Without the right software in place, how do you plan to drive a project to its completion? How will you help your team mitigate delays, due dates, or bumps in the road? How will you track projects through a project management system? Visibility, automation, customization, task track time, and more – it’s all essential to getting things done correctly and on time. When time is of the essence in the business world, efficiency and the ability to collaborate matter most of all. The best project management tools and document management tools will help you accomplish all this and more. Plus, it will give you the top-down transparency you need as a manager or supervisor to customize your projects in real-time. We have examined the top project management software offerings on the market right now, highlighted their features, and underlined the competitive advantages. We wanted to expand on past the standard workspace apps such as Mac Pro IOS systems, Android software or Slack messaging apps that you know about. Read on to discover ZDNet’s best solutions for your large or small team and make the right investment for your organization at large. The top features of MS Project are:
Built-in project templatesResource managementProject cost and schedulingProjected timelinesReportingBusiness intelligence
A single license usually costs around $600, but when bundled with the entire Microsoft Office suite of applications, this cost may be significantly reduced. Microsoft Project is not unlike an Excel spreadsheet at its core. The file can be passed around to the entire team for status updates, but there is limited internet connectivity. Microsoft Project will check most of the boxes as an enterprise solution, even if it seems a bit outdated on the surface. If you are looking for something with a streamlined unlimited user experience, Microsoft Projects might not be your best pick, but it gets the job done at a basic level. It is well known for its main dashboard that all cross-functional units of the company can access. If using Trello, you are likely adopting an agile style of task management, which is far more common in small business settings these days. You can shift assignments across the dashboard to different times, days, or weeks. There is no re-writing a start of the finished date - simply click and hold the task, and drag-and-drop it to its appropriate location. Easy to learn, easy to master, and highly intuitive. The top features of Trello are:
Unlimited task creation.Commentary and collaboration features.Organizing tasks by priority.File and image sharing.
Finally, Trello boards are free for personal use. If you decide that Trello may be the right pick for your complex project management department, it only costs $9.99 per user per month. In a nutshell, Scoro is your “one-stop-shop” for all your business needs, with a strong emphasis on team collaboration tools. The top features of Scoro are the following:
Contact managementTime-tracking and billingQuoting and invoicingTeam meeting scheduling and calendar viewKPI dashboardReports of project progress and budget
Scoro is user-friendly and has a breezy learning curve for all employees. Instead of using Outlook to schedule meetings, Microsoft Project to build and track timelines, and Oracle for quoting and billing, Scoro can consolidate and streamline everything in one swoop. You can even try the free version of Scoro for 14 days. After that, the $26 per user per month will not break the bank. It’s worth the cost, in our book. The easy-to-use interface boasts the following features:
ReportingTime Tracking and timesheetsGantt ChartsTasks with sub-tasksMilestone projection and managementDifferent user permissions
If you are interested in the Teamwork suite, you will be happy to know that this project management software tool integrates with Teamwork Desk and Teamwork Chat. It is very similar to Microsoft Project in terms of the end product, but Easy Project is built in an updated interface with a great visualization appeal. The main features of Easy Project are:
Configurable dashboardsUser and task trackingGantt chartsProject templatesPortfolio management
Easy Project lives up to its name in simplicity, and we like its customizable layout, but it may not be full-featured enough for enterprise use. This software can get any number of projects moving in the right direction, although you might want to upgrade once operations expand in scope and complexity. The Basecamp interface boasts an Instagram-like dashboard with the following features:
Application-based collaborationDesktop notificationsProject performanceMessage boardsIn-app collaboration functionsSeparate presentation for clients
Basecamp is a great project management tool for startups and young, agile teams familiar with social media platforms. Right out of the box, it offers a ton of value with a minimal learning curve. One of the best things about Basecamp is that it is free for teachers and students and will not charge you based on a license amount. There are options for free plans, as well as plans starting at $99 a month. All data is consolidated on the main dashboard and can be seen and used by any user with a license. ProWorkflow will even work through mobile apps on your mobile device. The top features are as follows:
View colleague’s workloadSend and track quotes and invoicesFile sharingContract ManagementAssigning tasksDashboard view
We also like the time-tracking features for added accountability. ProWorkflow might be your best option at the great pricing rate of $22 per month per user. ProWorkflow offer access to project management tools on your mobile device. The top features of Smartsheet are the following:
Strategic planningProject planning and schedulingImporting/Exporting project files to outside collaboratorsResource managementBudget tracking
At $25 per user per month, Smartsheet is an industry go-to for easy project management software. However, compared to some of the more modernized platforms, Smartsheet might look a bit outdated visually. One problem managers face is the time wasted as employees switch back and forth between applications for basic communication purposes. With ProofHub, that problem is fixed with these top features:
Online chat and discussionAssigning task ownershipTracking progress historyDifferent user access tiers/applications
ProofHub is expensive compared to its competitors, starting at $45 a month per user. However, upon further research and demo of ProofHub, the price may be justified by the positive impact it makes on your new start-up. You will be able to execute the following while using Asana:
Tracking milestone and task progressView project dashboards for a high-level viewView cross-functional timelines and roadmapsColor-coded design
Asana is an excellent option for a business that may have recently implemented project management and needs a one-stop solution. It is free for 15 members of your organization and then starts at paid plans for $13 per user per month. Workzone is the happy medium between many different types of project management software. Retired advertisement executives built it with visibility as a top concern. If you need a lot of eyes on a project and constant collaboration, this is a powerful tool to add to your arsenal. Workzone allows project managers to build timelines with cross-functional teams and go even further with these features:
Individual task listPersonalized subtasks and predecessors/successorsStatus trackingTask assignmentSpecific permissions for a number of users and or clients
Workzone has a wide array of complex tools at the user’s fingertips, balances functionality with a streamlined interface and simple UX. At $24 per user per month, Workzone will give you multiple options to manage your team and set expectations. When deciding on a new collaboration software for your team, make sure you know what gaps need filling and prevent employees from scrambling between multiple applications. Review the feature sets of each software and only implement if you see a clear value-add and discernable ROI. Take the time to thoroughly analyze your current project management workflow and make an assessment based on how things work – not how you imagine them to be. Talk with team members about the dependencies they have with certain software, examine past project portfolios, and find a solution with a purpose to prevent unnecessary overlap. Expand your team past the basic Google drive, dropbox, and other methodologies that other businesses run off and power up your team with projects that will expand on your productivity.
