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Published November 02nd, 2016 by

An Essential Guide Before Using a Project Management Software

An Essential Guide Before Using a Project Management Software

There are factually a lot of good project management software available out there. Since MS Project is one of the best and popular packages of project management, it is evidently true that the easier it is to use your software, the more user it will have and countless features will be added too. The users define the popularity and ranking of your software. There are also a lot of open source and free software available online. The user may download the applications in their browsers and utilize it accordingly.

More and more users tend to utilize the MS Project because of its unique features. It may not be free like other software but it is user-friendly and very helpful. This software might look good, but we recommend that, before you choose what project management tool to use, you must know first the guide in picking one. Let’s start with:

What Does It Do?

In the simplest sense, the different project management tool aid the companies in managing their projects well from the beginning until the end, and let the workers at the different ranks to make an input to the process.

The software for project management has been around for numerous years since the golden age of business until today. As a conclusion, a PM software is not only for project management but also for many other things, such as reporting, etc.

It can do project scheduling, budget management and cost control, collaboration, resource allocation, communication, administration or documentation, and quality management.

The goal of these is to take charge of all the complexities and aspects of bigger projects and aid in keeping the prices down.

What Does a Business Do With This Software?

Projects may be complicated and reliant on many kinds of departments, outcomes and factors.

As such, a project software may help to decide which events rely on each other, how precisely they rely on one another, and what will happen if all the things go wrong or change. With the use of a project management software, a business can set the date of specific events with just one click. You will easily prepare events using a planner which is only a part of the software.

Furthermore, they can plan people to do some various assignments, and the resources should be detailed – physical, economic and anything more – that are mandated. This is basically called as the resource scheduling. The user may schedule or reschedule the assigned tasks which is also accompanied by the exact amount of resources needed and to be used. This will now give the financer the ability to wisely manage and save the financial health of the company.

Individuals also use software for project management to agree with doubts in the approximations of the period of each assignment; arrange assignment to meet numerous deadlines; and manipulate multiple projects instantaneously, as a part of the overall objective. The software will see to it that you are in track of doing the project right to be done on or before the deadline.

Things You Should Know

There are things that a project management software user should know when using a good project management software. Below are some of the necessary uses of a good project management software.

  1. Desktop

There are many ways so that the software for project management will be available by retailers and service suppliers. First, organizations can buy it as a desktop package, and it naturally gives the best responsive and explicitly-intense design of interface. This will allow its user to experience its full time real tech features that will surely encourage you to use the software. Some software with good graphics come with a price, but if you want to avail the software for free, you might want to disregard its quality, rather just look on its basic features.

Desktop applications for project management typically compile their documents in a single file, though some may have the capability to team up with other workers, or to compile their information in a single centralized database. This kind of applications will ensure that you will have a complete report about the progress of your projects. Since all of the information and progress of the project is in your computer database, it will be a lot easier to look for the problems and it can be easily solved since all of the data is in one place.

Numerous users may share data or project plans that are file-based which are already in the database of your system, but only one operator could access the system in an instance. This is a great disadvantage of the desktop project management software because a lot of user wants to look in the database to see their progress or the progress of their workers. With proper communication you can easily overcome this problem. Preparing the desired schedule for each user in utilizing the database is also a good decision.

  1. Client Servers

Cooperative project management apps that are server-based are also offered. These are intended to support numerous workers who are assigned on the different tasks of the project.

Server-based systems for project management hold data in one centralized location and it can also integrate tools for collaboration so that workers can share ideas, thoughts and expertise.

  1. Web Based

Project management applications can also be used in the web. This can accessed with the use of an extranet or intranet, or internet itself, using an internet browser. This will be easier to use because no more download or installation is required to use the software. You can just easily open up your browser and use it directly in the web.

The benefits of applications for project management that are web-based embrace the truth that these applications may be used from any kind of computer even if you did not install the software. Since it can only be accessed through the browser, no matter what kind of computer you use, you can still access it and use its benefits to finish your projects.

The application is also maintained and updated automatically by the product owner, and the character of the program makes it multi-user naturally. This will ensure the reliability of the program and it will make every project planning you are designing perfect for every schedule you want.

Likewise, web-based project management software comes with a charge per month which is way cheaper than purchasing and updating the software yourself. This is necessary to continue the service. How will the provider continue its service without any compensation?

The project software that is web-based is slower to react compared to desktop applications for project management, and the project data is not accessible when the operator is offline. This is not good since everyone has a different schedule. Since everybody is not always online, it will be a huge trouble for some users.

  1. Integrated

The integrated program combines project planning or project management, with much other features of company tasks. This is one of the feature of the best project management software you must use.  Since not every company earns a lot to buy these kinds of software, they must be wise enough to pick the one which can adapt many kind of feature.

A good example is, projects may have bug monitoring issues which are assigned to every project; or the full list of clients in the project may become a module for client relationship management, with each individual on the plan of the project with their own activity calendars, lists, and any associated messaging functionality with their tasks.

5 Project Management Software

We had a rundown of all the possible software that contains all the features above, and luckily, only 5 have passed all the requirements.

  1. Microsoft Project 
    It is the best among the most popular packages which now give a web boundary just like the Outlook, Sharepoint, and Office combination. This will allow you to experience the full time feature of a good project management software.
  2. Matchware MindView
    It has a spreadsheet-like layout that is so easy to use, and its option content map enables you to look on your outputs in reminiscent, visuals of bubbles for brainstorming. This software will give you fun while using it.
  3. Project Kickstart
    This is not another complicated package of project management that combines with other software like Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Microsoft Project, ACT, and Excel. Project Kickstart is not like any other software, it ensures its user that it is very easy to manipulate.
  4. RationalPlan Multi Project
    It has features to facilitate budgets and resources like most of the numerous projects. RationalPlan Multi Project has a collaborative Gantt chart, which is naturally offered in higher-end collections. The design of this program is perfect for beginners.
  5. Basecamp
    This is a cheap web-based collaboration package and project management which is acquiring momentum to be on the top project management software in the near future.

Not every company use project management software. This reason leads them to trouble because of lack of solution to the delayed projects. If the company use a project management software, this will be a huge advantage for the business. For you to know more about project management software reviews, visit CrowdReviews.com. Every company deserves best.

Our rankings are completely independent, transparent, and community driven; they are based on user reviews and client sentiment. These project management companies had to earn their way up and didn't just pay their way up.

View Rankings of Best Project Management Companies