In this era of e-mail, e-commerce and e-procurement, the advent of eCIO software was almost inevitable. After all, the superhero stamina and crystal vision required of a CIO are just the sorts of things that cry out for automation and Web-enablement.

Although eCIO won’t exactly let you retire to the golf course, the integrated real-time management control system developed by Genesys Automation will help you plan, track and manage an unlimited number of IT projects from a single executive dashboard. "Think of it as ERP for the IT function," says John Hill, CIO of industrial gas manufacturer Praxair in Danbury, Conn.

Praxair used to rely on a number of tools (including Artemis, Excel, Lotus Notes and Microsoft Project) to track and manage IT projects. Last October, the company began using eCIO. Hill says eCIO offers a single repository that lets Praxair manage most of its core IT processes with a single tool. As project managers enter status updates into the system, both IT and business executives get real-time access to project information. That encourages the business to play a more active role in managing IT service delivery, says Hill. The single interface also helps Praxair’s effort to standardize core IT processes. Hill expects to use eCIO as a knowledge management tool for IT as well.

The Java/J2EE-based eCIO system runs on an Oracle 8i database. Modules span the life cycle of IT project management from executive strategy development and portfolio analysis through business unit chargebacks in the general ledger. The module starts at $50,000, on either a per-seat or enterprise license basis.