There is some confusion about the difference between Primavera P6 Professional Project Management (PPM) and Primavera P6 Enterprise Project Portfolio Management (EPPM).

My objective is to help clarify the issue. To start, below are a few blanket statements that I hear a lot which I have clarified.

• P6 PPM is stand alone application that you load on your PC. True, it can be. BUT, P6 Professional (PPM) can also be deployed with multiple users in a centralized database accessed via your network or via a hosting solution.
• EPPM is web based solution and can be accessed in a network or via the web and the interface is completely different. True. BUT, when you buy P6 EPPM, you also get the client portion (Which comes with P6 PPM) so you have the flexibility to use both.

Paul E. Harris stated well when he said: “In principle there are 2 types of database which are accessed and administered differently, and 2 tools that may be used to access the databases.

An EPPM  database may be accessed using both tools:

• The Web Client and
• The Windows Client and when used to open an EPPM database the software is called the “Optional Client”.

A PPM database may be accessed using only:

The Windows Client and when used to open a PPM database the software is called the “Professional Client”.

A single installation of a P6 Windows Client on a personal computer may open either an EPPM or a PPM database. Therefore the term “Optional Client” and “Professional Client” describe the mode the software is being used in, as it is not two different software packages, but the software has different functionality depending on the database being opened.”

So, which one should I buy?

What I normally say is something along the lines of “If you want a tool that your guys (or gals) can use from their PC (or by hitting the server) and you would like for them to have the flexibility to do updates from the field in an area where you may not be able to hit the server, go with EPPM. The $250 difference is worth it to have that flexibility.”

and

“If you don’t have plans to use AND will NEVER use the web interface, go with PPM.