Workflow tracking software moving to SaaS model

Gridiron Software is planning to release a major upgrade to their Flow workflow tracking software in the near future, moving to a software-as-a-service model by leveraging the internet to bring background time- and asset-tracking to creative teams scattered everywhere. The software combines project mapping with time and asset tracking, with the main feature being it does this without much user interaction simply by noticing when files are manipulated, allowing creative professionals to focus more on doing the work and less on documenting it.

The software works in two parts: a background agent that features a menubar item, and the main application which only needs to be run for map creation and manual input. Flow includes features to automatically store versions of changed files, as well as keep track of all dependencies a project has, including fonts, images and multimedia assets. It can then package the finished project together with all the files needed into one folder automatically. It works through the use of a "map" that is centered around a main file (such as an InDesign document), automatically listing and thus tracking all dependent or associated files attached to it, such as images. Supplementary documents (like Word files that contain copy) can be manually added as well so that corrections and revisions to files not directly incorporated but still part of the project can be tracked.

Gridiron's Flow works with all the expected file types creative professionals use, including Adobe and Quark software and related file types, includes text and spreadsheet documents. It can be set to automatically save versions of any file changed and re-saved, making it easy to locate such revisions when a project backtracks to an earlier version (as well as providing a form of automatic backup).

While Flow is available for both major platforms, it is primarily aimed at the Mac-dominated creative field and has won accolades at various MacWorld and MacUser conferences as well as strong reviews. The primary change coming in Flow 2.0 will be to remake the product in a SaaS (Software as a Service) model so that teams connected only by the internet can work on a project with a decentralized cloud "map" to take care of all aspects of tracking and versioning. The company calls this a "Project Operating System" since it works invisibly from whatever computers in whatever locations the teams use, and reflects the growing need in media creation firms to accurately price and track work done in disparate locations and time zones.

The upgrade is expected to be delivered before the end of the year. Pricing on the current version has been reduced 40% to $120 from $200, but upgrade and standard pricing for the new version has not yet been announced.

by MacNN Staff