Mastt Makes Monthly Client Reporting Easier for Place PM

Background

Place Project Management (Place PM) is a boutique independent project and development management consultancy based in Adelaide, South Australia.

The firm had approximately 25 to 30 live projects at different stages, including projects approaching completion. Place PM had been using Mastt for around a year, initially focusing on cost reporting before introducing scheduling and risk information.

For Director David Jolley and the team, dashboard reporting has become central to how they present project information to clients. The dashboards provide the basis for their main PCG reporting, accompanied by written commentary where needed.

Challenge: Different Templates and Errors That Took Time to Trace

Place PM already had reporting templates that the team knew and used. Maintaining consistency became a consideration as individual team members adapted those templates to suit the way they worked.

“People were just utilizing and evolving existing templates and moving off to something that they felt more comfortable with.”
_{- David Jolley}

David also identified human error as a reason to look for a system, particularly in progress claims (progress payment). When an error occurred, tracing it could mean returning to earlier reports and spending time finding the source of the issue.

Place PM had tried several systems before returning to spreadsheets. The firm initially explored Mastt, then revisited it when the need for a reporting solution became clearer.

Solution: A Reporting System the Team Could Feel Comfortable With

Mastt’s appeal began with how closely its reporting aligned with Place PM’s existing templates. Asked why the team chose it, David highlighted user-friendliness and the comfort of recognizing a familiar reporting approach.

“So essentially there was a comfort in the team that was like, 'Okay, well, this kind of is not too far away from it.' It didn't feel like a database.”
_{- David Jolley}

Place PM began with cost reporting, which David described as particularly useful for the team. Its use then broadened to include program, scheduling, and risk information in reports.

David also described efficiencies from AI features in Mastt supporting work with invoices and contracts.

Impact: Simpler Monthly Updates and Reports That Meet Client Needs

For David, the change is visible in the monthly reporting routine. With established templates in Mastt, the team has a starting point for each update.

“All you need to do is feed in these invoices. All you need to do is kind of just do this quick update rather than kind of recreating everything again.”
_{- David Jolley}

The work centers on bringing invoices and project information up to date within that established structure. David also contrasted the effort of tracing an error through earlier reports with the visibility available in a system.

“The error is right in front of you when it's system-based.”
_{- David Jolley}

Here’s how Place PM’s reporting process changed with Mastt:

For clients, the value also lies in how the information is presented. David said most projects were finding dashboards useful for executive and upstream reporting. Supporting text remains part of the process where needed, allowing the team to accompany dashboard information with commentary.

Describing clients’ reactions, David said:

“They kind of look at the system and go, ‘Great, this looks fantastic.’ It's exactly what we want from a reporting perspective.”
_{- David Jolley}

Making Mastt Part of Every Project

“We have been setting up every single project now in Mastt.”
_{- David Jolley}

David explained that this applies regardless of a project’s stage. From its initial use for costs to its role in monthly updates and PCG reporting, Mastt has become an established part of how Place PM prepares and presents project information to clients.