Project managers are increasingly involved in the selection and use of project management tools. This is because project managers will use the software every day. They will have strong opinions on the software’s capabilities as well as how it can help them manage projects.
What should you look out for when you are asked to help your team choose the right software? Here are my top ten tips for project management tools. Because each project is different, the importance of these tips will vary from one to another, they are not ranked in any order. Some may not be relevant to you. This list can be used to help you evaluate the software on the market. You can also add to your shortlist. Our Top 10 Best Project Management Software & Tools is recommended.
1. It’s simple to use
First, ensure that the software you buy is easy to use. Some tools are very complicated and require extensive training. If the product is simple to use and fits your team, it will be the best for you. Many tools offer free trials so that you can try the software before you buy it.
2. Scheduling tools
Gantt charts software, a professional-grade scheduling program, is required if you want to manage your projects effectively. Gantt charts are not available for basic products. They won’t display your project plans. Instead, they will show you a list of tasks. This may work well for small projects with a small team. However, if you need to manage complex project, you will need more.
3. Task Management
Gantt charts require task management features. Gantt charts start with a task list. This should allow you to assign tasks and communicate with other members of the team to let them understand what you should be focusing on.
You should be able to organize tasks in a way that makes sense. This includes putting them together and setting deadlines. You can also send email alerts to the person who is responsible for completing the work.
4. Ability to share externally
It’s one thing to communicate your plans and tasks with your colleagues. It is equally important to consider the functionality that makes your project information accessible to people outside your company. This is especially important when working alongside contractors or third-party vendors. This is another reason why cloud-based online software is so popular and efficient.
5. Real-Time Reporting
By choosing a product that provides real-time reporting, you can save time. This will pull data from different areas of project management tools to create reports that reflect the current status of the project.
6. Dashboards and Graphical Reports
Visual reports are more useful than written reports. While it may not be the most important aspect of choosing a tool, many stakeholders and sponsors prefer dashboards and charts to written reports. Look for tools that allow you to customize the dashboards for each stakeholder.
7. Security
Functionality is great but your data security is critical to the integrity of your project. Check out the security options offered by your preferred software provider. If you host your software online, make sure that your preferred software provider offers 128 bit encryption. A dedicated hosting platform is a good choice to keep your customer data safe and separate from others.
8. Professional Interface
There are many tools out there, but some of them are outdated. When choosing a software product, functionality should be your main criteria. It doesn’t need to be perfect.
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Ten Things to Consider when Choosing Project Management Tools
