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The product is now effectively the de facto standard 'tool for the job' in the Life Sciences marketplace. The company claims that what it describes as 'document-centric collaboration' is set to grow steadily over the next few years, driven by a combination of tightened economic strictures and an increased need for better collaboration.

The newest version of PleaseReview, v5.0 boasts a significantly enhanced interface, with a far cleaner look and feel that fits neatly into the current Windows environment - including tight integration with SharePoint 2007/2010/2013. Support for mobile users has been present since 2011, but the new version also includes a useful offline mode, which enables users to review documents while on a plane, for instance, using a zero-footprint client that works as well on tablets as on laptops.

PleaseTech has a clear strategy for the development of this product which they describe as 'Beyond Review', a key element of which is to better support enterprise rollout. The enhanced mobile/flight mode is part of this, as is the excellent SharePoint integration and improved user interface. Users are now presented with a window that looks much more like a Word document (which is of course the office tool that most will be using on a regular basis). Other minor but thoughtful enhancements include a countdown timer to remind users of when a document needs to be reviewed by, and nicely modernised toolbars that suit the current Windows user experience.

Another important innovation is the introduction of Feedback management, allowing the capture of high level feedback on a document (or document sets): this gives a whole new level of functionality to those who utilise PleaseReview on bids, proposals and similar documents. The reporting capabilities of the software have often been a key selling point according to PleaseTech, and the Feedback improvements can only help their cause, as well as helping them address their desire to move across the enterprise.

Another enterprise-class enhancement is in the configurability of the product itself. Intuitive administrator menus allow for the setup of different views and capabilities for different levels of user. For example, casual users can have a more simplified interface than regular users. There have also been improvements to ReviewZones which control who can comment where in Word documents. Less senior staff might only be able to view and comment on specific paragraphs that are relevant to their business unit, for instance, while project managers are given far more control and wider access.

Version 5 is a major step forward from the software we looked at just a couple of years ago in terms of configurability, user interface and reporting and management. V5.1, promised for early 2014, is intended to take PleaseTech's stated aim of 'Beyond Review' even further, with more specialist review tools and unique functionality.
More info: www.pleasetech.com
VERDICT
PleaseReview continues to be a product that stands alone in its functionality and power, while broadening its appeal to additional market sectors and presenting itself as an enterprise-ready tool - mobile enhancements are a particularly nice touch.