Midmarket enterprise software producer, Epicor, has unveiled what it is calling functional enhancements to Epicor for Service Enterprises, a web service-based enterprise service automation (ESA) program.

In this latest release, Service Enterprises 8.1, the company has added enhanced project portfolio management (PPM), contingent workforce management, and advanced collaboration and customisation capabilities.

According to Epicor, the PPM system introduces project health and portfolio views, helping to monitor performance to plan and aligning projects to goals. By identifying which projects support key initiatives, resources can then be prioritised for maximum efficiency and returns, the company claims.

The contingent workforce management tools, on the other hand, are said to enable companies to streamline the process of staffing projects with contracted service providers.

According to Gartner research analyst, Nicole Latimer, many organisations still lack the appropriate tools to manage and optimise their resources.

'The new capabilities offered with Epicor for Service Enterprises 8.1, such as graphical capacity planning and portfolio decision support will empower organizations to manage resources with greater precision,' she told SM365.