, notable contributors include Unni Alsvik, Trygve Haaland, Hans Vigleik Jakobsen, Herman Fensbekk, Vegard K. Thorsen, Mindaugas Stonys, and Simas Zikaras, among others.