More robust applications can also feature an audit trail that keeps a history of each file or document added. This makes it easy to see what documents are relevant to the tasks at hand and makes it much more efficient in finding necessary resources. Project management software almost always features a way for documents to be assigned to tasks and shared. These features–from messaging to video chats to screen recordings–can help team members stay connected to each other as well as other departments. CollaborationĪside from task functionality, collaboration may be among the most important features of project management software. This can be assessed in terms of different metrics and different ways to organize the information presented so that the project manager and stakeholders can more easily digest the information. Reporting and analysis allow managers to look at data in different ways. But it’s worth mentioning that some project management applications also come with the ability to do so along with the ability to track expenses.
More than likely, your company already uses a separate, stand-alone application for budgeting. Just about every project management application will have settings for permissions so that a project manager can determine whether a team member can view or change certain tasks. This is invaluable if there’s a large project that requires resources from multiple departments, oftentimes, the tasks involved will be connected to other tasks and dependent on still others.
Having this ability allows project managers to understand the flow of the project and how it’s completed. Task Managementīeing able to look at tasks, how they’re assigned, and when they’re completed is often the primary use of project management software. This measures their productivity in a tangible and relevant way, but it also provides meaningful data for future projects. Time tracking software found in project management applications will typically track the amount of time a team member spends on each of their assigned tasks. Good project management software allows fine-tuning control and monitoring so that projects can be managed efficiently. At times, even the most perfect plan doesn’t play out as predicted. A company needs the ability to look at and fluidly manage a project’s resources.
Resource allocation features found in project management applications help managers determine where time and resources are invested. This allows them to put together a timeline for the project and more accurately assess the allocation of resources. Project managers schedule completion dates for all the tasks needed in a large and complex project. Proper planning will also help you understand and forecast the time it takes to complete tasks and a project as well as assign resources as needed. Planning is the process of selecting appropriate team members, determining what resources you’ll need for the project, and assigning tasks. I’ve assessed all the tools on this list based on these important feature. Generally speaking, project management can be organized into a few key areas. Project Management Platform Features to Look For