What's New in Accolade 15.2 Release

The following sections describe new functionality and areas that have changed in Accolade in the 15.2 release.

For more information about each new feature, navigate to the relevant online help section with the provided links.

Performing Portfolio Planning with Scenario Data in Accolade

Accolade 15.2 now includes the portfolio planner, which gives Portfolio Managers the ability to review a portfolio and conduct portfolio planning activities, using scenario data without affecting live data. You can align any portfolio with a specific business or organizational strategy with the portfolio planner.

Integrating With Microsoft 365 Web Apps/One Drive

Accolade 15.2 provides increased support for collaborative work across multiple teams and time-zones. It is now easier than ever to use Accolade with the Microsoft 365 web-based versions of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint , and Excel. Accolade 15.2 integrates with Microsoft 365 to improve communication and increase productivity across teams.

Integration to web versions of Microsoft 365 Word, PowerPoint, and Excel is available with specific Accolade pricing models. For further information, contact Sopheon Customer Support.

Extending Team Collaboration with Microsoft Teams

Accolade 15.2 integrates with Microsoft Teams to support further collaboration within teams that span over multiple geographical regions, making it easier for people to use these tools and shift content and data back and forth with Accolade.

  • Create New Channel for ProjectAccolade15.2 allows users with the appropriate rights to create a new Microsoft Teams channel from an Accolade project.

  • Create New Team for Project - Accolade 15.2 allows users with the appropriate rights to create a new Microsoft Teams team from an Accolade project.

Integration to Microsoft Teams is available with specific Accolade pricing models. For further information, contact Sopheon Customer Support.

Using Conditional Formatting in Reports

Accolade 15.2 now allows users to utilize conditional formatting within Accolade Online Reports. While setting up the report, one can choose to highlight a column in the report which will show the long-running projects as risks. Users can write a formula which tells the report to display certain colors based on criteria. For example, in the Project Duration column, projects running greater than 500 days will have the color red, projects running between 200 and 500 days will have the color yellow, and projects running less than 200 days will have the color green. This makes reports easier to consume and highlights the most pertinent information.

Automatically Adding Team Members as Resources

Previously in Accolade, to add a team member as a resource, Project Managers had to first add team members to a project and then, separately, add team members as resources in Resource Planning. Accolade 15.2 introduces the ability to automatically list team members, that have already been added to a project, as resources in Resource Planning, cutting down the redundancy of having to add team members twice.

Enhancing the User Experience

In this latest release, we have updated Accolade to improve your user experience. These changes will enhance the way you interact with Accolade.

  • Introducing Additional Number Formatting – In Accolade 15.2, users now have the ability to utilize additional types of number formats in reports.

  • Saving Report Settings – All report users can now save their preferences when pertaining to the hiding and sizing of their columns. Use the "Save View as Default" button to save all width and hidden column critiques for when those columns are revisited.

  • Deleting Ad Hoc Deliverables – In Accolade 15.1, the ability to create ad hoc deliverables was introduced, allowing Project Managers more freedom to manage and adjust their projects. With 15.2, Accolade enhances this feature further by allowing ad hoc deliverables to be deleted, so that Project Managers can clean up their projects as needed.

  • Task Board in a Pod – Previously, Accolade 15.1 debuted a new way to manage deliverables and activities within the Stages tab of a project. With Accolade 15.2, this Task Board is now available as a pod type and can be used in a layout. The Task Board pod can also be presented in the Stakeholder View, allowing outside stakeholders to view a project’s progress.

  • Updating Function Visibility – Functions on the Project Team Tab are now able to be aligned with conditional visibility of deliverables and activities. Administrators and Process Designers can choose to hide or show unassigned functions on the Team Tab.

  • Documentation Now Available on Cloud – Beginning with this release, Accolade documentation is available on cloud. All PDF guides and training modules can now be downloaded here.