New Features in the Sept 2025 GAITS Release
Several improvements have been made to the GAITS platform based on the insightful feedback from team members, the mentors who support them, and the managers of portfolios who monitor and often fund them. They make GAITS even easier to use and allow users to customize thier views to make it more effoicient and effective in completing tasks. Below are the key ones that you may notice depending on your role. Click on any of the sections to learn about the new features added in this release.
GAITS Site Changes for Members with all Roles: |
1. Filterable Overview Tab: Multi-Tag Filtering has been added to the Overview tab (the old Track tab) to display only those Deliverables of interest in each of the views.
The option to apply multi-tag filters to any view has been added, which when applied carry across the three views. This allows users to better understand the status of a project and their responsibilities as well as contributions. Users can, for example, quickly see to which Deliverables they are assigned. Mentors can see which are at any stage of completion, not assigned to a Work Package, etc.. This helps team members tailor the views to help them focus on their areas of interest. Fig. 1 . Carousel view with the filter menu open: Fig 2. Carousel view with one filter selected: Fig 3. List view with the same filter selected carried over: |
2. Enhanced Files Tab: The Files tab has been upgraded to help teams effectively manage all the files for a project with two key improvements:
As a reminder, the Files tab has two types of folders. One type are system generated folders that hold the documents uploaded via Deliverables and Work Packages. The other type are user generated folders for teams to use as they wish. Two new system generated folders have been added. A dedicated Interviews folder has been added to encourage teams to use the best practice of continually gathering and documenting stakeholder input. A private “Mentors Files” folder has also been added that is only accessible by portfolio admins and the Mentors they assign to a project. This allows mentors to upload feedback reports, etc. that can be accessed by other mentors and portfolio admins. Fig 4. Augnmented Files Tab w/Multi-tag filters: Fig 5. Edit File Option: Fig 6. Comments Option: |
3. New Mentor Role:A formal role in a GAITS site has been introduced which allows Portfolio Admin to assugn mentors to a site and engage in private exchanges with other mentors and Portfolio Members.
As such, GAITS now allows portfolio members to add advisors, subject matter experts, etc. to a GAITS site in the role of a “Mentor”. This provides a forum for mentors and portfolio members to share private information. In addition to read/write access to the site, Mentors have access to a private file folder (and sub folders) to share information with other mentors as well as parent portfolio admins. Fig 7. Functionality in New Mentors Tab: |
4. Enhanced Work Package Tab: Several new features have been added to make Work Packages even more effective as the “workhorse” for managing work tranches
Fig 8. Grid view with the filter menu open: Fig 9. Gantt view with one filter selected: Fig 10. List View with Filters Shown: Fig 11. Progress View with Filters Shown |
5. Members Tab: The option has been added to quickly access members emails as well as indicate if any account has been deactivated
Also, quick access to emails should make it easier for mentors and admins to connect with team members. Fig 12. Updated Members Tab |
6. Portfolio Site Navigation: For GAITS team members who are also members of a Parent/Portfolio site (such as in the CRAASH program), a navigation tab has been added in the GAITS site to go to the Pareent/ Portfolio site.
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For Members with Portfolio Roles |
7. Portfolio Views: Members of a Portfolio Site have new, filterable views which contain more information than before making project portfolios easier to manage.
Portfolio Admins can use Tags to identify groups of projects within a single portfolio that they wish to track. For example, all the projects funded in a cohort (e.g. 2025), or in a thematic area (e.g. MedTech). Tags are defined by the Portfolio Admins, so are able to accommodate the diversity of ways GAITS is being used. So, in addition to showing only those projects in a Portfolio to which a member has access, members can now filter that list down further based on the selected tag(s) For example, if a GAITS team member is also a member of a Portfolio Site (like a CRAASH Program Portal) they will see just their own site. Portfolio Admins, on the other hand, get to see and access all of the sites in the portfolio and any sub-portfolios and use a filter scheme of teir design to focus on ones of interest. Fig 14. Updated Portfolio View: Fig 15. Tag Editing Dialogue Box The option has also been added to the summary view to display the names of the members of the site and the last time each logged in. This will help the portfolio members keep track of the activity. Fig 16. Site Members Listed and Filters Not Shown: |
8. Work Package Views: Several new, filterable ways to view the Work Packages of projects in a portfolio have been added.The new, filterable views based on project Tags are outlined below: Fig 17. Grid View with Filters Shown and Active Fig 18. Gantt View with Filters Not Shown Fig 19. Table View with Filters Not Shown Fig. 20: Progress View with Filters Not Shown |