Web collaboration

So a bit more information on how I see "web collaboration" working. It's not a new thing - web collaboration. There's Microsoft Sharepoint, Google Docs etc. and they are all very good. I've tried most of them in my quest to find the ideal solution for me - but each one has failed. (or been too expensive). So I am going to try and set one up based around this site. This site runs on Drupal - an Open Source content management system. It's quite a beast to learn - but I think it is worth the effort. Like lot's of things in life, the more you put into it, the more you get out of it (sometimes). There is already a "Client Area" on this site - but at the moment, all that does is give me access to add content. In time, the client area will give who ever has logged in access to information specific to them. So, suppliers can log in and access schedules that pertain to projects they are working with me on. They can also get artwork and drawings too. The trick is to make it as easy for them to access as possible (and as easy for me to maintain too). Why do this? What's wrong with email?? Frankly - I hate email. It's inefficient. We get way too much of it. It's difficult to find things you've been sent. Think of it this way. I may email a schedule to 10 suppliers. The next day, the client changes something. I update the schedule and email it again. That's 20 copies of the same schedule, all sitting in 10 different email in-boxes. My preference would be, that when my mate Scott from PLS Staging wants to see the latest version of the schedule for example, instead of wading through his emails, he clicks a link and navigates easily to an on-line version. Of course, the trick is that it is easy to find and easy to read, but that comes through good design and layout. There are other advantages too. As it's stored in a database, I can produce build schedules and trucking schedules all from the same schedule. None of this updating one makes the other out of date. For the Wimbledon project in NYC last year, I used my website for exactly this. The website was built using Joomla instead if Drupal and the feedback I got from suppliers was that it was extremely easy to use. Why not use the same again? I wanted to make it even better. Joomla is not as powerful as Drupal - and I am sure I can really make the on-line collaboration of this site rock!! If you're interested in how this all works, or want more information - please do not hesitate to get in touch!