Companies involved in large mining and energy projects are being offered a new supplier document management platform from project collaboration software firm Aconex.

The engineering and construction specialist is offering the Aconex Supplier Documents module integrated within its main SaaS-based Aconex project collaboration system. Supplier Documents combines automation with tracking tools to enable engineering contractors to handle large volumes of documentation and easily track items.

Aconex director of products Rob Phillpot said, "Vendor document management is notorious for being a difficult, time-consuming process. However, to keep a project on schedule it needs to be done efficiently and without error."

Phillpot said that during a mining, power, oil or gas project, there can potentially be hundreds of vendors submitting thousands of documents relating to installation and ongoing maintenance.

"Typically, contractors manage this process using a combination of spreadsheets, email, internal systems and many man-hours. As a result, a common scenario is that documentation isn't properly captured, time is lost chasing suppliers, and contractors are unable to provide their clients with accurate reports," he said. "All of which can add to project costs and an adverse impact on schedules."

Aconex said Supplier Documents speeds up processing and makes it easy for contractors to track and review documents from vendors, with improved information capture, better management of complex projects and greater control for all parties being the result.