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Inefficient business processes can impact team productivity and waste time, which can result in significant lost revenue each year. Fortunately, the right project management software can make your entire organization function more efficiently.
Project management software allows you to organize the planning, scheduling and execution of projects in a single dashboard. If you’re not sure where to start, here are five project management tools to consider:
Related: The Pros and Cons of Project Management Software
1. Base Camp
Most suitable: real-time communication
Basecamp is an all-in-one project management solution known for its built-in collaboration tools. When you build a new project, there are five main functions: Message Board, To-Do List, Scheduling, Document Sharing, and Campfire.
Message boards are where the entire team can post updates and get feedback on their work so you don’t have to spend a lot of time emailing back and forth. The To-Do List section lets you see what work is done and still pending.
You can also schedule important meetings or events, share important documents and files, and use Campfire, a chat room where everyone can collaborate and ask questions.
However, Basecamp is more expensive than other project management software, with a flat monthly fee of $99. Furthermore, the software does not provide users with an overview of the project at hand, which makes task management difficult.
2. Trello
Most suitable: affordability
Trello is one of the most popular project management solutions, and it’s free to use. The software lets you organize your projects on different Kanban boards, giving you a bird’s-eye view of your projects.
From there, you’ll set up separate lists with task cards that outline details for each item. You can use task cards to tag team members, assign due dates, share files, and include checklists. This allows you to manage every detail of your project directly in the Trello app.
Trello is available for iOS and Android devices, and you can use the app on your laptop, smartphone, or tablet. The software also integrates with hundreds of popular applications such as Jira, Gmail and Google Drive.
Related: Improve Organizational Efficiency by Learning Project Management
3. Writing
Most suitable: Marketing Team and Professional Services
Designed for marketing teams and professional services, Wrike is free for small teams just getting started. It has a user-friendly dashboard where you can see an overview of your entire project.
Wrike offers features such as interactive Gantt charts, time tracking tools, and a comprehensive reporting suite. The software allows you to set up custom team workflows and integrates with over 400 third-party applications. The workflow builder uses an “if, then” statement, and you can create up to 100 integrations per account.
You can use Wrike to collaborate with your team and invite customers, suppliers and third parties to view your project progress at the same time. This ensures everyone is on the same page and keeps all conversations, tasks and focus in one central place.
4. Asanas
Most suitable: task management
Asana is user-friendly project management software that is a good choice for managing projects of all sizes. You can use the workflow builder to automate tasks, receive instant feedback, and improve your processes.
You can also view your projects from multiple perspectives, including Kanban boards, lists, calendars, and timesheets. This gives each team member the option to view the project in the way that works best for them.
Many people enjoy using Asana’s powerful task management features. You can assign tasks and subtasks to other team members and set due dates. If other team members have questions, you can chat back and forth within a single card.
What makes Asana unique is its goal setting feature – you can set company goals that everyone in your organization can see. This ensures that every project and task is completed with the larger vision of the company in mind.
5. Monday
Most suitable: Overall function
Monday is cloud-based project management software that is a great option for businesses of all sizes. It uses color-coded boards so you can get a quick overview of your team’s progress.
Like Asana, Monday allows you to view your projects from multiple perspectives – with Gantt, Kanban, Timeline and Calendar views. You can get a complete overview of your project and get as much detail as you need.
The software also has built-in time tracking so you can see how long each task takes. Additionally, Monday integrates with apps like Slack, Google Calendar, and Dropbox. You can also use Monday to set up custom automations, which are so easy that anyone on your team can learn how to use it. However, you may need to upgrade to one of the pricier plans to access more advanced features.
