Changing Platforms Without Losing Ground: How Judge Protected 4,000+ Projects for a Global Pharmaceutical Company

The Challenge: A platform change put critical data at risk 

Changing platforms is rarely as simple as switching software. When Microsoft retired Project Online, a tool many organizations had relied on for years, this pharmaceutical company faced exactly that reality. More than 4,000 active and past projects lived in Project Online, and once the instance went dark, the company would lose access to all of them. 

The stakes were highest in research and development. The company’s R&D teams used Project Online to manage both projects and product development, so the platform held highly proprietary information that needed to stay secure and locked down. Any replacement had to protect that data without slowing the work. 

The company didn’t have an existing product that could serve as its project management platform, or a way to move thousands of projects into a new one on its own. With a firm deadline in place, they needed a partner who could deliver both the technology and the migration. 

The Solution: A secure, tailored transition built around the client’s needs 

Judge implemented PPM360, a highly customizable, Microsoft-based project and portfolio management application. Because PPM360 was built and deployed within the client’s own Microsoft environment, rather than as an external system, sensitive R&D data never left the company’s control. 

Judge didn’t stop at an out-of-the-box installation. The Judge team, in collaboration with Marque360, spent significant time gathering requirements from the client and used that input to modify the application around how their teams worked, from workflows that matched their project and product development processes to notifications that kept the right people informed and field names that reflected the language their teams already used. 

At the same time, Judge and Marque360 migrated the client’s 4,000+ active and past projects onto the new platform, so teams kept their full project history and could pick up right where they left off. The end-to-end effort spanned approximately five months, including migration. This initial phase laid the groundwork for what’s next, and Judge will continue to refine the solution as the client’s needs evolve. 

The Results: Protected data, preserved history, and an easier way to work 

With PPM360 in place, the company’s project and product teams were able to keep their proprietary pharmaceutical development moving without losing access to the work that came before. More than 4,000 active and past projects moved to the new platform instead of disappearing with Project Online, giving the R&D and project teams most affected by the shutdown the continuity they needed. 

Because PPM360 lived within the client’s Microsoft environment, sensitive R&D and product development data stayed protected. Teams also gained a modern, intuitive interface with functionality customized to their needs, making their day-to-day work simpler and a significant step up from Project Online. 

Changing Platforms? Judge Can Help. 

Whether you’re facing a platform retirement, moving to new technology, or outgrowing your current tools, Judge can help make the transition secure and seamless. Judge’s project management solutions bring together the right people, proven processes, and technology to protect your data and keep your work moving. 

Connect with the Judge team today to start the conversation.